Woof at the Door (9 page)

“Okay,” LaBryce said.

“LaBryce, don’t you want to call your lawyer?” I asked.

Silence. Everyone looked at me. LaBryce seemed to be trying to wrap his head around
the idea. All three cops gave me blank looks that barely masked the undercurrent of
annoyance.

“Yeah, I guess I need to do that.”

And with that, he was cuffed and ushered from the room.

CHAPTER 7

Kai offered to take me home, and even though I was still miffed at him, I agreed.
Mainly because I wanted to talk to him more about finding Burke. And because I wanted
to give him a chance to apologize.

We stood waiting by the elevators. When they slid open, a small, trim man stepped
out. He glanced at me and then silently turned to scan Kai’s face with deep-set, sharp
blue eyes. Though I had no idea who he was, everything about him said “head honcho.”

“I need a word with you, Sergeant.”

“Yes, sir.”

I excused myself and walked away, stopping as soon as I rounded the corner that led
to the bathrooms so I could hear what was said.

“Any more on Walker?” the man asked Kai.

“Not yet, sir.”

“I know you’re aware of the pressure surrounding this case.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t let it affect your work. No matter who crawls up to bite you on the ass. You
can’t rush the evidence, Kai.”

There was a pause and I wondered if that was all the man had to say. I peeked around
the corner—he was staring up at Kai, his gaze as sharp as a laser. “Now having said
that, I want to hear you tell me that you are on this like white on rice.”

“I’m all over it, Chief.”

“Notify me when you get something.” The chief dismissed him with a nod, turned, and
walked way.

I watched Kai blow out a breath and look up at the ceiling. It was obvious that the
pressure was mounting. I felt a pang of sympathy for him. How was he supposed to do
a good job under this much stress? No wonder he was hoping to find something on LaBryce
that would cinch the case.

He looked over and saw me. “Sorry.” I came around the corner and walked up to him.
“I guess that was your boss?”

“Yeah.”

The elevator dinged and we got on. I moved to face him once the doors closed. “Your
boss is right, you know.” No point in denying that I was listening to their conversation.
“If you rush to a conclusion, you could be ruining the life of an innocent man.”

Kai shook his head. “You are so certain LaBryce is innocent. Why?”

I thought about it for a moment, taking time to study his face. His brows were knit
together, his green eyes dark and serious. Gone was the half grin and surfer boy nonchalance.
Oh, hell, now I was really in for it. Not only did I want to make sure the cops dropped
LaBryce as a suspect, I really wanted Kai to solve the case. I wanted to see the playful
cockiness return to his manner. I had no idea why. Well, maybe an inkling of an idea.

“What would you say if I told you I knew—for a fact—that LaBryce is innocent?”

“You
know
he’s innocent? Are you telling me you can provide LaBryce Walker with an alibi?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what are you telling me,
exactly
?”

I took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Just trust me, okay? Pretend like this
is an anonymous tip or something.”

“Trust works both ways, Grace. You need to tell me everything you know.”

“Jesus, this is crazy,” I muttered.

Kai waited for me to elaborate.

I looked away. What was I supposed to say? “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

“Grace, are you in some sort of trouble?” He grabbed my arm and gently turned me to
face him. The concern I saw in his face made me feel like an ass. Kai was worried
about me. And all I was doing was keeping secrets. But what choice did I have?

The doors of the elevator opened. Neither of us moved until we heard, “Take your hand
off my sister. Now.”

I glanced over. Emma and Wes stood looking at us. Emma’s face was cool and expressionless.
Not good.

I started to explain that everything was fine when Wes said, “If you have anything
else to say to my client, you will do it through me.”

Kai dropped his hand as if my skin suddenly burned. “Fine by me. Though your
client
has agreed to assist us tomorrow. Should I make other arrangements?”

“No. I’ll be there.” The doors began to close and Wes caught them, forcing them to
bump back open.

“Let’s go, Grace,” Emma said, though her eyes were still on Kai.

With a last backward glance, I walked out of the elevator and into a hailstorm of
questions and admonishments. What happened? Why didn’t I call? I should know better
than to let the cops ask me questions without counsel.

I was suddenly too tired to talk. I wanted out of the dress. I wanted to forget about
Kai and Mark Richardson and Alex Burke. The knowledge that LaBryce had been arrested
and the fact that I would have to dive back into the case in the morning only made
me want to forget more.

We walked out of the sheriff’s office and to the limo waiting for us. I wasn’t surprised
to see it. Wes traveled in style. I knew I’d ruined his birthday celebrations.

“I’m sorry about tonight, Wes,” I said when we’d all settled into the soft leather
seats.

He waved a hand, and smiled. Wes was handsome in a chic, meticulously groomed way.
His dark hair was styled, his clothes tailored and elegant. He and Emma sat across
from me. If I didn’t know he was gay, I’d say he and my sister were the perfect couple.
Two peas in a pod.

To prove my point, Wes nudged Emma and said, “I think you were right—the cop is into
her.”

“I told you. I thought he was going to trip over his tongue when he saw her in that
dress. Though it’s seen better moments.” Emma skimmed her gaze over the grimy outfit.

“I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”

“I know.”

“He seemed very intense, your cop.” Wes grinned and lifted his brows, waiting for
me to dish out some detail.

“He is not my cop.”

“Maybe too intense,” Emma said. “What was going on in that elevator?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know, he thinks I know something.”

“Do you?”

I leaned my head back onto the soft headrest. My temples had started throbbing. “I
know that LaBryce is innocent.”

“How do you know that?” Wes asked.

“Because his pet jaguar told me.”

“Oh . . .”

“Did you tell Kai? Is that what the whole severe look was about?” Emma asked.

