Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 02 - Apple Pots and Funeral Plots (21 page)

“That’s a lot of money for eating an apple dessert.”

“That’s what brings the contestants here.
If we didn’t offer good money prizes, no one would come.”

The lieutenant slammed down his file.
“That’s enough chit chat.
Let’s get back to my questions.”

The role of the bad cop suited the lieutenant.
I glanced at Officer Thompson.
“Is he always this grouchy?”

Officer Thompson stifled a chuckle and sat back.
“No, he just doesn’t like anyone shooting up his town.”

“That’s right!” the lieutenant roared.
“I want to know how your gun got out of the safe that, you supposedly put it in, and then was used to shoot at some kids.”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged, dipped my last fry into the ketchup, and ate it.

Officer Thompson reached over and touched my arm.
“Is there any possibility that someone got into your room and took it?”

It was a stupid question, but he asked so nicely, he made a great good cop.
“I don’t know.
I suppose they could have.
I’ve been out of my room quite a bit in the last few days.”

“Who else did you tell about the gun?”
The lieutenant bellowed.

I looked at Officer Thompson.
“I didn’t tell anyone about the gun.
That would have been reckless of me, don’t you think?”

“Yes, I’m sure you’d be careful.
You seem to be a very responsible person.”

“I try.”

“Well, you didn’t try hard enough.
Someone found out about the gun and shot up one of my streets with it!”
The lieutenant stood up and paced the room.
“A couple of kids walking to the carnival were almost killed.
That’s totally unacceptable!”

“I agree with you,” I said, shaking my head.
“And what are you going to do about those safes in the motels?
Obviously they’re not secure if anyone can walk into a room and take things out of them.”

“The safes are totally secure.
Nobody but the motel owners and my officers know the combinations.”

“Is it possible one of your officers took my gun and shot at those kids?”
I suggested and then leaned back to wait for the barrage of anger that would come next.

The lieutenant’s face turned red, like a volcano ready to erupt.
Officer Thompson’s eyes went wide, as if he were afraid of the explosion, too.

But before the lieutenant could say anything, the phone on the wall rang.
Officer Thompson jumped up and answered it.
He listened for a few seconds, then came over to the lieutenant and whispered in his ear.
The lieutenant’s red face drained of color; he raised his eyebrows and glared at me.
Then he stood up and he and Officer Thompson left the room.

Well, that was kind of fun.
What was next?
Bad cop – worse cop?
I laid my head back on the table and thought about asking for a lawyer again.
Maybe I could get some ice cream or an apple pot for dessert.

The door opened and I didn’t even raise my head.
I just said, “I want to see a lawyer.”

No answer.

“Really, I want a lawyer.”

No answer.

I heard someone walk across the room and tap me on the shoulder.
When I glanced up, Tom stood over me.
He was dressed in his uniform - a spectacular sight, indeed.
I caught my breath and my skin tingled.

My face broke out into a huge smile as the sight of him warmed my entire body.
“Hi, love.”

“Hello, honey,” he smiled, then concerned
, he
narrowed his eyes.
He reached down to touch my forehead.
“Are you okay, Liza?”

I’d totally forgotten about my head.
It was probably still pretty purple and swollen from where I’d hit the steering wheel in the accident and the ground of the mine.
“I’m fine.”
I smiled and waved my hand in the air.

He squatted down, so he’d be at my eye level.
“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”
I leaned over, kissed him gently on his cheek, and whispered, “Better than fine now that you’re here.”

He stood and smiled.
“You’re in a very good mood.”

“Oh, I was having such fun.”
My smile broadened.

He shook his head.
“I gave you some of my business cards and told you if you ever got in trouble with the police to just give them my card.”

“Oh, that would be too easy.”

Tom shook his head and pointed toward the door.
“I think it’s time for you to get out of here.”

“Not yet,” I whined.

“Why not?” he asked.

“It’s been so cool.
I got to ask for a lawyer.
Then, of course, they told me I wasn’t being charged.
So I told them I was leaving because I was hungry.
Then they said they’d feed me if I stayed and answered some questions.
So I ordered the most expensive sandwich from the most expensive restaurant in town, and you know what?”

“What?”

“They brought it to me.”
I laughed.
“It was fabulous and way out of my budget, which made it even better. We were just getting into the ‘good cop – bad cop’ routine.”

Tom laughed.
“Only you could get enjoyment out of being interrogated.”

“I haven’t even gotten a chance to play ‘bad cop – worse cop’ yet.”

“Come on, Liza.
I’ll play ‘bad cop – worse cop’ with you.”

I raised my eyebrows and smiled at Tom.
“Oh, that would be so much more fun.
And you are dressed in the right uniform for it.”

Tom eyes glistened and he smiled at me.

“I think I know what’s on your mind.”

“Liza, it’s been almost three weeks since I’ve seen you, and listening to the excitement in your voice while you recount your own episode of “Law and Order” has me thinking of only one thing.”

