Page 60 of Kiss of Deceit

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said gruffly. “Mind your own damn business.”

My harsh words would have made anyone else in this town back down. But Adella had worked at my bar for three years and knew me better than most. Nothing I said would ever bother her.

I rubbed my temples. “I can open today since you closed last night for me. Take the day off.”

“The day off to do what?” She laughed, brushing snow off her coffee cup. “I’ll be there for the after-work rush.”

I turned to head back home, giving her a look when she fell into step with me. “Need something?”

“Any updates on the murder?”

“You didn’t ask Harry last night?”

“Of course, I did. He was too drunk to have a conversation.”

I sighed. “I don’t know anything you haven’t already heard. No witnesses, no suspects.”

“This could be bad,” she whispered, her voice growing serious. “If?—”

Both of us stopped in our tracks when someone came stumbling out from between the buildings, and onto the sidewalk in front of us. I frowned, realizing who it was. Riggs met my eyes first before glancing at Adella. I crossed my arms, a scowl forming on my lips.

I didn’t like him before, but after seeing how he looked at Dani in my bar, I wanted to punch him in the damn face. Which was a problem in itself. I didn’t date, and Dani made it perfectly clear she wanted absolutely no strings.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Adella asked, her gaze trailing down his coat.

I sucked in a deep breath, clearing my head. Riggs pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pockets, his hands shaking slightly. His long hair, which was usually pulled back, was hanging down and a mess.

“Is Harry at the station?” He lit his cigarette.

“I’d try his house,” I replied, eyeing something stained on his jacket. “What are you doing in the woods at eight in the morning, Riggs?”

“Something—I saw something,” he muttered, his voice tight.

“Show us,” Adella demanded.

“Not our business,” I reminded her. “Let him find Harry?—”

“Harry didn’t leave the bar until two.” She cut me off, giving me a hard look. “He’s probably still drunk. He’ll just send Dani.”

Riggs straightened up. “Then I’ll go get Dani.”

My palm slammed into his chest when he moved to go around me. “Show me.”

He grinned, inhaling a large drag before slowly blowing out a cloud of smoke. “You like the intern, Kole? I saw you talking with her at the bar.”

“I talk to everyone at my bar,” I snapped. “There’s no reason for you to take a woman into the woods—especially when you have fresh blood on your jacket.”

His humor faded, his eyes darkening. “Fuck off. Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” I arched an eyebrow. “Feeling guilty for something, Riggs?”

Adella squeezed between us when he squared up to me. “It’s too fucking early for this. Both of you need to calm down.”

I chuckled. “I’m calm. He’s the one about to swing after I mentioned the blood on his jacket.”

“I’m not the murderer,” he spat out, backing up. “I came to tell Harry what I found.”

I jerked a nod toward the woods. “Prove it. Lead the way.”