The Devil Wore Sneakers (13 page)

They arrived at the Moose before noon, and Liam cut the engine.

“I’ll walk Target before I show off our detective skills to Sullivan.” She jumped out and Target followed.

“Do me a favor and stay around the Moose.” Liam climbed out and gave her his keys. “Take the truck to the station. It’s safer and easier than trying to carry Target’s food and walk a dog at the same time.”

“I accept your offer and owe you Target’s firstborn pup for all your help today.”

“No thanks needed. If you lend me the keys to Ryan’s place, I’ll get the dog chow before the Moose opens tomorrow.”

“Hey, boss.” Hank hovered in the side entryway. “You bought a guard dog?” He crossed the lot to the truck to stare at Target, who was sniffing the breeze. “He looks like he could scare a few people.” Hank stepped closer and narrowed his eyes. “Is that Ryan’s husky?”

His question raised Lucy’s suspicions. “How do you know my brother’s pet?”

“Your brother used to invite me in for a drink when I drove Bella to his house. Target would bark when I came up the drive, but once Ryan let me inside, he was friendly. He’ll scare trespassers away from the Moose.”

As if on cue, Target let out a woof at a cat running across the lot.

Liam shrugged. “If we have cat burglars, we’re all set.”

Lucy smiled. She was too happy to groan over his weak jokes.

After Hank left, she asked Target, “Ready for your walk?”

He yipped and tugged Lucy toward the street. She waved to Liam and yelled, “We’ll stay near the Moose.”

She kept her word, and after a few minutes, she put the dog in the pickup and drove the short two blocks to the police station. Once she’d parked in front of the gray building, she pocketed Liam’s keys. “How about we visit Chief Sullivan, Target?”

He waved his tail and jumped out of the truck when she opened the door.

“Well, well, are you telling the cops about all the people who were mean to your brother?” Clarissa appeared from out of nowhere on the sidewalk. She wore a violet jacket, black leggings and sneakers.

“Clarissa, I didn’t see you.” Where had she come from?

“The word is you’ve moved into the Mad Moose. Must be convenient staying with your ex-boyfriend.”

“Nothing is convenient in a murder.” Was she hinting that Lucy was sleeping with Liam?

“You found Ryan’s dog?” Clarissa’s gaze ran over the animal. She wrinkled her nose and glanced at the building. “Forget bringing him to the station. The cops won’t take him to the pound for you.”

“I’m keeping him.”

“Well, he actually belongs to me. Ryan and I were married when we bought him. Come here, Target.”

The dog looked up at Clarissa, growled, and ducked behind Lucy’s legs.

Clarissa taking care of a pet? “You like dogs?”

“My new boyfriend was talking about getting a puppy for his son, but they bite and chew furniture. Worse, you have to train them to go on a piece of paper or pad on your floor, which is disgusting. Target is past those problems.”

The dog was pulling on the leash. He clearly wanted to head in the opposite direction, away from Lucy’s ex-sister-in-law.

No way did Target belong with Clarissa or her latest man. Lucy grasped for an excuse. “He sheds on everything.” She pointed to the white hairs on her fleece jacket. “Imagine what he’d do to your furniture.”

“I have a white couch and a girl who vacuums for me. I’m driving out of town to my gym. Drop him off at my place and I’ll take care of him.”

The squeal of brakes drew their attention to the curb, where a red convertible pulled in to park. A teenager swung out of the sporty car. She wore a pink sweater and matching sneakers. Her ponytail bobbed up and down as she skipped up to the walk. A blonde middle-aged woman opened the passenger door, got out, and straightened her ivory blouse over her black pants. The resemblance between the two females suggested they were mother and daughter.

Red sports car? Was it the one she’d seen at the funeral?

The teen paused by Target. “Nice dog.”

The woman passed by them and stopped at the station entrance. “Ali, we’re late for our appointment.”

Ali’s brows drew together. “Is that Mr. Watson’s dog? Target?”

The animal’s ears picked up. He barked and wagged his tail.

