Page 15 of Dark Memories
“Yes, ma’am.”
That got a smirk, which strangely pleased him. He’d never known Delaney to smirk, and he added that to his growing list of observations of this woman who now called herself Harry.
As they walked up to the door, he lightly touched his fingers to her lower back, getting a disgruntled look, but she didn’t brush his hand away. Maybe that was the trick, slowly get her used to his touch again.
When they reached the door, he pushed the doorbell. John’s oldest daughter answered, took one look at him, and said, “What do you want?”
Yeah, not going to be welcome here. “We need to talk to your mom.”
She slammed the door in their faces.
“Obviously you’re not her favorite person,” Delaney said.
He snorted. “You think?” Before he could ring the bell again, the door opened and Dorothy appeared. When she didn’t say anything, only glanced between him and Delaney, he said, “Hello, Dorothy. Can we have a few minutes of your time?”
Still not speaking, she stepped onto the porch, closing the door behind her. Zach thought she looked better than she ever had the times he’d met her, and he hoped she was happy.
“This is Delaney Harrison, and… ” And what? They hadn’t talked about what they were going to tell Dorothy.
“I’m a detective with the Dark Falls Police Department,” Delaney said.
He frowned. They weren’t supposed to tell anyone that she was a detective.
“Your husband’s—”
“Ex,” Dorothy said.
“Sorry. Your ex-husband’s name came up in an investigation, and—”
“Who’s accusing him of sexually harassing her now?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss the details of the investigation at this time.” Delaney’s smile was sympathetic. “Can you tell me where he’s living now or give me a phone number for him?”
“Why not? If he’s in trouble again, it’s all on him.”
“Thank you,” Delaney said after writing down the address Dorothy gave her. “Have you seen John lately or talked to him?”
“No, and if you find him, tell him he’s two weeks late with his child support.”
“Impression?” Zach asked after she disappeared inside, closing the door behind her.
“That she doesn’t think much of her ex-husband. He’s living only about twenty minutes away. Let’s go see if he’s home.”
The address was for a run-down apartment building, and John wasn’t home. “Should we try calling him?”
“Not yet. I’d rather interview him face-to-face, get a read on him. Let’s come back later and see if we can catch him.” She glanced at her watch as they walked back to his car. “We can see if the owners of the stolen plates are home.”
Neither of the car owners had noticed that their license plates had been exchanged, didn’t have a clue when it had happened, and hadn’t seen anything suspicious. After talking to each owner, they returned to John Meyer’s apartment. He still wasn’t home, nor was he when they went back after dinner.
When they arrived back at his house, discouraged that no ransom call had been made, and sick with worry about his daughter, Zach retreated to his room. Three hours later he gave up on sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw his daughter in some dark room, her hands reaching for him, begging him to find her. He headed to the kitchen for a glass of water. Or maybe something stronger.
As he passed the living room, he paused. He’d always been able to sense when Delaney was nearby, even if they were in a roomful of people and he had his back turned. His eyes found her and locked on. All he could see of her was the outline of her body as she stood in front of the window, the moonlight making a silvery frame around her. Spellbound and like a moth to her flame, he went to her.
Chapter Six
Harry felt the air change around her, felt the heat from Zach’s body as he came to a stop behind her, caught his woodsy, masculine scent, and closed her eyes, willing her stupid heart to stop its ridiculous fluttering.
“Delaney,” he said, his voice a mere whisper.
