Page 70 of All You Want
“No, I don’t think so. He pushed me onto the body.” I clench my teeth as tight as my fists. “He wanted to pin the crime on me. All he left behind was the black sheet. I couldn’t stand looking at Viola, so I covered her with it.”
“You basically touched everything.” He sighs and paces back and forth in the tiny bathroom. “Give me a timeline, as much as you can remember. The fireworks ended, then what?”
I tell him about Neil escorting me to my car. How we walked around the back, and how I retrieved my overnight bag. Neil left, or he appeared to have left. I got my bag and spotted a sliver of light coming through the service door. I was upset that someone had propped the door open, so I marched up the steps from the parking lot and strode toward the door. The black cat scampered out, and I discovered the body.
I screamed and screamed, and a horde of footsteps came out. Apparently, my screams had been broadcasted inside the rooms, and a ghostly voice told of a hashtag selfie opportunity complete with simulated murder victim.
When everyone appeared, they took pictures with me, trampled over the blood, touched the baseball bat, gawked at Viola’s body, used the broom I dropped to sweep the floor, and argued about how fake or realistic the corpse looked.
“They’ve destroyed all the evidence,” Todd says, sounding frustrated. “I need to go down and get everyone’s statement, then review the security videos. Also, who has access to the control room?”
“Only me, Molly, and Evan. That narrows the suspect, doesn’t it?”
“At least the person who made the announcement,” Todd says. “Another thing. You said Neil left, but he reappeared. How well do you know him?”
“Hired him from a chain in Sacramento. Good references. Maybe he forgot something and came back.”
“Or he doubled back when he saw you approach the loading dock. He could have been the man in the black sheet.”
“I hope not.” Goosebumps pop all over my naked body, and I scratch at the blood flecks. “Can I shower now, Sheriff? Are you finished?”
“For now.” His shadow moves toward the bathroom door. “I’m going downstairs to question everyone and review the security tape, but I’m coming back to protect you.”
“I don’t need you to go all chivalrous on me.” My tone comes out more biting than I expect. Probably because I’m still pissed at him for treating me like an undercover sidepiece. “If I want protection, I want you to assign Shane.”
“No, Tami.” His presence is right outside of the plastic shower curtain. Tension rolls off of him like static before a dry lightning storm. “I know I didn’t kill Viola, but I don’t know that about anyone else. You trapped the killer behind the dumpster when you found the body. You said it was still warm.”
“I can’t identify him.”
“Or her. You said lean, stronger and taller than you. How do you know it’s not the PE teacher? I heard rumors she demanded a free room and is challenging your ownership of the Bee Sting.”
“You hear a lot.” I hug myself, because it’s getting cold, and all I want is to turn on the hot water. “I know it was a man.”
“How?” His voice betrays an intense unease.
“He pushed his hard penis against my behind. I don’t think Diana Van Dirk has a penis, do you? She’s dating your uncle Chip, isn’t she?”
“My uncle’s drunk ninety percent of the time. I’m not sure he’d even notice. But it doesn’t matter. You’re in danger because the killer doesn’t know how much you saw or heard. The killer doesn’t know if you can identify him. So, whether you like it or not, I’m staying with you tonight, parents or no parents. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“You’re doing it again.” A dull heat boils over me. “Making an excuse for sticking close to me. I already told you I’m not interested in being the secret midnight hookup.”
He yanks the shower curtain aside, catching me with my hands covering my breasts. His dark-brown eyes are like deep pools of coffee, and his face is as rugged as a chiseled boulder.
He cups my head with both hands and tilts my lips toward his. “We’ll sort this thing out together. You’re in too much danger for me to keep this under wraps. I’ll talk to your parents and let the entire town know you’re mine, and nobody would dare mess with you.”
I want to kiss him so badly. In fact, my lips are pursed on the verge of complete surrender. But a ghostly finger taps on the back of my neck, and I draw back, determined to keep my pride intact.
“If you’re only doing this to keep me safe or from an overinflated sense of responsibility, forget it. Everyone in town will know it’s fake, and I’ll still be the laughingstock. Don’t I deserve a little respect?”
“After this is over and you’re safe.” He strokes the side of my face, melting my resolve, but not quite.
“No, you’ll treat me like any other hotel guest. Set a deputy in front of my door, but I don’t want any special treatment masquerading as protection.”
“I thought you were on board with it just yesterday. I don’t get it.” He scratches his head and turns away from me. “You wanted to go all cloak and dagger. It’s why I dressed up as Bigfoot.”
“I thought it was the only way to get you to be interested. You said you can’t go out in the open because you don’t want to be seen as a crooked cop.”
“I’m not a crooked cop.” His jaw sets with determination. “And I need your help. What is Evan covering up for you?”
