Chapter Eleven

In my old life back in Chicago, people partied until the wee hours of the morning. In Sweet River, not so much. By nine p.m. most of the guests had left and I was in the kitchen doing the dishes so Shannon could visit with those who remained. Kane walked in carrying the last of the plates.

“I’ll put them in the dishwasher,” he said.

“Thanks, I’ve got it. But if you want to start putting some of the food into the plastic bowls, that would be helpful.”

“No problem. There isn’t a lot left. People in this town really love her food.”

“Those snickerdoodles—don’t even ask me how many I’ve eaten,” I said as I put some plates in the dishwasher. No paper for Shannon. She put out the good stuff when she entertained.

“Are you going to the fall festival next weekend?”

“Yeah. Well, I have to work it for a while. The store has a booth full of samples.”

“How about you?”

There was a long pause, I craned my neck to look at him and he had a weird expression.

“What? Do I have cookie on my face? I totally stuffed one in my mouth as you walked in. Fuel for doing the dishes,” I explained.

He laughed hard at that. “I was going to see if maybe you wanted to go with me and some friends,” he said quickly.

I dropped the dishrag on the floor and my jaw dropped, as well. “Oh. Uh.”

“Just friends,” he said and then shoved some cookies into one of the containers. “I thought as the somewhat new kids to town, we could go together. Most of the folks at the station will be working the festival. But I asked a few of my friends to come down, and I thought you might like to join us.”

“Right. Understood.” I mean, why would a guy who looked like Idris Elba ask me out? Like Jake, he was so out of my league. “If what you want is someone to go on the rides with, I’m in. Last year, I went with Shannon and Michael and I most definitely felt like the third wheel.”

We finished up and were about to walk out of the kitchen when he touched my shoulder.

“Hey,” he said, “about before.”

Was he already going to cancel our not date?

“I’m really busy with my job.”

I wasn’t really sure what he meant. “No worries. If you asked me out on a real date, I probably would have said no. After my last breakup, I kind of have a moratorium on dating. But friends going to a festival, that I can do.”

His smile was heart-melting. “Whew. Okay. Just—I mean, if I were going to ask someone, it would be you. But I’m married to my job right now.”

“Me too,” I squeaked out. I wasn’t sure if I was flattered that he considered me dating material or upset that he couldn’t make that leap.

Way to have some self-esteem, Ainsley. I really am comfortable with who I am, but I’m definitely not ready for any kind of relationship.

So why are you even thinking about this?

Right. But the answer to that was he really does look like Idris, so who wouldn’t?

We were about to join the others when I placed a hand on his arm. “I’d actually like to ask you something about work. Just one question, if that’s okay.”

He laughed. “I’m afraid to say yes. But what is it?”

“How certain is the time of death? I mean, is it possible to get that wrong?”

“Ainsley, are you questioning the way I do my job?” His face was impassive, and I couldn’t figure out if he was angry. Leave it to me to offend someone who wanted to spend time with me.

“Of course not. The whole thing against Michael hinges on time of death because he’s the only one who doesn’t have an alibi. But maybe if that was off, even by a few hours, that could help his case. It would mean things couldn’t be proven without a shadow of a doubt.”

He gave me a strange look.

“Yes, I know that line is straight out of an old Castle episode. I’m just curious.”

“Time of death is always an approximation. I narrowed it down to about a two-hour period. I take the body temperature at the scene and factor in as many variables as possible: temperature, the type of ground the body is on, all sorts of things. It’s one of the hardest things to determine but we get close.”

Well, shoot. That didn’t help very much.

Then an idea hit me. Something one of my students had said earlier in the day clicked. “I’m thinking about writing a book, maybe a mystery one. I wondered, and it’s okay to say no, if I could maybe come talk to you at your office. Sort of see how things work in a coroner’s office.”

Yes, this was a brilliant idea. Even my brother might let me snoop around if I told him I was writing a book. And I had been thinking about working on one before I started the shop. Though, it was more a historical idea set in the Tudor area. But writing a mystery did have its appeal.

“I—uh, hmmm. Sure. It’s just if you’re not used to seeing dead bodies, it might be more the thing of nightmares for most people.”

Oh. I forgot about the dead bodies part. Seeing that poor man lying in the park with those glassy eyes—yep, that was something I’d never forget. But this was what I needed to do to help Michael. I’d get peppermint for my nose to help with smell, and maybe I just wouldn’t look too closely. I could do this.

Maybe.

The expression on Michael’s face when we’d been on the rooftop, that pained look in his eyes, drove me forward. “I understand, but I think it would help a lot. If it’s okay with you—I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Just let me know when you think you might want to stop by.”

“Thanks.” I’d be busy at the shop the next few days. But I could maybe get away at lunch. “How about Wednesday around one? I could bring you some lunch and coffee from Shannon’s place.”

“Sounds good.”

“Hey, Ainsley, are you heading out?” Jake walked up to us.

“Yes.”

“I’m going to follow you out and show you how the lights work that I set up for you.”

I waved a goodbye to Kane, and hugged Shannon and Michael. “Love you guys,” I said.

“Right back at you, bestie,” Shannon said.

“Come on, George.” He gave me the evil George eye. Michael had been rubbing his ears, which was the language of love for my dog. “I promise T-R-E-A-T-S.”

He cocked his head.

I nodded.

He pushed past and made his way carefully down the stairs to the car. Then waited patiently for me.

“Huh,” Jake said. “George Clooney can spell?”

“Yes. If you say that word outright, he goes insane and does what I call the Clooney crazy, where he hops around in circles pretty much destroying everything in his wake. I didn’t want to risk Shannon’s place.”

He laughed.

A few minutes later, we’d arrived at my place. The back of my property was so bright, it was if the sun were shining at ten at night.

Jake ran up and tapped on my window. I rolled it down.

“Stay in your car, let me check this out.”

He ran so fast he was around the back of the house before I could roll the window back up. Was someone back there?

For once in my life, I hoped it was an animal who had made all those lights go on.

And why was I sitting in the car letting poor Jake put himself in possible danger?

“Come on George.”

I let him out and we ran to the back. By ran, I mean jogged at a slow pace. I’m not a runner. Even then, I was out of breath.

“It’s okay,” Jake said. “It was just some squirrels on the fence.”

At the mention of squirrels, I grabbed George’s collar. He’s a great dog, but squirrels are his nemesis.

“So just know that anything can set these off. Birds, squirrels, probably a heavy wind. They’re sensitive. It’s more so you can see what’s out here, without leaving the safety of the house. Greg told me the security guys will be putting up cameras as well, so you’ll be able to monitor everything from your phone.”

I kind of hated that all of this was necessary, but after a couple of scares over the last week, I needed security. More than anything, I was angry that whomever had been back here, had made me frightened in my own home. It was not fair.

“Okay. Thanks for showing me this,” I said, weary and ready for a good night’s rest.

“You’ve got my number, and like I said before, I’m closer. If anything happens or you’re uncomfortable in any way, you call. Doesn’t matter what time of day or night.”

“Thank you, again. For everything.”

He headed back to his truck, and I let George Clooney run around like a crazy dog for a few minutes while I changed into PJs.

When I opened the back door, he sat by the back fence as if waiting for something. Creeped me out a bit. I yelled, “Treat,” and he did his happy dance and bounded my way.

I tried not to notice that as soon as I shut the backdoor, the lights out back went on again. After giving him his treats, and a bone to chew on, I went around locking windows, doors and shutting the curtains.

For the second night, I sat on the couch listening to every sound until I passed out next to George Clooney.