Page 23 of Ghost Town Boogie
“We got a little off track and it ended up being more of a social call.” She saw no need to tell him they’d finished their conversation talking about getting laid.
He flipped open a small notebook that fit in the palm of his hand. “What time was this?”
She gave him her best estimate.
“Was there anyone else in the store while you were there?”
“A couple of tourists. They seemed to be just browsing.”
“Describe them?”
The description she offered was generic, but he wrote down every word. Anna’s curiosity grew with every passing second. This couldn’t be good.
Maxwell flipped his notebook closed and leaned back in his chair. At that moment he looked dangerous, like a snake waiting to strike, like a man with bad intentions.
Just minutes ago she’d been looking for a man, someone other than Colt, but she was pretty sure she couldn’t handle this one.
“What kind of relationship did you have with Nicole?”
Did you have, not do you have. “I… I… I barely know her. She’s selling some of my mother’s old things, as I said. That’s it.”
“But you mentioned that this afternoon’s visit turned social. What did you two talk about?”
She considered lying, but this was beginning to look serious. “Nicole wanted to know if I was involved with a man we both know. I assured her I was not.”
He nodded, then of course he asked. “What man is this?”
“Coltrane Hart.”
Maxwell almost smiled. “Coltrane. That’s Colt’s name?” He shook off the smile. “Never mind. Not important. So, you left the antique store. The tourist couple was still there?”
“Yes.”
He asked again about the time, who she saw on the sidewalk, where she went after she left Treasures Past.
“I walked to Colt’s rental house on Pine Street. He’s moving in this…”
Maxwell stopped her with a wave of his hand. “Yeah, I know, I’ve gotta help him move some of his stuff tomorrow. Though now it looks like I might not have the time. How long did you stay with Colt?”
Not long enough…
“Just a few minutes.”
“What did you talk about?”
“His dumpster.” Among other things… “Chief Maxwell, what is this about? Is Nicole okay?” Her heart leapt into her throat. She knew the answer before it came.
He didn’t hesitate or pull any punches. “Sadly, she is not at all okay. I shouldn’t say anything but everyone will know soon enough. The Sheriff isn’t exactly subtle. Every blue light in the county is currently flashing in downtown Seawolf Beach.”
That did not sound good.
The chief looked at her hard, catching her eye in a way that was probing and unflinching. “Nicole Woodward is dead. She was murdered this afternoon. Still waiting on forensics, but it looks as if you and the tourists no one else saw were the last ones to see her alive.”
CHAPTER 8
Colt had been so sure he’d sleep great in the new place. No ghosts watching as he tried to go to sleep. New bed, which had been delivered along with a plain gray couch not half an hour after Anna left rejected and confused. They’d taken away the old green sofa, which one of the younger guys thought could be cleaned and saved for his new apartment. Good luck with that…
The windows in the kitchen and main bedroom were open to let in the cool night air. The place still needed to be aired out, and he liked the lower temps in the evening. It was usually a great time to run, but lately when he considered hitting the streets he thought of Jack and his last run. Had he been hit by a car? Shot? There were a dozen possibilities, none of them good.
