Devils Among Us (Devin Dushane Series Book 1) (6 page)

He couldn’t see the corners of her mouth twitch, so she
sighed as if he was leaning on her last nerve. “It means
redemption
.”

Not missing a beat, he plopped down in the seat next to her.

“Are you sure? For all you know, it could be an
advertisement for a dry cleaner.”

That did it. He’d broken through her ice queen routine. She
burst out laughing. He gave her the cheesy grin of a little boy that’s been
caught doing something good instead of naughty for once.

Once she wiped the tears out of her eyes she was able to
answer him. “Trust me, it’s
redemption.
I have a lot of Japanese
friends. So unless they’re all in on some universal practical joke, I think I’m
pretty safe.”

Smiling, she picked up her pen to start writing again when
he stopped her. “Adam and I wanted to take you to lunch and introduce you to
the local greasy fare. Are you hungry?”

She was about to protest that it was too early to break for
lunch when she glanced at the clock. She was shocked to see it was already twelve-thirty.
She’d been going through these files for three hours.

“Actually yeah, I’m starving. Bring on the grease.”

The unlikely trio headed across the grass square in the
center of town to the diner that sat diagonally across from the sheriff’s
department. Devin felt like she was stepping into an old black and white TV
show. This was a classic 50s diner. She was surprised the waitresses weren’t
wearing roller skates. It was packed with the lunchtime rush, but they were
lucky enough to snag a booth that hadn’t even been cleaned yet, so they didn’t
have to wait for a table.

“Why do I get the feeling that they make a mean milkshake
here?” Devin asked as she began flipping through the menu.

“Now that would be a stereotype… their root beer float is
just as good as their milkshake.” Adam grinned at her as he leaned back in the
booth. Not usually her type, but she had to admit he was easy on the eyes. He
was lean and golden all over, with lines crinkling around his eyes from
spending time out in the sun.

Neither of the guys looked at the menu.

“Already know what you want?” she asked.

“The special.” They answered in unison.

“Which is…?”

“Bound to be something good,” Adam informed her.

Their waitress arrived then in a pink polyester dress
straight out of 1952. She seemed to already know Shane and Adam. What a shock.

“Afternoon, Detectives.” She was a petite blonde of about
sixteen, and she smiled shyly at Devin.

“Afternoon, Casey. This is Detective Dushane from Richmond. Detective this is Sheriff’s Bittner’s granddaughter, Casey.”

The girl turned slightly pink at Shane’s introduction.
“Pleased to meet you Detective. What can I get you?”

“You can call me Devin, and I’d love to know what this legendary
special is.”

She informed them that the daily special was hamburger steak
with mashed potatoes and gravy and a heapin’ pile of lima beans. Devin wondered
how many servings a
heapin’ pile
equaled. She declined the special and
instead went with something called a confederate burger—a cheeseburger topped
with salty country ham and an onion ring—accompanied by crinkle cut French
fries for her daily dose of grease.

“You want sweet tea with that, ma’am?” What was with these
people and sweet tea?

“Um, no, I think I’ll try the root beer float.” Apparently
that was an acceptable substitution for tea, because Casey scribbled it down
and disappeared behind the counter to place the order.

“I would have thought a city gal like you would be a
vegetarian. I’m impressed you’re not afraid of a little red meat.” She could
tell Shane was looking for an opportunity to get a dig in. Let him keep
looking.

“Oh, I’m all for eating your vegetables, but if you’re not
going to eat a steak every now and then, what’s the point of breathing?” She
wasn’t able to keep a straight face, especially when Adam and Shane both
cracked up.

Shane gave her an enthusiastic “amen,” which with his heavy
accent sounded more like three syllables than two “ay-mi-en.”

“All right what is with the accent? Are you from the Deep South,
or are you just doing a 24/7 impression of Mathew McConaughey?” It was a rude
question, but it was exactly the kind of bluntness Devin was known for. Plus,
she felt like she could get away with it with her new nemesis.

“Why? Do you like it?” Shane wiggled his eyebrows at her.

“I’m not sure yet. It’s kind of like mold; it grows on you.”

