Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) (10 page)

Ted’s expression went blank, but he motioned for me to hand him the folder and pen. I complied.

“Wouldn’t put anything past a woman like that,” Leonard said. “I was at the book signing and saw this Darlene woman attacking the victim. Pretty vicious.”

As annoyed as I was with Darlene, I couldn’t let Ted think the worst about her actions tonight. “She didn’t threaten me. Not really.”

Steve and Ted gaped at me for moment. Even Karen seemed a little shocked at my words. She had intended to dramatize the event to make herself look more heroic.

Steve moved away from Karen and paused near me. I saw the hesitation in his eyes. He wanted to show me his support and care but wasn’t sure if I would appreciate it. I offered a soft smile and took a step closer. He placed an arm around my shoulders and I snuggled into his side.

Ted switched his attention to the photographer. “You have photos of the fight in the store?”

Karen fought a frown as her eyes turned into a sliver of evil on her face.

“A couple. Also got some tonight of Darlene forcing her way into the scrapbook store.” Leonard stuck his hand into his front jean pocket. “I have the memory card with all the pictures on it. Karen said you’d need it.”

“We were going to drop it off tomorrow after getting the shots we needed from it.” Karen slid her gaze toward Steve. “When I heard about Faith being dragged down here like a criminal, I knew we had to turn it over tonight.”

Right. I’m sure this was all about me, and had nothing to do with Steve. The woman actually had the gall to use helping me as a way to win Steve’s affections.

Leonard held out a memory card. “Here you go, Detective.”

Ted took the card. “Let me make sure I understand this scenario correctly. You happened to be behind Scrap This and saw Faith and then Darlene show up.”

“Yes,” Leonard said.

“That leaves me wondering what you were doing there.” Frowning, Ted leveled a hard stare at Leonard.

The man snuck a glance at Karen. She licked her lips and nodded.

“No.” Ted held up a hand and shook his head. “I don’t want you telling me what Miss England told you to say. I want the truth.”

“He is—” Karen began.

“Trying to confirm his truth with what you’ve told me. I saw the look,” Ted said.

I volleyed my gaze back and forth between the three participants. Steve gave my shoulder a squeeze. I gave a quick, light sidekick to his ankle. I didn’t need a reminder to remain quiet. For now, I was off Ted’s radar and I liked it. I enjoyed seeing Karen squirm. It was also fun watching Ted interrogate someone else for a change.

“He went on a job for me and was making sure he could tell you. Reporters do have their own private sources.” Karen gave Ted a haughty look.

“Private sources.” Ted stood directly in front of Karen and looked down on her. “So, someone has been feeding you information about the murder and you’re keeping it quiet.”

Karen looked nervous. “No, Detective that’s not what I’m saying.”

“Sounded like it to me.”

Steve tensed beside me. His body grew rigid and his hand bit into my shoulder. I sucked in a breath. and he released his hold. Peeking up at him, I saw his intense focus on Ted and Karen. I wasn’t sure if the anger was directed toward the detective or the reporter.

From the slight blush creeping onto Karen’s cheeks, I knew she hoped Steve planned on defending her.

Not if I could help it. “You’re having your photographer follow me around.” I added as much shock and fear into my voice as I could. “Stalk me.”

Karen narrowed her gaze at me. “Don’t flatter yourself, Faith.”

I gasped in mock indignation. “You think I want some man watching me.”

“As most people know, criminals usually return to the scene of the crime,” Karen said.

Blinking rapidly, I looked up at Steve. “They think I killed...”

Steve hugged me. “No one thinks you did anything to Belinda.”

“Hazel thinks Cheryl had something to do with it. But I told her it wasn’t true,” Karen said.

“What?” Steve and I said in unison.

“Hazel said she called Cheryl and told her Belinda left her necklace at the store and needed it,” Karen said. “Cheryl refused to go that night, so Belinda called Faith to help her.”

Why did people keep saying that? “Belinda did not call me. And I can’t believe Hazel expected my grandmother to head out in the dark and cold to get the diva necklace.”

Ted frowned.

She shrugged. “I’m only telling you what Hazel said. She called me because she feared the police wouldn’t look into the matter.”

Ted crossed his arms. “Hazel never mentioned any of this last night.”

