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She was right, it was, and I knew Amy would love it.
“It’s faux pearl and amber in a half-moon shape. It’s vintage,” Kate said. “I was tempted to keep it for myself, but it resembles a pin that holds painful memories.”
“Sorry to hear that. How much?” I asked.
“It’s eighty dollars.”
“I’ll take it, but I need to come back for it later,” I said.
“You also need to learn how to bargain. I’ll give it to you for seventy-five,” Kate said. “I’ll have it wrapped and ready for you.”
I smiled. Thanks, Kate, and welcome to Willow Lake. I think you’ll like it here.”
“I already do.”
I went to leave and stopped. “One thing. Be careful with some of the guys around here, two in particular, Josh Madison and Burke Strathmore. They think they’re God’s gift to women.”
“Isn’t Josh your brother?”
I grinned. “He is and who better to warn you then his sister.”
Her laughter followed me out the door.
Now to the police station to meet my fate.
I knew immediately why all the women’s heads were turned in one direction when I pulled into the police station parking area. Ian was standing in the front of the building looking more gorgeous than ever. He wore all black and his dark, shoulder-length hair had that tousled sexy appeal.
I parked, smiled, and held my hand out to him as I approached.
He took it and pulled me to him for a quick kiss. “I thought you could use some support. I had one of the guys drop me off so we could leave together.”
“If they don’t lock me up,” I said with playful laughter.
“I’ll bail you out.”
I knew without question that he would do just that, but it was nice that he didn’t hesitate to say so.
He raised my hand he held, turning it over and running his finger over my palm. “It’s all scraped. What happened?”
I raised my other hand that had similar scrapes. “I was hanging from an open window.”
He stared at me, speechless.
“Come on, let’s go inside and you can hear it all when I give my statement, this way I don’t have to repeat myself. Oh, and remind me, we need to stop to pick up something I bought at Yesterday’s Treasures once we’re done here.”
“With all that went on, you had time to stop there and buy something?” he asked, smiling and shaking his head.
“I’ll tell you what took me there later,” I said, and we entered the building.
As soon as we entered the squad room, someone called out, “The fugitive has surrendered.”
A round of applause followed.
Josh approached me grinning.
“You had to call Mom,” I accused.
“I thought it fitting she should know her daughter was a fugitive,” he said, his grin spreading.
I heard laughter circle the squad room until my dad’s door opened. The room instantly turned silent.
“Pepper, in my office now!” my dad ordered. “You too, Josh.”
I grabbed Ian’s hand. “You’re coming with me. This way it will be two against two.”
My dad didn’t chase Ian out when we entered, and hero that he is, he stood by my chair with his hand on my shoulder when my dad ordered me to sit. Josh stood to my other side with his arms folded across his chest as if he were guarding a prisoner.
“I was not breaking in,” I said before my dad could question me. “I was eavesdropping, and I heard enough to know the mayor and Marsh are hiding something that pertains to the Carson murder.”
“What if they had found you spying on them, Pepper?” my dad asked. “What if they were involved with the murder? After all these years of hiding something, do you think they would just let you walk away? And what if someone hadn’t reported seeing you? What if Josh hadn’t been there to save you from falling and breaking who knows how many bones?
“That’s a lot of what ifs, Dad,” I said.
“It’s a lot of trouble you could have gotten yourself into,” my dad said and continued to reprimand. “And following Noah Berwick? What were you thinking?”
“That’s what made you take off?” Josh asked. “You not only spied on the mayor and Marsh, but on your best friend’s father?”
“He’s up to no good and you know it,” I said.
“A good reason to stay away from him,” Josh warned.
“Your brother is right,” my dad said, “but enough about Berwick. What were you doing at Marsh’s Garage and what did you hear?”
“I went to see Marsh about the heater in my truck—”
“You mean you used it as an excuse,” my dad said.
I smiled—my dad did know me well—then continued. “I never expected to find the mayor there or hear what I did. The mayor warned Marsh to keep his mouth shut, that it would do no good for him to speak up after all these years, and whatever the secret was had something to do with what Marsh saw back then and it pertained to the Carson case. Marsh thought differently. He’s felt guilty for not speaking up all these years, but I think the mayor has him fearful of speaking up now. He told Marsh he chanced losing everything.”
