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“Miss Clay, how nice to see you again.”
“You’re still in town,” I said.
“I am. I’m staying in the cutest B & B,” she said. “I’ll be sad to leave it. The breakfast is divine.”
Did my ears deceive me or did she stress the word ‘divine?’
Chief Garcia took a sip of her coffee. “You two know each other?”
“We met briefly,” Naomi said.
The chief’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right. You must’ve asked her about Bruce.”
Inwardly, I cringed. It should’ve occurred to me that the chief could connect me to Bruce and, by extension, Solomon.
“It’s a shame she didn’t know anything,” Naomi said. “I would dearly love to put this investigation to rest.”
“I know how you feel,” the chief said. “I have a couple of my own open cases that I’d love to close.”
Naomi's gaze lingered on me. “I’m sticking around. Can I get you anything? My treat.”
“You mean it’s a corporate expense.”
“Either way, you aren’t paying.”
There was zero chance of me hanging around to chat with The Corporation’s investigator. “Unfortunately, I’m getting mine to go. How long do you plan to stay in Fairhaven?”
“Until I finish my report.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Right back at you, lady.
The barista called out my name. I swiped my drink from the counter.
“Maybe we’ll run into each other again when you’re not so pressed for time.”
“Maybe,” I said, noncommittal. Fat chance of that.
“I’ll walk out with you,” the chief offered.
“Have you been helping her with the investigation?” I asked, once we were safely outside and out of Naomi's earshot.
“I answered a few questions. She seemed to think you were an officer in training. I corrected her.”
When I released Bruce’s spirit from the pearl, he’d promised to take care of The Corporation, so they didn’t come banging on my door.
So why was Naomi Smith banging on my door?
This wasn’t a question Chief Garcia could answer, so I chose another one. “Speaking of trainees, how’s the new recruit working out?”
The chief smiled. “Officer Leo is a breath of fresh air. We’re lucky to have him.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“He’s a little green as expected, but his positive attitude more than makes up for his inexperience.”
“In other words, he balances you out.”
She grunted. “Are you calling me out, Clay?”
