Page 62 of Kiss of Deceit

I raised my eyes to the second story window, ice chilling my veins. It was the perfect vantage point to watch while still hidden by bushes.

“You have a stalker, Kole?” she asked as she appeared beside me. “That’s your bedroom.”

My gaze didn’t leave the window. “No. It’s Dani’s.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

dani

“Here you go.”Hallie handed me the coffee. “You didn’t come in this morning.”

“I had to go to work early.” I handed her my debit card with a tired smile. “How are you?”

It was lunchtime, and since I didn’t leave the office until ten last night, I planned on spending at least the next two hours outside of the dreary police station. It wasn’t like I would miss anything. Other than what Riggs found in the woods yesterday morning, we hadn’t gotten any more information. Which only left us with more questions. Harry was trying to find out if anyone was missing. Even with this town being so small, we still hadn’t gotten a head count.

“I’m good,” Hallie replied brightly. “My days are much better since…” she trailed off, her cheeks pinkening slightly. “I shouldn’t have said that. I mean, he’s dead?—”

“He is,” I interrupted gently, not even bothering to say Lucas’s name. “You didn’t kill him. Don’t feel guilty for someone who was a monster to you.”

She nodded quickly, her eyes darting to the door when the chime dinged. I followed her gaze, seeing Adella stroll in. Shepulled her beanie off, running fingers through her curls as she smiled in greeting. Suspicion raced down my spine as she glanced at the table near the window where I’d put my purse before shrugging out of her jacket.

“Just a black coffee?” Hallie asked her.

Adella pulled out her debit card from her jeans pocket. “Do I ever get anything else?”

I wandered back to the narrow counter, taking a seat and staring out the window. After two days of constant gloom and gray, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The thick snow sparkled in the sunlight, and while it was frigidly cold, the natural beauty stole my breath. I hadn’t been in nature like this in over three years, and even with everything happening in this town, I would never tire of this view.

“Want company?” Adella plopped into the seat across from my table without waiting for an answer.

I studied her, the question leaving my lips a moment later. “Are you following me?”

Instead of looking shocked, her eyes gleamed with amusement. “Why would you ask that?”

“You were at the grocery store this morning when I went in to grab a box of breakfast bars.” I watched her demeanor as I spoke. “Then I noticed you on the sidewalk behind me when I was heading to the station. And now you’re here. What’s going on?”

“You only noticedmefollowing you?”

My pulse quickened as I stared at her. “What does that mean?”

“You think it was a coincidence that Kole was lingering outside when you got off work last night?” She cocked her head. “Or how he was up this morning to walk you to work for the second time in as many days?”

One quick glance at Hallie proved she was trying to listen to our conversation. I made sure to keep my voice low. “He wasn’t following me…he was walking with me.”

“Aren’t you curious why he’s doing that?” When my cheeks heated, she let out a laugh. “It’s not just because you two slept together. Kole didn’t say anything—it’s obvious.”

“Are you going to tell me?” I snapped, irritation shooting through me. I detested being in the dark about things, and from Adella’s knowing grin, I was missing something.

Setting her coffee down, she leaned closer. “Kole doesn’t want you to know.”

Ice chilled my veins. “Know what?”

“You know what Riggs found in the woods?”

“Yes.” We all knew what Riggs found. I talked to him for two hours yesterday about it. From how he acted, I truly believed he had nothing to do with it.

“Kole and I found footsteps in the snow,” Adella informed me in a hushed tone. “Bloody ones. We followed them.”

I frowned, my chest growing tight. “Why didn’t either of you tell anyone at the station?”