“I’ll tell you if we get to ask you something.” The plotting
look was back, and Devin took the bait.

“What, a little truth or dare over lunch?” She leaned back
in the booth and laid her arm up on the seat back but never broke eye contact.
Most people were unnerved when she kept cool, constant eye contact, but Shane
didn’t seem to mind.

“Ooh, can we skip right to the dare part?” Shane asked with
enthusiasm.

“No.”

“Darn!” He crumpled like a flattened balloon.

“But I will give you an answer.” He brightened considerably
and started pondering what question to go with.

“Uh-uh! First the accent, why do you have three times the
accent of anyone else in town?”

“That’s easy. I grew up in Pulaski down near the state line.
But I have been told I look a great deal like a certain actor from Texas.” He winked one of his twinkling blue eyes at her, which was about the only
similarity he had with said actor. His short gelled hair was darker than hers.

“Wow! I didn’t know the horse that played Mr. Ed was from Texas!” She kept her expression completely innocent. Shane glared at her, and Adam was
still snickering when their food arrived moments later.

“So how did you end up here instead of Pulaski?”

“No, no. It’s our turn for a question.” He looked affronted
that she would try to cheat.

“Technically this is just the second part to the first
question. Plus it’s my game, so my rules. How did you end up here?” She popped
a French fry in her mouth before he could say anything else.

“My Dad was from here originally, and my grandparents and
aunt and still live here, so after college I came here to help them out. I’ve
stayed pretty much ever since then.”

She let the “pretty much” part slide for another time and
took a sip of her float. “You weren’t kidding! This really is good!” She took
another long pull. “How about you Adam are you a local or a transplant?”

Adam waved his fork in the air indecisively. “A little of
both, actually. I needed an extra credit in college that required me to do a genealogy
research project, which led me to Fenton. My family ties here are very old. I
liked the town so much, I took a job at the courthouse after graduation and
moved here.”

“Fair enough, so what’s your all’s question?”

Shane didn’t even hesitate. “Why are you looking into the Bennett
murder? Are you writing a book?” He had turned very serious. Even Adam had
grown sober and rested his elbows on the table, waiting for her response.
Ahh, they think I’m writing a book about the murder, and they’re concerned I’m
going to trash their small-town law enforcement.

She had to smile at their dire faces. “No, I’m not writing a
book, and I’m not looking for a TV or movie deal, either. They visibly relaxed.
“I’m here because my father is Bobby Bennett, and Laney Bennett was his sister
and my aunt.”

She didn’t think it was possible for Shane to be speechless,
but it looked like that was exactly the case.

Adam looked alarmed. “Does the sheriff know that? It could
be a serious conflict of interest for a family member to look through those
files!”

Devin rolled her eyes at him. “Of course he knows! That’s
why he gave me access. I’m trying to bring closure to the family, not tarnish
Fenton’s precious reputation. Relax!” She had pegged Adam as a strait-laced, by
the books kind of guy.
Boy, was I dead on!
“The case has been cold for
years. Why not let me have a crack it?”

Shane was studying her hard, still looking serious. “Your
family has been living in the shadow of that tragedy all this time.”

She was surprised at the intuitiveness of his statement.
“Yes I…” She corrected herself. “
We
have. Maybe I can bring us out into the
sunlight.”

She grinned to lighten the mood. “My turn—where is there a
decent gym in Fenton?”

Adam laughed as he began chewing on a toothpick. “Well it
depends on what you’re looking for. There’s one of those all women’s circuit
training gyms in the shopping center, but somehow I just can’t see you in
there.” Shane snorted. “Then there’s a weight-lifting gym in the basement of
the discount flooring store on Church Street. They’ve got a couple treadmills
and stair climbers, but it’s mostly free weights.”

“Do they have a punching bag?”

He might have pegged her as not being the step aerobics
type, but by the look on his face, he hadn’t expected this question.

“Uh, yeah actually, I think they do.”

“Perfect. Okay, what’s your next question?” By now she was polishing
off her float, thinking how much better it would have been with diet soda.

This time Adam jumped in with a question. “Why isn’t your
name Bennett?”

