Page 40 of Secret Sins

All the air left my lungs in a giant sigh of relief. This, I could handle. Maybe.

"And who is this adorable doggy?" Deputy Chung asked, joining the group and holding out his fist for her to sniff.

"This is Heidi," I managed to croak. "It's okay to pet her; she's friendly." My world wasn't coming to an abrupt end, and I forced myself to breathe normally as that thought circulated in my head.

"She's very well-behaved," he said, opening his palm to rub over the top of her head.

"Thanks."

"So, we're sorry about tracking you down in this manner, but we tried your residence earlier."

My shoulder blades itched, but I replied to him calmly. "I was out having lunch."

Officer White smiled, and it seemed genuine. "Luckily for us, we heard you might be here if you weren't at work or at home."

Just as I’d already feared, everyone knew they could find me with Bailey. I forced a smile in return, hoping it didn't come across as a grimace. "Well, you found me."

She pulled a pen from her breast pocket. "Andrea Marsh formally pressed charges against Larry Barber. During our investigation, your name came up."

Somehow, I wasn't surprised Andrea knew my name, despite me never giving it to either of them. "In what capacity?" I asked. After all, there was no harm in being cautious.

Chung checked his notes. "On Friday, April 10th, at approximately fourteen hundred hours, you encountered the two at Hudson Park."

"Sounds about right."

White held her pen poised over a small notebook. "Tell us your version of what happened next."

I spent another fifteen minutes reciting what I did that day, though I was lenient with the truth, leaving out the part where I assaulted Larry with Heidi's leash. If they didn't already know, I didn't need to volunteer the information. Bailey corroborated my story, revealing she'd seen the entire thing. Somehow, I'd been under the impression she'd only seen the end of the altercation.

"We might have a few follow-up questions later, but for now, that'll do." Deputy Chung held out his hand, and I shook it gladly. It meant our business was concluded and I could relax.

They left after White snagged a cookie, and I moved to the chair by the window, sitting heavily and letting Heidi put her head in my lap. Bailey set down the bag of Heidi's things she still held and kneeled next to my dog, scratching her head subconsciously.

"Are you okay?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the customer who'd stuck around. "Bailey, please get up. I'm fine."

Riley moved from behind the counter, intercepting the nosy woman who kept edging closer to us.

Bailey straightened and held her hand out, pulling me from the chair. "Mama said Jay is coming. They'll take care of Heidi for a few minutes."

I frowned. "Okay?"

"Come next door with me."

Oh. "Heidi—"

"Will be no trouble," Riley interrupted.

Indeed, Heidi leaned against Riley's leg. She didn't hesitate to pet her, rubbing briskly down her side until I thought Heidi's eyes would roll back in her head. The customer had moved further into the depths of the store, but I figured she was still eavesdropping.

"And you're not imposing, so don't worry about that."

Riley was even more pleasantly persistent than her daughter. "Um, okay. I don't have a cell phone, so call Bailey if there's an issue. Uh, please."

Riley patted my shoulder. "Of course, dear."

Silently, Bailey led me next door to the bakery. As we entered, she shook her head sharply when Ellie opened her mouth. I saw Ellie purse her lips, but then she focused on cleaning off a table instead of watching us walk down the hall and climb the stairs.