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Andy said, “Officer Wolf, this is Cyril Sirius. He’s looking for snow globes. Any idea when I can get back into Time in a Bottle?”

“We’ve been through this, Andy. The shop is a crime scene. It’s the scene of a homicide. It’s still being processed.”

“Right. How long does that usually take?” Andy was hoping to give Ruthanne a good long look at Sirius. Hoping that the more she considered this tableau, the more sinister it would appear.

“It takes more than a day.” Ruthanne studied Sirius. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”

Sirius had already managed to edge his way around Ruthanne and was retreating down the walkway, back toward the street.

“Charmed to meet you, dear lady. I will be in touch, Mr. Allison.” He turned and… Not fled exactly. Skedaddled?

“What wasthat?” Ruthanne asked.

How to explain?That’s the key to this mystery!Except Ruthanne didn’t believe there was a mystery. Like Chief Millard, Ruthanne presumably believed Safehaven’s juvenile delinquents were running amuck at night and that Marcus had died as a result of some sordid love triangle. Andy tried toimagine explaining—not that he even had the actual explanation—about multiple bad guys searching for stolen diamonds or stolen not-diamonds hidden inside lost snow globes.

She would either think he was unhinged or that he was lying his head off in the way that obviously guilty people charged with murder were always coming up with preposterous stories about how the crime wasreallyperpetrated by masked intruders or giant men with bushy beards. Yeah, right.

If considering a scenario in which Andy and Quinn had not conspired to murder Marcus defied her imagination, asking her to believe Marcus was the victim of a homicidal scavenger hunt was not going to get Andy anywhere. She’d probably view that version of events as further proof of his guilt.

Still.

“He seems to think Uncle C. has something that belongs to him. It’s the third time he’s stopped by the shop.”

Hint? Hint?

She didn’t bat an eye. “He’s going to have to wait like everyone else. It takes however long it takes to process the scene.”

Andy sighed. “Yes. Of course.”

“Where are you going to be staying in the meantime? You know you can’t leave town, right?”

“I know. I’ll get a room somewhere. I’ll try Belier’s.”

She glanced in the direction Sirius had vanished, and said slowly, “Maybe you should stay with Clark and Fleur for the time being.”

“Not a chance.” After this morning’s run-in, he’d take his chances with an entire gang of international diamond smugglers before he’d spend a night under Fleur’s roof.

Ruthanne made a little sound of pained acknowledgment. “Okay. Just…stay in touch.”

“Oh, I’ll be in touch. I’m going to talk to a defense attorney this afternoon.”

The two words universally despised by law enforcement weredefense attorney. Oh, andnot guilty. Predictably, Ruthanne looked disapproving. “Take my advice. If you’re telling the truth, lawyering up is not the way to go.”

“Really, Ruthanne? Because Quinn’s telling the truth and he’s sitting in jail right now.” Maybe life with Marcus had jaded him, or maybe it was simply watching Safehaven’s finest in action, but no way was Andy going to trust that everything would work out so long as he told the truth.

“Maybe not for long,” she said sourly. “I just got a call that someone from the State Department showed up a few minutes ago.”

“Well, well,” Andy said.

Which, given the tidal wave of relief that flooded him, was a pretty neutral comment, but Ruthanne seemed defensive. “You know, I can understand why Quinn might hold a grudge, but the chief isn’t your enemy, Andy. He’s a good man. He’s only trying to get to the truth.”

Andy nodded. “Sure. Forgive me if I try to speed the process up a little by hiring legal representation.” He turned and started for his car.

Ruthanne said, “You do what you’ve got to do, but don’t forget that employees of the State Department commit murders just like other people.”

“I won’t forget.” He unlocked the car door and slid behind the wheel.

Before he pulled the door shut, he heard her call, “And even if a particular State Department employee does have certain protections, it doesn’t meanyou’dhave the same protections.”