Page 15 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

Barret parked in front of Touched and checked his appearance in the mirror, then shook his head and laughed.

This wasn't a date. It was work. He wasn't trying to impress Adam.

He needed him to go with him and help him identify a killer.

There was absolutely no need for him to be checking to make sure every hair was in place and that he didn't have something spilled on his shirt.

He quickly got out of the car and looked up at the apartment, then at the store.

He could see Adam inside the store, so he headed that way, opening the door, stepping inside, and inhaling deeply at the scent of vanilla in the air.

It instantly relaxed him, and he had the crazy thought about how the police station needed something like that to help people relax.

Like the captain would ever agree to aroma therapy.

"Hey, let me make sure the diffuser is off, change my shirt, and grab the lights, then I'm ready," Adam called as he turned off some little machine that looked as if it was releasing steam. "I'd hoped to have a chance to run upstairs after I closed, but I had a couple customers stay late."

"We have a bit of time if you need—"

"No, I'm good. I'll just wear one of these." Adam pulled a maroon turtleneck shirt from the rack he had in the store and stepped into the back room for a moment. When he came out, he had the new shirt on and was pulling on a pair of black gloves. "Ready." He started turning off lights.

"How many colors of gloves do you own?" Barret asked as they headed out the door.

Adam laughed as he paused to lock the door.

"Probably twenty different colors. I change them to match what I wear, but it's usually black, blue, or red.

I try to wear long sleeves when I go out, so I don't draw as much attention.

In the shop, it kind of adds to the novelty of what I do, so I don't hide them as much there. "

"Do you get a lot of questions about them?" Barret hit the button to unlock his car.

"All the time, but it's good promotion for the business. Gives me a chance to hand out a business card to anyone who asks about the gloves." Adam got into the passenger side.

Barret went around and got behind the wheel.

"I've passed out copies of Maggie's drawing to all the other officers.

We'll be scattered around the football field tonight, keeping an eye out for the man.

I thought you and I could get a spot up high on the bleachers so we can look down over the crowd. "

"That works. He won't be hard to identify if he's there. Do you really think it's someone local?" Adam asked.

"No, but we can't ignore the chance that he could be.

The fact the body was found a state away makes the case for him having been someone just passing through stronger.

I'm so frustrated with this case. I feel like it's going nowhere.

We're waiting on lab reports, but since we have to send it all out to a bigger city to get anything done, we get caught in the backlog and have to wait weeks for results.

I wouldn't trade living in a small town for anything, but sometimes I miss certain aspects of a big city. "

"Did you come from a big city?" Adam asked.

Barret pulled the car onto the road. "No, I was born here, but I left for college at eighteen and got a job with the Seattle Police before coming back here after ten years there.

Mom got sick and Becky needed help. I came to help with Mom but realized how much I missed this place and the simpler life.

There was a spot open in the department, so I left the big city and settled here.

Haven't regretted it for a moment, except for when I'm waiting on evidence to come back. "

Adam smiled. "We give up a lot to have the peace that surrounds us here. I don't miss the traffic, the hustle, the crowds."

"Where was home?" Barret knew Adam had moved to town around five years ago but knew nothing of his past.

"Denver. I was on a road trip to see Yellowstone and the surrounding area and came across this town.

I stopped for the night and just fell in love with the place.

The location where the shop is and the apartment above were for sale, and before I left here two days later to go back to Denver, I'd bought it.

I went home, packed up, and haven't looked back. "

"Did you leave family in Denver?" Barret asked.

"Mom and Dad are both gone, and I was an only child. So no, I didn't leave anyone behind. I was happy to start fresh somewhere. I worried I wouldn't be able to make a living here, but I've been pleasantly surprised. The tourists have really been what keeps me going here," Adam told him.

"There's something about this place." Barret pulled into the high school parking lot.

"The whole time I was in the city, I felt like I was missing something.

