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“I think it was some domestic dispute over the best spot to lay an egg,” Nico said with a laugh, removing his jacket and then taking the plates from the table and putting them in the sink.
He turned and looked directly at Margie. “I hope you don’t mind but I need to shower and shave and get ready for work,” he said quickly to head Margie off as she opened her mouth to talk again. “We’ll take some of that delicious-looking slice for lunch, as well.” He cast Lacey a meaningful glance as he spoke. She was supposed to be going into town with him today, which meant she needed to get ready too. How on earth was she supposed to get away from this old woman who could talk the hind leg off a donkey? Margie was well-meaning, but boy, she barely drew breath.
“Yes, we do.” Lacey stood and pulled her cardigan closer around her shoulders, hoping Margie would take the hint.
“Oh, of course you do.” Margie slid her chair back and stood. “You young people are always so busy. Especially you, Nicolas. I’ll get out of your way so you can catch that murderer, then people can sleep soundly in their beds at night again.”
Nico ushered Margie down the hallway, nodding in the appropriate places, while the old woman continued to ramble, even as she walked through the front door.
“Bye, Margie.” Lacey waved from down the hallway as Nico finally got the door shut and then leaned against it with a sigh.
“I swear, that woman is actually a secret weapon in disguise. Her superpower is to talk someone to death.”
Lacey pursed her lips, trying to hide her smile. She knew Nico didn’t mean it, but she understood his frustration. He’d had to deal with her a lot longer than Lacey.
“I’ll go jump in the shower,” she said, instead. “I can be ready in fifteen minutes. Is that okay?” It was lucky Nico had two bathrooms. It meant she didn’t have to think about him stripping naked and stepping into the same shower as her, mere minutes after she’d left.
“Great,” he replied, and they both went their separate ways.
* * *
True to her word, Lacey emerged fifteen minutes later from the spare bedroom, dressed and ready to go. She had on her thickest woolen sweater under her spare rain jacket, finished off with jeans and boots. The rain jacket was big and bulky, but it’d have to do until she could get her sheepskin dry-cleaned or replace it. She found Nico in the kitchen, finishing up washing the dishes.
“I’m ready to go,” she said to his back. Then a sudden thought occurred to her. “Oh, are we taking your motorcycle?” She was definitely going to need another layer of clothing if she had to spend half an hour on the back of that black beast. The idea made her cringe.
“I was going to take the Jeep. It’s parked in the shed,” he said, turning and letting his appraising glance rest on her face. “But we can take the motorcycle if you want,” he added with a sly grin.
That grin made her suddenly imagine herself sitting on the tiny booster seat with her arms wrapped around his middle, leaning into his strong body as they flew around yet another sharp corner, her thighs gripping his lean hips. She licked her lips and shook her head. “Nope. Not at all,” she replied.
“The Jeep it is, then.” Now she thought about it, there had been some kind of four-wheel drive parked on one side of the shed. She’d seen it when she’d used the bathroom, but hadn’t paid much attention. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, she followed Nico out the back door.
She waited while he tied Smudge to his kennel, the dog’s ears drooping as they walked away. While Nico raised the roller door and backed the vehicle out, she quickly checked her van to make sure all was still as it should be.
Hopping into the passenger seat, she rubbed her hands together and willed the heater to do its thing a little faster. It was cold enough for snow today. Nico joined her after he closed the roller door and they were soon on the road to Burnie. Rolling, grassy hills flew past on either side, a hint of the blue ocean to their left appearing every time they dipped into a valley.
The idea of visiting the Burnie Police Station had sudden butterflies swirling in her stomach. To keep them at bay, Lacey asked the first question that came to mind. “Does Margie often arrive at your door unannounced?” Lacey was curious. Margie had seemed quite at home in Nico’s kitchen.
Nico ran a hand through his hair, ruffling his long locks. “It’s not uncommon,” he conceded. “She came a lot when I first moved here. As did some of the other… Let’s just call them the blue-rinse-brigade. The older women in the district like to help out where they can. It’s a community spirit. This is what happens when you live rurally. Everyone knows everyone else’s business.”
“Yes, well, Margie certainly seemed to be on the hunt for some gossip this morning,” Lacey replied, arching an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I got that. She was hoping I’d drop a juicy detail or three about the murder that she could spread around to the other girls.”
“It wasn’t the only reason she was here,” Lacey said with a frown. She needed to tell Nico what Margie had said while he was out tending the geese, but it felt a little like betrayal. Margie was sweet and well-meaning, had really only been looking for some reassurance. Nico’s eyes never left the road, but he stiffened in his seat, and she could feel the tension ramp-up around him. “She happened to mention that she was worried about Herb. He’s suffering from insomnia, and she’s constantly waking up in the middle of the night to find him missing.”
Nico nodded thoughtfully at her words, and she could see his mind spinning. Exactly the same way hers had when Margie let the information slip.
“Did she say if he was missing from bed two nights ago?” he asked without preamble.
“Not in so many words. But she hinted at it,” Lacey replied, worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth. It meant that Herb didn’t have an alibi for the night Rania was killed. “But surely…?” Lacey couldn’t even begin to phrase the question. “He would’ve said if he’d seen or heard anything unusual that night. He’s a lovely old man. They’re a caring couple, looking out for their younger neighbors. Community-minded and active. They love their cycling and keep their garden neat. What possible motive could he have to hurt Rania?” There, she’d said it. She’d voiced her concerns over the friendly old man.
“I don’t know,” Nico mused. “But he’s healthy and extremely fit for his age. He’s certainly physically capable of hurting someone. And if he was awake during the wee hours of the morning, why didn’t he just tell us? Even if he didn’t see anything?”
Lacey felt a sudden heavy weight settle on her chest. How could he even think that helpful old man could be capable of such a thing?
“I’m going to have to ask him in to the station to answer some more questions,” Nico said, but she could see by the downturn of his lip that he wasn’t happy with the idea. He was only doing his job. If she still worked in the force, she’d be encouraging him to do this exact thing. But somehow it felt wrong.
CHAPTER EIGHT
