Page 48 of Kiss of Deceit

My eyes shot to Adella as she stepped in my sight from behind the bar. “No. I’m here for a drink, not to see someone I live with.”

She let out a laugh. “What do you want?”

“Just a vodka and cranberry please.”

She reached down to get a glass. “I bet work is crazy right now at the station.”

“It is.” I spent all day in the interrogation room, and we were nowhere closer to even a hint of finding out what happened to Jillian. There were no immediate suspects, and I was worried we wouldn’t find the killer before they did it again.

I would just have to find them on my own.

“I know you talked to Hadley,” she said brightly. “I’m surprised I didn’t get a call.”

“Harry didn’t think it was needed,” I muttered, my eyes darting to her arm when she handed me my drink. “Nice tattoo.”

The four-leaf clover on her forearm was done in black ink with three numbers inside it. I studied it a second longer before she jerked her arm back.

She scoffed. “Don’t be nice if you don’t mean it.”

“No, I’m serious,” I said quickly. “For an…at home tattoo, it’s good.”

“You and I both know where I got this.” She glanced at her arm with a slight frown before shaking her head. “I was stupid when I was younger.”

I’d seen plenty of tattoos like hers. On inmates in jails and prisons. I’d always gotten the vibe that Adella could take care of herself, but I never would have guessed that she did time. What else have I missed about the people in this town?

“Everyone makes stupid mistakes,” I said in a low voice. “Some just never get caught.”

“No one judges pasts here,” she said, her smile back in place. “Anyway, do you have any suspects yet?”

I chuckled. “Even if we did, I couldn’t tell you.”

“Please. It would take less than an hour for news like that to spread around here.”

My gaze drifted toward the hall when Kole appeared. His eyes locked with mine as he strode closer. We hadn’t said a wordto each other since Tristin attacked me. Not that I had the time, even if I wanted to. I’d been spending all my time at work.

“Your drink is on the house,” Adella informed me, looking at Kole. “Whoever lives with the owner drinks for free.”

She laughed as she walked away to help someone else. Unlike some others around town, she didn’t seem upset at all about the murder. Or maybe she just hid her emotions better than most.

“Making it a habit?”

Kole’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I sipped my drink, nearly coughing from how strong it was. The alcohol burned my chest after I swallowed, and I stared at the back of Adella’s head. She had to have added at least three shots in this.

“Making what a habit?” I choked out.

“Coming to my bar.”

I smiled sweetly. “Am I bothering you, Kole? It’s been a really long day, and I needed a drink.”

“You’ll only need one if Adella made it,” he grumbled. “I’m surprised you got here before Harry.”

I refrained from rolling my eyes. “He started early with the bottle of Jack he has in his desk drawer.” I slid off the bar stool. “I’ll leave you alone.”

“Has he bothered you?”

His quiet question about Tristin had me glancing over my shoulder. “No. He hasn’t talked to me.”

“Good.” He rested his palms on the bar counter. “Tell me when you’re leaving.”