Came back to help with Mom and it took only a few hours sitting on her back porch, enjoying the fresh air, to remind me what was missing, peace, quiet, fresh air, and nature. "

"Yep, that was it for me. I stayed at the Hidden Falls Motel when I passed through, and it's got those trails out back to hike. I went on an early morning run the first day here and felt it. I was hooked."

Barret parked and turned with a smile. "Let's hope not too many people feel the way we do. This place is growing fast enough. I'd hate to see this place lose that peaceful feeling because too many move here and try to turn it into something bigger."

"I've talked to the city council a few times and I think they're set on keeping growth down. Some big investors came in a while back wanting to build a large hotel and they refused big money to let them build."

"I heard about that. They wanted that land the drive-in theater is on.

The last thing we need is some big eyesore.

While we could use more lodging, we don't need a huge hotel.

" Barret opened his car door. "Let's do this.

" He climbed out, looking over the cars in the parking lot.

It would be a good turnout tonight for Trina and that made him happy.

"You come to many of the games?" Adam asked as they walked toward the field.

"I manage to catch a few through the season, but not as many as I'd like. I have good intentions, but then I get off work, get home, and those intentions go right out the window." Barret waved to several people he knew.

"Jacey drags me to some of them. I shouldn't say drags.

I do enjoy them, but if it wasn't for him, I'd probably stay home.

It's always been hard to go out in public with all the stares and whispers.

It's not as bad here as it was in Denver, but it's hard to let go of those insecurities sometimes," Adam admitted.

Barret felt a wave of guilt washing through him. "Hey, I'm sorry I said certain things to you. Doubted you. I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable."

"No." Adam stopped walking and turned to face Barret.

"You didn't do anything wrong. I get how hard it can be to wrap your head around what I do.

It's not something most will ever experience in a lifetime.

You might have made a few snide comments, but at least you said them to my face.

You didn't go behind my back whispering while being polite and understanding to my face.

You gave me a chance to prove myself, which is more than many give me. There's no hard feelings."

"Still, I should have been more open-minded about things. I shouldn't have made the magician comments and all that. I can't deny what you do, but I can't understand it either." Barret shrugged.

"Ha, that makes two of us. I can't understand it either.

I just know I can do it. I have no idea why I can do it and others can't or how it even works.

I just have to admit there are some things in this world we may never understand.

Now let's go get our seats or we won't have a good view of the crowd.

It's filling up fast." Adam started to walk toward the field again.

Barret stayed beside him, looking at all the faces as they passed, wondering if there was a killer among them.

Once inside, they each took a candle from the kids passing them out, then he looked out over the field and saw banners and enlarged photos of Trina.

A small stage was set up in the center of the field, and Barret saw Jacey and his family down there setting up with Kacey's band.

A couch was moved to the side of the fifty-yard line along with several other chairs.

Barret guessed that would be for the family to sit.

He glanced at Adam. "There's still plenty of room at the top.

" He started up the rafter, watching his footing carefully so he didn't trip.

"Did you play sports in high school?" Adam asked as they reached the top row.

"Baseball, what about you?"

Adam shook his head and held up his hands. "I had other things going on. I wasn't very popular and tended keep to myself."

Barret imagined high school had to have been hard for Adam. He remembered the bullies. It was a tough age for an average kid, but for Adam it had to have been hell. "What about now? Sports fan?"

"I'll watch a game if it's on. Mostly football or basketball. I like sports, just never felt the need to participate. I guess if I'd done anything, it would have been track. I enjoy running." Adam leaned against the back railing. "You?"

"I run a bit, but not as often as I'd like.

Like you, I'll watch a game if it's on, but I don't have a favorite team or anything.

Hell, not even a favorite sport. I'm usually so tired by the time I get home I end up falling asleep on the couch.

I go hiking with Becky sometimes. I'm starting to feel my age though and should probably get out more. "

"You're hardly old. What are you, maybe thirty?"

"Thirty-four," Barret told him. "And you?"