“Oh.”
I waved my hand in the air.
“That’s always on your mind.”

“That’s true.
Come on,” he smiled and his eyes glistened.
“I’ll get you some dessert, afterwards.”

I stood up and took his hand.
“You know exactly how to get what you want.
Maybe you could give the local cops some pointers.”

He shook his head and we strolled out of the interrogation room.
As we walked through the office, Tom nodded at the lieutenant.
Parked in front of the office was Tom’s patrol car.
It went so well with the uniform.

I checked my watch.
I’d been in custody only four hours.
I tilted my head and smiled at him.
“How did you get here so quick?”

“Lights and sirens.”

“Not even you can drive that fast.”

“I had a head start.”

“Excuse me?” I said, but before he could think up an excuse, I added, “and the truth Sheriff Owens.”

He shrugged.
“I’ve had the radio in my office tuned to this area’s police dispatch network ever since you fell into the mine.
When I heard about the shooting, it didn’t feel right, so I started here.
I’m glad I did.
I don’t like it when they put my girl in the box.”

“But I had a good time in the box.”

He shook his head.
“Get in the car, Liza.”

“Okay.”

Tom started the car and I gave him directions to the inn.
Then I put my hand on his arm.
“Wait.”

“What?”

“I don’t know what they did with
Shelby
.
She was with me at the inn when the police came and got me.
Jimmy said he’d take care of her, but I don’t know what he did with her.”

“We better go find her first.
I’d like your mind on me rather than worrying about the dog.”

“Thanks.
Can I use your cell phone?
They didn’t let me take anything with me when I left the inn.”

“Sure.”
Tom pulled his cell phone from his belt and handed it to me.

I didn’t know Jimmy’s number, but I had Bill’s, so I quickly dialed it.
He answered on the second ring.

“Bill’s towing.”

“Hi, Bill.”

“Hi,
Liza
.
How was your interrogation?”

“Actually, it was kind of fun.”

“I hear your boyfriend’s in town.”

“Wow, word travels fast around here.
Do you know where your brother is?
He was with me when they came and arrested me.
I don’t know where
Shelby
is.”

“She’s with me.
Jimmy had to go over to the carnival.
There was some incident between a couple of the teenage boys.
Do you want me to bring her back to the inn?”

“No, we’ll stop by and get her.”

“Great, she’s in the office with me.”

I handed the phone back to Tom.
“Can we stop and get
Shelby
?”

“Of course.”

I gave Tom directions to Bill’s place and we were there in a few minutes.
As soon as we drove up, Bill and Shelby came out of the front door.
She went directly to Tom and jumped up on him.
He bent down and
pet
her.
She ran around him, barked, and then wanted to be petted some more.

I walked over to Bill.
“Thanks for taking care of
Shelby
.”

“You’re welcome, Liza.”
He glanced over at Tom and Shelby.
“She started whining as soon as his tires hit the gravel.”

“I know, she has this thing for him.”
I laughed.

“Well, he must be a good guy, if
Shelby
likes him.”

“He is.”

Finally,
Shelby
ran over to me and barked.
“So, now you want to say hello to me.
What am I, your second choice?”

She barked, again.

Tom came over and I introduced him to Bill.
They shook hands.

“Thanks for getting Liza out of her car and taking such good care of her since she’s been here.”

Bill nodded.
“You’re welcome.”
He glanced at me.
“She does tend to get into trouble easily, doesn’t she?”

Tom laughed and shook his head.
“Oh, yes.”

“Hey! Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” I said in mocked anger.

Both men laughed.

“Men!
Well, I’m going to go back to the inn.
I’ve had a trying afternoon.”
I put the back of my hand on my forehead and leaned my head back, playing like a dramatic weak damsel.

Tom rolled his eyes.
“I thought I was going to get you some dessert.”

“Oh, yeah.”
I sighed.
“I almost forgot.”

“Her?
Forget a meal?
Never!”
Bill insisted.

Tom looked at Bill.
“You do know her well.”

Tom and Bill laughed again.
I was glad they were getting along so well, even if it was at my expense.
I whistled and
Shelby
came over to me.
“Let’s go, girl.”
Then I glanced back at Tom.
“Are you coming?”

Tom’s smile broadened and his eyes sparkled.
“Of course.”

We got back into the patrol car.
Shelby took her usual spot in the back seat.
I glanced at the back.
“Still no harness?”

“I keep telling you that patrol dogs don’t wear a harness.
I open the door.
They jump out and catch the bad guys.
That wouldn’t work if I had to un-harness them and then send them out.”

“It still isn’t safe.”

“I thought we agreed to disagree on this issue.”

“I know.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You’re in a feisty mood, Liza.”

“I know.”

“And I know exactly what to do with all that energy.”
He smiled and brushed the back of his hand across my cheek.