Page 4 of Hostile Witness

A second knock echoed. What time was it? Scrambling off the couch, she grabbed her phone and slid into the bunny slippers her students had given her last year. It was seven forty-five a.m., Saturday. She tapped the doorbell app and saw—oh no—Detective Kelley. All crisp and clean, he could’ve been a cover model for a law-enforcement magazine.

Adrenaline zoomed through her chest. Why was he here? She didn’t know anything about the murder yesterday, and under no circumstances would she agree to go to the precinct for questioning. Stunned, Tia glanced in the hallway mirror. She couldn’t answer the door looking like this. Finger combing her hair, she enlarged the app picture on her phone. He was holding two coffees. Hmm... just like that day on the beach when he’d offered her his extra iced tea.

Well, he obviously wasn’t here to tie a neat little bow on her ride along experience, because, hell, she hadn’t even begun to process it.

But he did arrive bearing coffee, and that was a definite plus, considering her coffeepot had quit working last night.

The detective rang the bell again, took a step back, and waved at the camera.

All right, all right.If she didn’t answer the door, he might alert her uncle and worry him. Right about now, Tia wished her uncle didn’t hold such a special place in her heart. She’d been avoiding him for a year and a half because he’d become so overprotective she could hardly breathe in his presence.

She buttoned her cartoon pajamas all the way up to her neck and wrapped herself in a thick cardigan before opening the front door. With a sweeping gesture of her arm, she greeted her uninvited guest. “Good morning, Detective. What brings you by so early?”

“Hey.” He gave her a slow downward perusal and stopped at the bunny slippers. One side of his mouth quirked up. “Glad to see you’ve got a doorbell camera.”

She nodded. The camera was an easy setup. “What can I do for you?”

“May I come in?”

Tia opened the door wider. “If you must.”

He held out one of the coffees. “Here. I got this for you. It’s black. I have no idea what you like in it.”

“Thank you. You must’ve been inspired. My coffeepot stopped working last night.”

“I notice small details, and you brought a carafe size of caffeine with you yesterday.” After taking a couple steps, he glanced into the little den area. “Your uncle asked me to stop by, make sure the place was secure. Do you mind if I check the windows and door locks on the main floor? Yesterday was a homicide. Whoever committed the crime is still at-large.”

Oh, really?Her uncle had been hounding her for almost a year to install some kind of security system. Wouldn’t hebe surprised to know she’d scheduled the installation for next month?

Tia held her arms open wide. “Okay, take a look.” She made a beeline for the creamer in her fridge.

“Nice place.” He examined the living room windows. “This Cape Cod is one of the original homes in this neighborhood.”

“Yes, it is, and thank you. I bought it with my college roommate a few years ago. We both like the ocean. It’s a little piece of paradise during the warmer months.”

“Does your roommate live here, too?”

None of your business, buddy.Tia sipped the coffee and leaned against the counter. It tasted like the nectar of the gods, so she decided to answer him anyway. “No, she lives in Baltimore now but stays here some in the summer.”

He muscled a sash until it groaned and lifted. “You’ve got old windows.”

“I know. The renovations happen one room at a time every summer.”

“I understand all too well. Got a fixer-upper myself a few miles up the coast. You need a security system though.”

“It’s scheduled for next month. I had to get in line. Many of the owners down here are installing keyless entry systems for the summer rental crowds.” See? She had her crap together and didn’t need a guy around to hover and fix things. As a matter of fact, a few weeks ago she’d managed to install an elaborate closet system without help from anyone. Granted, it had taken her the whole weekend and a lot of choice words, but the end result was most satisfying.

His voice broke into her reverie. “If you decide you want more cameras installed, I’ve got a few extra lying around that I’m not using. I’d be happy to set them up for you.”

Tia gave him a polite smile. “Thank you. I’ll let you know.”

And that was exactly how guys reeled you in. They offered to help, rescue, protect, and one thing led to another, and once you developed feelings for them, they disappointed you.Well, she was no damsel in distress, and she was quite capable of climbing the crab apple in the backyard and the big sugar maple in the front yard to attach the cameras herself.No, thank you, Detective.

He pointed at the Mylar balloons occupying the far corner by the sofa. “Recent celebration?”

“Um, no. Some people buy themselves flowers; I buy balloons. They’re happy, you know?”

A quizzical expression crossed his face. “I guess so. They give new meaning to thecelebrate each dayline of thinking.”

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