“You knew my brother?” She was right. This had to be the car at the funeral.

“Brother?” The girl frowned as though she didn’t understand the word.

“Target’s my pet,” Clarissa pushed between Lucy and the teenager.
“I
was married to your teacher.”

“Oh, yeah, then sorry for your loss,” the teen said, inching a foot away from Clarissa.

Lucy studied the girl. Her blonde looks reminded her of Clarissa. This girl was Ryan’s type. A sinking feeling gnawed at Lucy’s stomach.

The woman by the station’s entrance sighed. “Ali, we’re late.”

Lucy’s mind backtracked to Ryan’s funeral, searching for the sports car in her memory. She’d been standing by his casket. The red convertible slowed, and a hand held a phone out the window.

As the sporty vehicle zipped past, Lucy caught a flash of pink on the driver’s side. Yes, this was the driver. “You snapped the picture of Ryan’s coffin.”

“I’m sor-ry.” Her voice broke. “A lot of us kids wanted to attend, but his ceremony was private. I didn’t post his coffin online. Someone hacked my phone. Really.” Her lower lip trembled, and she focused on the ground. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” Her gaze shifted upward, and pain glittered in her eyes.

“Ali!” the woman shouted.

“I gotta go.” The teen bowed her head, whirled around on her heel, and the two women entered the station.

Lucy’s memory bounced to Art Smith yelling at her.
Your brother was having sex with my teenage daughter.

 
“She’s the one,” Lucy murmured aloud before she could stop herself.

“You mean the teenager Ryan had sex with?” Clarissa’s mouth gaped open.

“You heard?”

“Everyone did,” Clarissa sneered. “Ryan was sick. I’m getting out of here.” Her heels tapped on the pavement as she hurried down the sidewalk. “Drop the animal at my house,” she said over her shoulder.

Target yipped and rubbed his eyes with his paws.

Lucy shoved away her disappointment and anger. “Don’t worry, boy. You’re staying with me. Ryan would haunt me forever if I left you with Clarissa.”

She glanced at the door where Ali had disappeared. She didn’t seem much like a killer, but who could tell after just a few minutes?

The chief’s black SUV drove up and parked beside the sports car. Sullivan eased out of his vehicle and tipped his head at her. “Miss Watson. I thought that was you.” He gestured at Target. “Did you find your brother’s missing pet?”

“The Conway animal control called me a few hours ago. They picked him up as a stray and used the email I sent to ID him. The officer will send you a report.”

“Any ideas why the dog ended up thirty miles south of us?” He scratched his chin.

“I was hoping you had a guess. He’s in good shape for spending time wandering the streets or woods. Maybe the person who shot Ryan lives in Conway.”

The chief bent and turned over Target’s paw. “He might be evidence or a witness.”

“He hasn’t mastered the ‘speak’ command yet.”

“I’m aware he’s an animal, Miss Watson,” Sullivan said, vexation in his tone.

“I was trying for a little…humor.” Why was she joking with the police? She and Sullivan would never be friends. The heat of embarrassment rose in her cheeks.
Change the subject, quick.
“Speaking of witnesses, Ali Smith went inside the station a few seconds ago. I assume Mr. Smith met with you the other day after Liam and I left.”

“He did.”

“Well, she stopped to talk and admitted she snapped the picture at the funeral. Of course, she claimed someone hacked into her phone, and she had nothing to do with posting the image.”

“I have a few questions for the girl about the picture. In the meantime, Miss Smith’s agreed to take a polygraph. She’s insisting her father’s accusations about a relationship with your brother are untrue.” Sullivan sidled toward the entry. “I’ll contact the person who picked up the dog.” He stopped at the door. “Oh, one more thing. The lab got a partial print from a coin stuck to your brother’s door.”

At last, Sullivan had found a clue. “Can you make an arrest?”

“Afraid we don’t have enough for a match. Maybe Miss Smith will lead us to someone.”

