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Cora drove north toward The Doghouse with a growing sense of unease. While she hoped they’d find Lindsey there, she couldn’t help being a little concerned. The Booze Dogs were notorious for their rowdy parties and borderline-legal activities, and they weren’t keen on unexpected visitors. The founder’s family were moonshiners during the Prohibition era, and the club was known for having their own code of justice that didn’t always correspond with the law. Cora had never been to their clubhouse on the outskirts of town, but she’d heard about the place from other officers. It was down a long dirt road off the main highway, and the whole compound was surrounded by a chain-link fence with barbed wire. Not exactly a welcoming place.
“Can you not drive a bit faster?” Liam asked, shifting in his seat. “I’m going to grow white hair by the time we get there.”
Cora checked the speedometer. “We’re going exactly seventy, the speed limit.”
“Aye, but we’re law enforcers. I’d say that gives us leave to bend the rules a bit.”
“Which is why I’m driving, and you’re not.”
He leaned back in his seat and mumbled, “My class this weekend can’t come fast enough.”
“Is this the driving class taught by Finn’s friend Magnus?”
“It is, but they’re not friends,” Liam said with a chuckle. “Finn doesn’t like the man. He was so cold to Magnus at the bar the other night, I got frostbite just standing next to them.”
Cora frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Finn at all.”
“No? Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think.”
“Sure, I do.” Even though Finn was only a few years older than she was, he’d been golfing buddies with her father. For years Cora had always thought of Finn as being on the stuffy side with his polished manners and meticulous way of dressing, but she’d recently learned he wasn’t stuffy at all. There was a quiet strength in him she hadn’t noticed before, and he was steadfast and reliable, which was refreshing.
“Believe me, Cora, there’s a lot you don’t know.” There was a smug undercurrent in Liam’s voice that grated on her nerves.
She shook her head. “Your arrogance never ceases to amaze me, you know that?”
“I’m just speaking the truth,” Liam said with a shrug.
“I’ve known Finn a lot longer than I’ve known you,” Cora pointed out. “And since you’ve already proven yourself to be a hothead who’s prone to impulsive actions, forgive me if I’m more inclined to assume you misjudged the situation. Finn is a really nice person.” She gave him a sideways glance. “The jury’s still out on you.”
“Ah, the illustrious Finley Walsh.” Liam’s tone was laced with mock sincerity. “Ever the perfect gentleman.”
“What is your deal?” Cora spit out. “Finn’s been nothing but nice to you, so there’s no need for the sarcasm. Anyway, better a gentleman than a playboy like that Magnus guy.”
“Playboy?” Liam had the gall to look offended. “Just because a man likes to have fun and enjoy life doesn’t mean he’s insincere or flippant with his feelings. Some people may look a certain way on the outside, but inside they feel just as deeply as... Never mind. It doesn’t even matter.” His voice trailed away on a whisper of regret, the words sounding sad and vulnerable. It was impossible to miss the haunted look in his eyes.
All Cora’s annoyance suddenly evaporated. “What is it?”
He swallowed visibly, then looked out the window in silence.
If Cora didn’t know any better, she’d say Liam was grieving. His shoulders were slumped, and his gaze seemed a million miles away. Maybe he was hurting because of his recently ended affair with the widow Margaret Brady. Liam and Margaret’s secret relationship was discovered after her husband was mysteriously murdered. For a while Liam had been a suspect in the investigation, and he’d almost lost his job with the Providence Falls Police Department because he’d kept his affair with Margaret a secret. Once his alibi had been confirmed and his name was cleared, everything seemed to go back to normal, but Cora suspected there was more to Liam than he pretended. Maybe all his arrogant swagger was just a facade, and he was really dealing with a broken heart.
“You might be surprised to find some men want the same things you do, Cora,” he finally said. “And they just need the chance to prove it.”
Cora sighed. “Suzette said the same thing to me last Saturday night.”
“Well, there you go. If you don’t want to listen to me, then listen to your very wise friend.”
“I don’t usually equate wisdom on dating with Suzette, but maybe she’s right.” Cora shrugged. “I guess I’ll consider it.”
“Good.” He paused. “Wait, what?”
“I mean, she did give him my number.” Cora took the next exit toward the road leading to the motorcycle compound.
Liam’s head whipped around. “Who?”
“And he was sort of charming,” she mused, switching lanes as they approached the intersection. “In a whole my-what-big-eyes-you-have type of way. He’s really more Suzette’s type, and she even said as much, but since she’s dating someone else right now—”
Her phone rang, the shrill sound filling the car.