“She probably felt bad she didn’t insist Cheryl go to the store instead of Belinda going to meet Faith.”

“For crying out loud. Are you listening to me? Belinda didn’t call me so I wasn’t going there to meet her.” Sweat coated my hands and a low buzz started in my head and ears. No. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t go through this again. I had nothing to do with Belinda’s death. “Check my phone records.”

Ted rested a hand on my shoulder as Steve tightened his hold on me. “You’re not under suspicion Faith.”

“That’s why Hazel came to the press instead of the police,” Karen said as she inspected her polish. “She knew the detective in town has a little bit of a crush on the most likely suspect.”

“That’s enough.” Ted’s clipped words put an end to Karen’s conversation. “The only people who determine suspects are the police. And none of you are on the force. Am I making myself clear?”

We all nodded. Ted’s patience had been tried and he was ready to convict and sentence us if we continued playing point the finger.

“I want the truth. Not allegations. Not assumptions. The truth as simple and plain as can be made. Leonard, you first.” Ted pointed at him.

“Karen wanted me to hang around the store tonight and get pictures of anyone who came by,” Leonard said. “Criminals usually come back to the scene. They either want to cover their tracks or else bask in their crime.”

Karen nodded. “That’s right. I’ve done a lot of reading about criminals and their thought processes. I figured if we got pictures of people hanging around the store, especially when it was closed, we’d find out who killed poor Belinda Watson.”

“Just what we need in this town, more arm chair detectives,” Ted said. “And did you ever think people might assume you two were involved because you are hanging around the store in the middle of the night?”

“I wasn’t hanging around the store,” Karen said. “Leonard was.”

Ted fixed his gaze on Leonard. “Isn’t that nice of you, Miss England? You send someone else to do your stalking so you couldn’t be charged with anything.”

“I wasn’t stalking anyone,” Leonard said. “I just went to get some pictures. Good thing I was there tonight so I could back up Faith’s story.”

“I don’t need back up,” I said. “And I don’t have a story.”

A story was something someone said as entertainment. Fiction. Made up. I was giving verbal truth. No embellishing.

“Since this has been cleared up as far as Faith is concerned, may she go home?” Steve started leading me out the door.

Ted nodded and motioned for us to go. “Make sure she gets home. She looks a little peaked. I think seeing Belinda like that affected her more than she wants us to know.”

No. Seeing Karen make goo-goo eyes was churning my stomach. I kept it to myself. No sense letting Karen know how much her interest in Steve annoyed me.

“Faith doesn’t want anyone to think she can’t handle the weight of the world.” Steve tightened his hold around me.

“Some women just aren’t cut out for high pressure jobs.” Karen grinned, an evil-queen twist of the lips.

Couldn’t cut it? I’d show her who couldn’t cut it. I wiggled from Steve’s hold and headed in her direction. Steve tucked me back up against him.

Karen’s eyes narrowed. I smiled and snuggled into Steve. Ha! Take that. She might have won the battle of the digs, but I won the war of who the man took home.

ELEVEN

There’d been little dialogue between me and Steve since we left the police station. I had tried a conversation a few times, but Steve wasn’t in the mood. He pulled up beside my car parked at Home Brewed. I remained still, waiting to see if he’d say something. Even the obvious like “we’re here.”

More minutes ticked by. Okay. I got the point. He had nothing to say to me, or probably more likely, nothing nice to say so was refraining from talking. Well, I needed to talk.

“I appreciate you coming to help me out. Tonight and yesterday. It means a lot to me.”

Steve nodded and stared out the window.

I expected my mini confession to get some kind of reaction from him. Okay, I needed to try again and harder. “I’m not setting out trying to find trouble. It just kind of keeps working out that way for me.”

Steve lips turned up slightly. “I know this isn’t my business, but my advice is don’t trust Darlene again.”

I let out an unladylike snort. “There’s a warning I don’t need.”

“I’m thinking I should check your place tonight. I don’t like knowing Karen had the photographer following you around.”

This was one of my concerns of ‘officially’ dating Steve. He’d think it was his duty to protect me and look after me. I didn’t need looking after, or being told what was in my best interest.

“She had him watching the store. Not me. I’ll be fine.”

Steve fought a frown.

