AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A mesh shower bag containing toiletries hung from one of the hooks. At the bottom of the locker was a striped beach towel and a swimsuit.
She pulled the towel out, and something tumbled onto the floor.Stacksof somethings. Fat bundles of cash were tossed into the bottom of the locker, each stack wrapped in narrow paper sleeves with a clawed paw print stamped on top.
“Oh, Lindsey,” Cora breathed. “What have you done?”
“The stamp,” Liam said, crouching down to look more closely at the money. He knew not to touch anything for fingerprints. “Booze Dogs. This could be the stolen money Slice was talking about.”
“There’s got to be thousands of dollars in here,” Cora said, pulling her phone from her pocket to dial the station.
Liam stared down at the small fortune in cash. “Seems our young Ms. Albright was up to more than just partying at The Doghouse.”
19
On Friday evening Cora dug around in her freezer for some prime quality jet fuel. She’d been saving the vacuum-sealed bag of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee for a rainy day when she needed a good pick-me-up, and today was turning out to be that day. As far as she was concerned, it was time to bring out the big guns.
She prepared it, inhaling the deep, earthy scent of freshly ground beans, then waited for the pot to brew. It was a little after eight o’clock, and soon she and Liam would be heading to The Rolling Log to meet with Eli Shelton. The thought of talking to that man again was another reason she needed this liquid pick-me-up. He was a chauvinistic creep, whom she’d disliked within minutes of meeting him. And now that she knew about the “favor” he’d asked of Finn, she liked him even less.
Finn.She still couldn’t believe he’d told her not to worry about him, and that he wouldn’t be in any danger. Cora gritted her teeth and pulled a leopard-print mug from the cupboard. So many of the men in her life, including Liam, seemed to think she needed to be protected and coddled. It grated on her nerves, but she’d never thought Finn was one of them. He’d always seemed so open and honest and easygoing.
“Let’s have a barbecue this weekend,” Liam said, striding into the kitchen with Angel at his heels. He pulled open the fridge door and took out a covered dish of tuna, setting it on the floor for the ecstatic cat. Watching him spoil Angel was almost enough to make her smile. She wondered if he realized how often he did it.
“I want to make a honey barbecue burger with the crispy bits, like I had at The Rusty Spoon. I dreamed about it last night. We can invite Suzette.” He paused, then went to the sink to wash his hands. “And I suppose we should invite Finn. We can make s’mores and—”
“No.” Cora crossed her arms and watched the coffee brew, willing it to hurry up. She wasn’t ready to see Finn at all, let alone have him over for a visit.
“Fine, no s’mores,” Liam said. “How about—”
“NoFinn.” She pulled cream from the fridge and mumbled, “I’m not in the mood for liars.”
“Fine, no lawyers,” Liam said under his breath.
She didn’t bother correcting him.
“Look, I know Finn seems as exciting as a long drink of pond water, but he can’t be all bad. You never know. He could surprise you.”
Cora scoffed. Been there, done that. But right now Liam was the one surprising her. “I thought you didn’t care for Finn.”
“I...like him just fine.” If he thought to convince her, he was doing a poor job of it.
She opened her mouth to argue, but the doorbell rang. Liam went to answer it as she prepared her cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain. Cream, two sugars, one glorious sip, and life was good again.
“Bad news.” Liam poked his head into the kitchen with his handsome face in a deep scowl. “There’s a shmucktacular dillhole at the door for you. Should I tell him to go away?”
Cora’s eyes flew wide. Crap! She’d forgotten about her date with Magnus. “No, I’ll talk to him.” Last Saturday after the Renaissance Fair, she’d agreed to have dinner with him. But after the crazy week she’d had, it had slipped her mind. As much as she wanted to go to dinner with Magnus, he’d have to take a raincheck. This could be the only time she’d ever get Eli Shelton to talk to her, and Finn had already paid the price for it.
Sighing, she went to give Magnus the bad news.
Liam and Magnus were facing each other in the doorway. Liam had his arms crossed and was guarding the door like a suspicious bouncer at a nightclub. Magnus appeared nonplussed. His face lit up when he saw Cora.
“Hi, Magnus,” she said with an apologetic smile. She hip-bumped Liam, shoving him out of the doorway. “Please come in.”
Magnus entered the small living room, sending Angel streaking under the couch to hide. Liam followed Magnus, and seeing them both standing together, it struck Cora that they could’ve almost been brothers. Magnus wasn’t as broad in the shoulders as Liam, but they were close in height. With their dark good looks, cocky confidence and easy charm, the similarities were uncanny.
“I have some bad news.” Cora lowered herself onto the couch, and Magnus sat beside her. “Something big came up at work, and I can’t go to dinner tonight. I’m so sorry to do this to you at the last minute.”
Magnus looked disappointed. “I’m sorry to hear that. What’s going on?”
Liam dropped into the armchair. “We aren’t at liberty to discuss important police business with you.”
