Page 17 of All You Want
“I do wonder about Scott.” I crunch on another ice cube while she orders another drink. How many has she had? And how does she eat and drink so much and still keep her petite figure trim and fit? “He was supposed to investigate the arsons, but he hasn’t come up with even a single suspect. Doesn’t that make you wonder where he was when Grady’s place burned?”
“Todd never asked him for an alibi.” Molly cracks her knuckles one by one. “I heard he was out and about with his bloodhound, but when it came time to search for that little girl, no one could find him.”
“I don’t think Scott was involved in the kidnapping.”
“But if he were, what does it say about Todd that he’d cover up for his brother?”
“Todd wouldn’t do that. That man’s a stickler for the law. I think he’s overworked, and that Donnelly guy’s a slacker. Where was he when Linx’s barn burned down?”
“Let’s just say if I had been around, I would have kept track of everyone’s comings and goings.” She licks her lips and takes the third or fourth gin and tonic from the waitress. “Maybe I already know.”
“What do you mean?” I lean forward. “If you know something about the fires, shouldn’t you tell Todd?”
“He’s the last person I’d tell.” Her cheeks are rosy, and alcohol fumes waft from her breath. “You might think he’s such a do-gooder, but I’ve seen him sneaking around the woods talking to weird people.”
“He has to investigate crimes,” I declare hotly. “Detective work. Everything falls on his shoulders.”
“Then you’ll understand why he pulled your permit.” She downs the rest of the drink.
“We’ll just have to change his mind.” I stir my ice cubes with a straw. “I mean, if you want a job doing ghostly haunt effects, then I’ll need enough money coming in to hire you. Otherwise, I’ll have to go with the canned sound effects.”
“You have to spend money to make money.” She rubs her thumb and fingers together. “It’s not like you’re without assets.”
“I can’t bribe him. He’s too honest!”
“I didn’t mean money.” She rolls her eyes. “What do you think Madam Goldilocks did to get her whorehouse approved?”
“Boarding house,” I clarify.
“Oh, sure, but the city fathers back in the day taxed her extra for permits. Did you know whorehouses paid for police and fire services? That’s how popular they were back in the day.”
“Won’t work,” I declare hotly. “He can’t be bribed. God knows, I’ve brought casseroles, crock pots, pies, cakes, and goodies all the time. The three of you scarf it up and laugh at me, I bet.”
“Then flash a boob.” Molly laughs. “You’re Miss Tami King. Your dad’s the town kingpin. I bet he never told you how he got so rich.”
“He doesn’t have to. Our family always had money thanks to my great-great-grandfather parlaying that giant gold nugget into buying up all the mining claims and selling them to out of town investors. Took the profits and rolled them into the Royal King Bank, and here we are.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Molly jiggles her water glass, tinkling the ice. “That’s the official story. What you don’t know can’t hurt you.”
“Why? What do you know?”
She mock punches me. “I’m teasing you. Of course, your ancestors all came upon their fortune honestly and uprightly. But I’m sure you can find another way of getting Todd to change his mind, and it has nothing to do with money.”
She has a point. With the way Todd kissed me, I might just be able to sway him. Only problem, I can’t let anyone know, or they’ll say he’s a crooked cop.
“Todd’s not interested.” I press my lips flat to look discouraged.
Her face falls as the allure of easy money fades. “It’s up to you, Tami Tornado. I have faith you’ll turn things around with Todd.”
“I’ll just have to lobby the state senator to get our roads widened and put in another bridge.” I float a long shot trial balloon.
“When pigs fly.” She chuckles drily. “Thanks for lunch.”
“Pigs will fly. You’ll see.” I take the check. I don’t give up easily, and Todd Colson has yet to meet the determined side of me. What’s a small-town sheriff going to do when Tornado Tami blows his way?
Eight
~ Todd ~