I snorted out a laugh. “No. I didn’t tell him.” I raised my head off the seatback
to look at my sister. “What could I possibly say? He already knows I’m hiding something
from him. If I told him what I knew, which, by the way, I have no proof of other than
from the cat, then what? How could he possibly believe me?”

“What do they have on LaBryce?” Wes asked.

I told them about the hairs, the fight, and LaBryce threatening to kill Mark.

“Circumstantial. If he has a good lawyer, he’ll probably get off,” Wes said.

“But the cops aren’t even looking at anyone else. Someone killed Mark Richardson.
And it wasn’t LaBryce. They’re totally barking up the wrong tree.”

“What are you going to do?” Wes asked.

“I have no idea. I’ve got to go to LaBryce’s house in the morning to feed Charm and
make sure the cops can search her enclosure safely. Maybe I’ll talk to Kai then.”

“And tell him about your ability?” Emma asked.

“No! I just . . . maybe I can convince him that LaBryce is innocent.”

“Sweetie, how are you going to do that if you don’t tell him the truth?” Wes reached
over and patted my knee.

“I don’t know.”

“Have you tried seducing him yet?” Emma grinned wickedly.

“Be serious, Emma!”

“I am being serious. I saw the way he was looking at you earlier.” Her smile widened.
“You may be clueless when it comes to men, little sister, but I’m not. He wanted to
suck your toenail polish off.”

“I’m not wearing any toenail polish.”

“Details. My point is this—the man is totally into you. You need to use that to your
advantage. Tomorrow morning, get him alone and flirt a little bit.”

“Use your womanly wiles,” Wes added.

“I don’t have any womanly wiles!”

They rolled their eyes in tandem.

“Grace, you are beautiful,” Wes said with a smile. “Even in this state, you’ve got
a whole wild temptress thing going on.”

“Like Raquel Welch in that cavewoman bikini.”

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. “Please. There’s no way I can just flirt LaBryce
out of jail.”

“You underestimate yourself,” Wes said.

“And the power of cleavage,” Emma added.

“Right.”

“Listen, sweetie,” Wes said. “You need to understand this. Kai will be more interested
in listening to what you have to say if you work him over a little first.”

“Distract him,” Emma said. “Pull his strings. Bat your eyes and smile. If you’re not
going to tell him the truth, which, for the record, I think you should, at least you’ll
be able to influence him.”

I laughed even though what she said wasn’t funny. It was preposterous. Even though
Jake had blamed Kai’s lack of focus on me, I still didn’t buy it. Normally, I distracted
a man no longer than it took him to drag his eyes from my C-cups. The idea that I
could manipulate Kai with a few well-timed giggles and a tight shirt was ridiculous.

“Emma, you can’t really think he’s dumb enough to fall for something that base and
contrived.”

“Would it be contrived?” Emma asked.

I looked from my sister to Wes and back. “What? You think I like him?”

“I know you like him.”

“Don’t pretend, sweetie. Not with us.”

I had to admit, I liked him a little bit. “I feel bad for him. He’s dealing with some
pressure.”

“Some!” Wes scoffed. “Are you kidding? The governor’s son has been murdered. A fellow
Jaguar player is a suspect. Turn on the news and it’s all you hear. By tomorrow, the
press will have spun it eight different ways. If they arrest LaBryce and then have
to release him with no alternative suspect, the cops will look like idiots.”

I hadn’t thought of that.

We eased to a stop in front of the condo. I knew, although it was almost midnight,
the night was still young for the martini twins. So I hauled myself out of the limo
and walked toward the condo alone.

Blissfully alone. I let my mind drift along with the quiet ocean breeze as I climbed
the stairs. If I hadn’t been so tired, I’d have been tempted to take a moonlit stroll
along the shore. Let the rumbling murmur of the sea scour my mind and soothe my soul.

“‘I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide . . . is a wild
call and a clear call that may not be denied.’” I recited the words of a poem memorized
so long ago for an English class I could hardly believe I remembered any of it.

The line was fitting, though. I’d lived near the ocean as long as I could remember.
Leaving the beach, its salty air, and sandy soil may very well give me sea fever.
For a moment, I thought about staying awhile longer with Emma, until I’d saved enough
to pay the inflated price of a house on the beach. The idea had almost taken hold
when I reached the door.

Three sticky notes were affixed to it.

Moss must have farted too loud.

With a sigh, I stripped the notes off the door. “The country life it is.”

I opened the door and the dogs trotted into the foyer to greet me. Moss recognized
the jaguar’s scent and began busily sniffing my toes.

Charm!
He was expressing overwhelming excitement over
eau de jaguare
, and I was bombarded with his memories.

I squinted and tried to block out the zooming slide show. “Yes, I saw Charm.”

Jax was sniffing my legs and also seemed to recognize the scent. Though he wasn’t
as excited as Moss. I figured Jax had been around LaBryce enough times to remember
it.

Shivering in the crisp air-conditioning, I padded barefoot through the condo and into
the bathroom. Moss’s nose was still glued to my leg. I peeled off the dress and tossed
it out of the room.

“There, go nuts.” He loped after it and continued sniffing. I took a quick, steaming
shower to banish the chill and rinse the grime off my hands and feet.

When I stepped out and wrapped myself in a thick towel, Moss still had his nose buried
in the dress. Jax had taken up his position at the door and watched as I squeezed
the water from my hair with a smaller towel. I combed it out—thanks to Emma’s selection
of fine hair-care products, it was a fairly easy chore. By the time I started pulling
on my pajamas, Jax had reclined all the way to the floor, his eyes half-closed, his
head resting calmly on the cool marble.