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“Because I …” he stopped, glanced out the window overlooking the backyard, and frowned. “Just trust me, I know.”
“But Harvey found a collage of missing girl pictures in Jeff’s bedroom.”
“What was he doing in Jeff’s bedroom?”
“Don’t ask.”
“It doesn’t matter. The only thing that smells fishy in this house is the carpet.” He looked at the recliner. “And probably that chair.”
It was my turn to nail him with a stare. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Things you don’t want to hear.” He pulled me toward the door. “Now come on, let’s get out of here.”
My teeth gritted, I locked the door on the way out and allowed him to lead me around back to the shed. While I didn’t like being brushed off yet again, I liked the feel of Doc’s warm palm pressing against my skin. I wanted him to touch elsewhere, too, damn it.
The shed was unlocked, shadow-filled, crammed with more crap, and stunk like grease and dirt. Again, an extension of Jeff.
“Well?” I asked Doc. He’d been sniffing out the corners, picking up and putting down tools, car parts, plumbing accessories, and old calendars covered with bikini-clad babes and chromed-out Harleys. “Is there anything in here?”
He shook his head. “Are you still thinking Jeff might have killed those missing girls?”
I didn’t remember ever voicing that suspicion to Doc. It also must have leaked out of Harvey’s big mouth. “Maybe.”
“Well, if he did, he didn’t do it here.”
“What are you? Clairvoyant?”
“No.”
“Then how can you know that?”
He stared at me, his forehead crinkled. “I can …” he looked away, brushing his hands together. “I can just tell.”
“Do you work for the police? Are you some kind of undercover detective?”
“No, and I’d prefer we kept this to ourselves.”
“Why are you helping me? Why are you here? Did you know one of the girls?”
“I want these kidnappings to stop, just like you.”
I sighed, wanting to hurl a car part at him. I’d have better luck scratching my way through a cement wall than getting a straight answer out of Doc.
We strolled back out front toward my Bronco and his Camaro in the lengthening shadows of the surrounding hills. I remembered he was a client and Jeff’s messy abode was about to become another yoke for me to bear. “I don’t suppose you’re interested in placing an offer.”
Doc chuckled. “No. You have your work cut out for you on this one.”
Ha! I should drag him around Wolfgang’s place.
“I’m sorry you had to cancel your dinner date.”
He shrugged. “Business can wait.”
“Did Harvey tell you about the ear?”
“Yes.”
“What in the hell is going on out there?”
“I don’t know. Maybe the police can figure it out.” We’d reached my Bronco door. “You want to go get something to eat?”
Yes!“I can’t. Layne’s expecting spaghetti. You could join us.”
He seemed to think about it, then frowned. “Maybe I should just go play some pool.”
“Right.” I opened my door and climbed inside, disappointment burning in my chest. “Because I’m your Realtor.”
“Exactly.” He shut my door. “See you tomorrow, Violet.” With a wave, he was gone.