Once Ali took the polygraph, they might get to the truth. “Chief. I have one last question. Any sightings of Matt Hastings?”

“None. I’ll update you if the situation changes. I gotta go.” The chief walked inside.

She released a breath and relaxed her shoulders, which were cramping. “Let’s buy your food, Target.”

As she approached the truck, a car roared toward her. Adrenaline pumped through her. She jumped up on the sidewalk, pulling the dog with her.

Shaking, she spotted the car zooming away down the road. Around her, the daily traffic bounced over the frost heaves and kept on going. Had she imagined the auto headed for her? She rubbed her eyes.

Target looked up at her and whined.

“Let’s go, boy.”

She was safe, she told herself, walking to the truck. The driver hadn’t tried to run her down.
Get it together.

She grabbed the door handle and paused. When would the feeling of someone lurking nearby disappear? One thing was certain. She couldn’t let Matt into her head.

Chapter 15

March 23

Two days later, Liam headed to Ryan’s house to pick up Target’s food. Luce always appreciated the little gestures in life. When he returned to the Moose, the glass company replaced his truck window, and by late afternoon, he squeezed out an hour to work on installing the new spotlight below the Moose’s roofline.
Let Hastings try to use the shadows to hide now.

He surveyed his handiwork while holding onto the rung of the ladder. Pride filled him. He owned his own business, and he’d bought the place without his parents’ help. His gaze traveled from the light and lingered on the sign that said “Mad Moose Bar & Grill.” The years of working at the bank had paid off. He should thank his father for that, but then, the old man would lecture him about getting a nine-to-five job rather than working the hours of a bar owner.

But right now, a speech from his father would be an almost welcome change from dealing with Ryan’s death and keeping up with the bills. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the accusation that Ryan was sleeping with his student. The idea seemed preposterous, even for risk-taking Ryan.

Liam would have to wait for Lucy to learn the results of Ali’s polygraph. When she had told him the girl had agreed to the test, he’d recognized the flicker of hope in her eyes.

The sound of a window sliding up interrupted his musings. Lucy leaned out to him. “I was about to pass you a flashlight. It’s getting dark.”

“I’m finished. People will whip on their sunglasses when they walk by the Moose.”

“I hope Gage appreciates your lighting up the street. Tonight’s a big evening for you, McAllister. Trivia Night.”

“You bet. A couple of Sadie’s sisters have volunteered their boyfriends, who’ll work for beer, to do security. We’re ready. How about celebrating with me?”

“I might drop by, but I have a lot of straws and napkins to count.”

She’d insisted on starting her inventory duties when they’d returned from Conway. The inventory duties he’d made up as an excuse for staying up to chase her fears were keeping her away from him. That would teach him to lie.

She held his gaze. “Thanks for believing I didn’t imagine the man in the snow watching my window.”

“Don’t forget to call me next time, Luce.” No one was hurting her under his guard. “You’re important to me.”

Her face flushed. “I appreciate it. Don’t fall.” She shut the window before he could answer.

He climbed down and stashed the ladder and tools in the shed. Wishing he were with Lucy, he headed into the bar. The next few hours passed quickly with the supper and after-work crowd gathering at the Moose. Liam played host and waiter while checking in with the cooking crew.

Shortly before seven, the trivia regulars arrived. Liam entered the kitchen and stopped. Lucy stood with Chip and Sadie in the middle of the room. When had she come downstairs? From the serious expressions on their faces, he guessed they weren’t sharing jokes.

“What’s up?” He crossed the floor to them.

“Chip was telling us the rumors about Ali,” Lucy said to him.

“Tell the boss,” Sadie said.

Chip shrugged. “She’s into older men since she broke up with her boyfriend, super-jock Tate Johnson, a couple of weeks ago. She kept talking about going out with a man, not a boy, and how cute some of the teachers are.”

Lucy sent Liam a look that said,
Bad for Ryan
.

Chip continued. “My sister says the cops are all over the school. They’re asking Mr. Watson’s students and their friends if they had sex with him.”