Page 116 of Kiss of Deceit

“My clients. Natalie’s notes.” She cleared her throat. “I won’t break doctor-patient confidentiality in any way. But we needsomewhere to start.” Her eyes drifted to Kole. “I’m not sure I want you working so close to the case.”

Faux confusion gleamed in Kole’s eyes. “Why?”

“You know why,” she snapped.

“Why doesn’t someone enlighten me,” I said, looking between them. “Since I’ll be part of the interrogations.”

Susan fussed with her hair, and I had a feeling she forgot for a moment how I didn’t know about this town—or at least she didn’t know that I stumbled onto the truth. She wanted to question Kole because of his charges. But she couldn’t admit that to me.

“I want the names and everything else about the victims by midmorning.” Susan pulled out a notepad and began writing on it. “Once the crime scene is cleaned up, go home. I expect you at the station when the sun rises.”

Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heeled winter boots and walked away. Harry lit up another cigarette, grumbling about not getting paid overtime.

“Contrary to what Susan said,” Kole gently grabbed my arm, spinning me around until I was facing him, “the rulesdoapply to you. Don’t go anywhere without me, Dani.”

“Maybe I don’t trust you to be my buddy,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“You do.” His confidence had me staring, and he chuckled, lowering his head to keep his next words between us. “After tonight, if you didn’t trust me, you wouldn’t give me your back. Or your words. You might want to snoop for more proof in my laptop—but you do trust me to some extent. Now that you know everything and haven’t run away, I’m not giving up what we have. Unless you tell me to leave you alone.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

dani

My eyes burned,and I rubbed them a few times before looking back at the laptop screen. I was in bed, buried under two blankets while scrolling through the inmate files that Kole had. They were even more in depth than on Natalie’s computer. I’d been at this for hours and learned about everyone I’d met.

What Harry was here for. He used to live in a small town and was surprised to learn he used to be a deputy there, until he got fired. It was ironic he got the sheriff here. Riggs had a thing for shiny, fast cars. He had four charges all related to burglary and grand theft auto.

The old man who owned the hardware store, where I’d bought the knives, was doing a life sentence for the murder of his wife. But he didn’t get caught for decades until DNA testing became a thing. The doctor, Nolan, was here for a long list of white-collar crimes related to health fraud. If he ever left, there was no way he would ever be able to practice medicine again.

“Hungry?”

I glanced up to see Kole in the doorway, holding a bowl of chocolate ice cream. He hadn’t bothered me since we got home from the crime scene.

“Take a break, Dani. You’ve been at that for hours. It’s almost three in the morning.”

He didn’t wait for an answer before striding into my room and handing me the bowl. I protested when he closed the laptop and set it on my nightstand. I grudgingly picked up the spoon, only because I was starving.

“Can I stay?”

I slowly nodded. “Sure.”

He rounded the bed, and laid down on the other side, staying above the blankets. My heart pattered away as I took a bite of ice cream. According to his laptop, his story had been true. There were emails to his friend Sean. Updates to an email that I guessed was one of the people running this town.

“This is the reason you used to lock your bedroom door, isn’t it?” I nodded to the laptop. “Before I moved in, you kept it up here.”

He chuckled. “I did. It was easier than going into that room all the time. Once you came, I had to move it back.”

“Makes sense.” I focused back on the screen until he spoke up again. I was obsessing about finding my monster in the files.

“Since you’re letting me stay, I’m guessing you’re satisfied with what you’ve found on my laptop?” He put his arms behind his head and stretched out his legs.

“It all validates what you’ve told me.” I studied his relaxed demeanor. “Aren’t you worried I’ll tell someone?”

“No.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because I trust you.”