“Ooh, good one!” Shane chimed in.

“And you two are detectives? I’m divorced, geniuses. I’m not
even going to count that as one of your questions. Next.”

Shane was ready with a question that surprised her. “Your
necklace looks like it has letters in the design. What does it mean?”

Devin rubbed the silver medallion that rested in the hollow
at the base of her throat, between her thumb and fore finger. Often she forgot
it was there because it was such a part of her. The leather band that held it
around her neck was worn with wear. Most people thought it was an abstract
design.

“No one has ever noticed the letters before. I’m impressed.”
He lit up, but she cut him off before he could toss in a cheesy come on. “Not
that impressed. Save it.” He stuck his tongue out at her like a two-year-old.

“My ex-sister-in-law had this made for me. I’m her son’s
godmother. It’s the letter D wrapped around his initials.”

“Let me get this straight, your ex-husband’s nephew is your
godson
?
They picked you as the godmother, and now you’re estranged from the family?
That must get interesting at birthday parties.” Adam was floored by this
complication.

“Actually, he was born after the divorce, and I’m not
estranged from the family. I’m actually closer to them than my own family.
Besides Carter and I have been best friends since we were sixteen. One bad
decision in Atlantic City doesn’t change that fact.” Most people could never
understand how she was so close to her ex-husband, especially considering his
affairs, but they struck some sort of weird yin and yang balance that made
sense for them.

“So you were…” Adam didn’t get to finish his question,
because Shane’s quick mind made the connection.

“Wait. Carter Dushane? As in
the
Carter Dushane, point
guard for the Lakers?” His voice was rising, and several people turned to look
at them.

“Shhh!”  She was waving her hands as if trying to flag down
a train. “Yes. Carter Dushane of the L.A. Lakers is my ex-husband. If you want
tickets next time they’re in D.C. playing the Wizards, let me know, but for
goodness’ sake, be quiet!” That’s all she needed just coming into town.

“You were married to an NBA star. Wow, do you miss that
whole life style?” She could tell by his awestruck look he was picturing club-hopping
in SUV limos and sitting courtside with Hollywood stars.

“It really wasn’t that glamorous. We were in college when we
got married and just scraping by. After graduation he was drafted by the Suns.
So he was in Phoenix with the team and I was…travelling.” She was purposely
vague about her whereabouts and hoped they would be too caught up in her pseudo-celebrity
status to notice.

Shane was still mesmerized with grandiose thoughts of
luxury. “So you were already married when he became a basketball star? That
must have been a heck of divorce settlement. What did you get, a Ferrari?”

Devin grimaced at the thought. “Lord no, don’t give him any
ideas.” That was exactly the kind of thing Carter would do—leave a sports car
parked on her curb. “I asked for quite a modest settlement, not that it’s any
of your business.” She glared at him over her float, but he was un-fazed.

“So you helped him launch his career, he’s making millions,
and you got a modest settlement? Sounds like you had a crappy lawyer.”

Adam looked like he would happily disappear under the table
and let the two of them continue this discussion without him. She was still
glaring at Shane when she answered. “My lawyer was fine. It was an uncontested
amicable divorce. I just wanted enough of a settlement to get me on my feet
since I didn’t have a job yet, but Carter has always been overly generous where
I’m concerned, so he still sends me alimony. Again, not that it’s any of your
business. Are you always this nosy? Or do you just enjoy being rude to me in
particular?”

She had the feeling that he was used to smoothing things
over with his charming smile, but she was unmoved and continued to give him a
stare that could freeze lava. He just smiled wider.

“I’m sorry.”

Yeah, he’s sorry, all right.
A sorry excuse for a
human being!

“This doesn’t speak well of my southern hospitality does it?
I’ve just never met a millionaire’s wife before, and my curiosity got the best
of me.”

“Ex-wife.”
Why do I have to keep repeating that lately?
“And I’m nobody special, just a regular cop.”

He spoke so low she almost didn’t catch what he said. “Oh,
I’d wager you’re very special.”

She heard Adam mutter into the ice of his now empty tea
glass “Here we go again.”