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“He did until he threw a punch at me,” Cody said curtly.
Mr. Whatley only sighed again. “Is my sister going to bail me out?” he asked Cody hopefully.
“Not just yet,” the sheriff told him. “Listen, you’re safe in here. Nobody is going to hurt you.”
“You bet,” Lassiter said, and his face was solemn.
Mr. Whatley was surprised, but he looked from one face to the other and relaxed a bit. He didn’t say out loud what he was thinking. This felt a lot like protective custody, and the man across from him didn’t look like any criminal he’d ever seen. He was too clean-cut and authoritative. He looked at the two men and smiled.
Cody smiled back. “I’ll be around,” he promised, and left them to talk.
ABBYHADHERhead wrapped in a towel when she came to answer the door.
“Cody!” she exclaimed, and her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
The dark world suddenly lightened for him. He smiled back. “Glad to see me?” he teased.
“So glad! Come on in. Hannah can make coffee while I finish drying my hair...”
“Give me that towel.” He took it from her and led her to an easy chair in the living room. He took the towel and started drying her hair with it. She had beautiful hair, long and thick and very soft. He smiled as he dried one strand after another.
Abby was trying to calm down. It was impossible with his body so close, his face so close as he worked on her hair.
“I love your hair,” he murmured as he worked.
She smiled. “It’s a nuisance to wash. I thought about having it cut, but I’m so used to the length that I’d miss it.”
“I’d miss it, too,” he said softly. “I love long hair.”
“How did it go in Denver?” she asked.
He froze for a few seconds. “Oh, you mean the investigation,” he realized finally.
She turned toward him. “Yes. Was there something else?”
He started to speak as Hannah came back from the laundry room. “Oh, hi, Sheriff Banks! We missed you!”
He chuckled. “Thanks. Where’s my best girl?” he asked suddenly, looking around. “And the puppy?”
“Puppy’s in the guest room sound asleep and Lucy’s gone to a birthday party.”
“How about some coffee and cake?” Hannah asked. “It’s chocolate.”
“My very favorite,” Cody said, finishing his chore with Abby’s long hair.
“Mine, too,” Abby replied. She took the towel from him. “Thanks. Now all it needs is a scrunchie.”
He frowned. “A what?”
“It holds your hair up,” she said, smiling. “Back in a jiffy.”
He was sipping coffee and nibbling cake by the time she got back.
Hannah had her coffee and cake all ready for her.
“I’ll be working in the back bedroom if you need me,” Hannah called as she went.
“This is good cake.”
