Page 3 of Out to Get Her
Samantha squinted. Not a teenager. A woman. Mid-to-late twenties. Short stature. Average build. She couldn’t make out specifics from this distance, but she had a running mental record of every person living in this town. Blue hair or not, this person wasn’t on Samantha’s list. Most everyone who might have fit that description had fled this place years ago. Off to colleges or new jobs or bigger cities.
Oh, no.
“Did you hear a word I said?”
Samantha turned from the unwelcome sort-of-stranger to find Addie’s hands in fists on both her hips.
No, no, no, no.
If Samantha was right about the owner of that hair, and if Addie caught even a whiff of her around here, this week would take a steep nosedive. If Addie already thought someone had messed with her restaurant…
“I’m sorry, Adeline. I was just running those statements through my head again to think if I missed anything.”
“Oh. Well, then.” That seemed to appease her. For now. “Did you come up with anything?”
Samantha shook her head. “No, ma’am, but I promise you I will take this all into careful consideration. If this was anything but an accident, I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Good thing it really was just an accident.
But if Addie caught sight of that hair and the person attached to it, Samantha might end up with an assault case on her hands. Or worse. This town held grudges like nothing else. And they sure as hell didn’t like anything or anyone who didn’t “fit.” From everything Samantha remembered, Erin Sonnier most definitely did not “fit” here.
But she and her grandfather had been quite the pair, and that gentle soul would have taken down anyone who disparaged her. Like everyone else, Samantha had expected Erin to handle everything she could from a distance. Surely the woman wouldn’t have stepped foot back in this town if she didn’t have to.
Samantha put a hand on Addie’s arm and gently walked her behind the restaurant where the volunteer firefighters were clearing out. “I’m going to go out front to check on a few more things, then I’ve got to head back to the station to file these statements. I’ll be in touch if I have any more questions. Did you call your insurance yet?”
Addie’s face dropped, and she began patting at her apron and pants. “Oh my Lord, no. Not yet. Now, where is my phone?”
Thank goodness. That should keep her occupied. At least long enough to keep her away from the front of the building and keep her from makingmoreaccusations while Samantha sent Erin on her way.
Samantha turned again but found the gray car alone. No blue hair. No Erin.
Crap.
ChapterTwo
The smoke smellwas worse near the restaurant, but not as bad as Erin had expected. Most of the stench had been carried away. With the thick heat and lack of a breeze, Erin was surprised not to find smoke hovering over this area like a weighted blanket.
She peered inside the restaurant through the glass doors. The lights were on, but she didn’t see anyone. A fire truck was parked along the road, and hoses lay on the ground beside the building, but it didn’t look like there’d been much damage to the front of the restaurant.
Clearly, they weren’t serving lunch. Didn’t look like there were any staff vehicles left in the parking lot. So, she guessed she wasn’t getting that sandwich.
Still, Erin wondered how much damage the place had actually taken. Maybe it was being back in this nosy-ass place, but she really wanted to see what happened now that she was here.
“That would be a mistake.”
Erin froze with her palm on the door handle and turned toward the woman’s voice behind her.
The woman maintained a casual stance with a clipboard held against her thigh. Her hair was pulled back in a low, straight ponytail, and she wore a light khaki, short-sleeved button-down shirt with surprisingly well-fitted, dark khaki pants.
Great, a cop.
Erin and this town and cops didn’t have a great history.
The woman’s dark eyes narrowed on Erin. She clearly wasn’t in the mood for any more bullshit than she’d already seen today.
Those eyes.
Erin knew those eyes. Or at least she’d seen them before. She checked out the name patch on the woman’s uniform. Sergeant Ardoin. The last name was familiar, since it was so common around here, but her memory couldn’t attach it to any women who would match this age and description.
