Page 82 of Kiss of Deceit

I handed her the glass of soda. “I’ll switch shifts with Adella tomorrow. We’ll do it after you get off work.”

She smiled, opening her mouth to respond until someone bumped into her. My good mood disappeared when two of Tristin’s friends surrounded Dani. She stiffened, her eyes darting between them.

“Can I get another shot of tequila?” Leon slurred, dumping two empty glasses onto the counter. Dani shifted slightly to the right when he brushed against her in his drunken state.

“I need to talk to you. Alone.” Tristin’s other friend, Monty, was on the other side of Dani, and he seemed stone-cold sober. “It’s important.”

“You.” I pointed to Leon. “Move your ass away from my bar. You’re cut off for the night.”

Leon slouched forward, his eyes unfocused. “What? Why? I haven’t?—”

“Kole, please,” Monty interrupted, pulling my attention back to him. “I’d talk to Harry, but he’s already drunk.”

My aggravation grew when Leon bumped into Dani again. “Then go talk to someone else who works for him.”

“I heard you work for him. Aren’t you a deputy now?” Leon snorted out a laugh, glancing at Dani. He swiped his long brown hair out of his eyes. “Oh, hi. You’re the intern Tristin hates?—”

I reached over the counter, grabbing his shirt. “You have two seconds to get the hell away from her or I’m throwing you outside,” I growled.

“Okay, okay.” He stumbled back once I released him. “You don’t have to be such a dick.”

Dani sipped her soda, not saying a word as Leon went back to the table. Monty was still waiting, and I scrubbed a hand down my face before catching Adella’s attention to have her come back behind the bar.

“This better be quick,” I grumbled, jerking my head in a silent order for Monty to follow.

I pushed open the door that led to my tiny office. It was stacked to the ceiling with boxes since I used it for storage. Monty shut the door behind us, nerves gleaming in his eyes when he faced me.

“What is so important that we had to come in here?” I asked, not hiding my annoyance.

“I think the killer was outside my house last night.”

I stared at him as he rubbed a hand over his buzzed blond hair. He was twitchy. Nervous. He paced a few steps, not caring that his work boots were untied.

“And why would you think that?”

“There were footsteps in the snow near our backdoor. Tristin and Leon never go out there. I think you should have Harry check it out.”

His words weren’t ringing true. “If you’re so worried, why wait an entire day to say something? It’s already dark out. You think I’m gonna spend my night checking out your house?”

“Come on, Kole. Harry won’t do shit about it. What if the murderer comes back to my house tonight?—”

“Then lock your damn door,” I snapped. There was something off about this entire conversation. “You’re acting like the damn interns being scared of the dark.”

He scowled. “People in this town are supposed to do their damn jobs. You work with Harry. Protecting the citizens—which is what I am.”

“Tristin is the one who takes the emergency calls. Want to make a report? Talk to your damn roommate.”

I shoved past him to open the door, ignoring his protests. Maybe his story was true, but there was something about it that was rubbing me the wrong way. Monty wasn’t my friend. He spoke to me when he ordered drinks and that was it. Why was he so adamant about talking to me now?

Adella caught my eye the moment I got behind the bar again, her frown shooting unease through me. I glanced at the empty stool with her half empty soda on the counter where Dani had been when I walked away. I scoured the room, not seeing her anywhere.

“She left,” Adella informed me. “With Tristin.”

My heart dipped. “What?”

She shrugged. “He whispered something in her ear once you were in the back, and she followed him outside.”

“She went willingly?”