I knew he meant well. And, I did like the fact he was annoyed with Karen. “It’s nice knowing I have someone I can count on. I kind of feel like I’m using you and I hate it.”

Steve faced me. “You can count on me. I’m here for you.”

“I know.”

Steve cupped my cheek. “That means a lot to me. I wish though you could trust me. I want the wall down between us.”

“There’s no wall.” I inched back, hating breaking contact but also terrified of it. Butterflies had taken flight in my stomach and a heated feeling raced through me. Relying was enough at this point.

I fooled myself for over a year, believing my only interest in Steve was in admiring him. One unexpected and soul-shattering kiss from Steve during my last “investigation” had me reconsidering my stance on no romantic entanglements ever. I still found myself wavering between forever single or trying again. Every guy wasn’t Adam.

“Don’t lie to me. Or yourself. You don’t mind talking as long as the conversation doesn’t steer toward defining what we are to each other. “

“You’re important to me. We’re friends.”

“I want more than just being your friend.”

I knew that. So did practically everyone else. I wanted more but then I didn’t. “You don’t want to be friends?” I gave him an innocent smile.

“I’d like more than friends.” Steve settled back into the driver’s seat. “If friends are all we’re meant to be, let me know. I’ll respect your decision.” 

Why did I have to make a decision right now? I liked being friends and the flirting. Liked the will-we-or-won’t-we become an actual item aspect of our relationship. How long would Steve keep waiting for me to make some kind of declaration? Did he want the type of relationship I was satisfied with? Were all my confusing signals fair to him?

Karen was making her intentions quite clear. So was Steve. He wanted a real relationship. Get married someday. Have children. Steve was a great guy. Successful. Nice. Considerate. Honorable. Hot. I couldn’t blame Karen. I’m surprised there weren’t a few more women trying to win his heart.

He deserved more than my insecurities. Heck, I deserved more than my insecurities and allowing Adam control of my life. People made decisions all the time and changed their minds. I married Adam, realized the huge error of that choice, and got it annulled. If I could alter that, I could decide to edit my rule about no more romantic relationships ever. Life should be more than living from guilt. Everyone made mistakes and deserved forgiveness. Including forgiving myself.

I undid the seatbelt and gave into the impulsive thought zipping through my head. Kneeling on the passenger seat, I leaned over the console separating me from Steve. I placed my hands on his shoulder for balance and kissed him. Good. I wanted him to know I was interested. Very interested in him.

Steve’s hand tangled in my hair, encouraging me. My blood was getting way too heated considering our location, a parked car near Scrap This. I did not want to be caught by Ted, or anyone else, making out in a car behind Home Brewed.

“Thank you.” I whispered the words onto his lips before pulling back. “I should go.”

I needed to tread carefully. Not for my sake, not because I viewed all men as untrustworthy, but I didn’t want to break Steve’s heart. He didn’t deserve it. When I made a commitment to him, I wanted to jump into it with my whole mind, heart, and soul. Not holding anything back.

I scrambled from the car and quickly entered my own vehicle. The scent of garlic hit me. Steve’s dinner. It was probably spoiled. No sense giving it to him. Plus, I didn’t want to have to add this part of the evening into what happened tonight. He might think  I planned on meeting Darlene at Scrap This and used him as a cover. I spotted a pair of headlights at the other end of the parking lot. Ted checking up on us. Me anyway. I don’t think he had any reason to suspect Steve.

I thought about driving by the car and giving a cheerful wave, but toying with an already aggravated homicide detective wasn’t a good idea. I left the parking lot and headed straight home, though the smell of the food was making me hungry. A slice of pizza with oozing cheese flashed into my mind. My last detour didn’t work out for me, so I kept my intended destination and went home.

I pulled into my driveway. After slipping out of my car, I waved at Steve and made a show of rummaging around in my purse. I hoped he’d go in rather than wait for me to make it safely inside. I didn’t want to explain the picnic basket. I snuck a peek. He went inside.

Good. I hauled out the basket and unlocked my front door, doing a quick check to see if Karen sent Leonard to follow me. I was alone. Thank goodness. I shoved the door open. The scent of garlic trailed after me. I threw out the food, not wanting to take any chances, and carried the trash bag outside.