Page 27 of Midnight Secrets

“Makes sense. Do you know what he used the cabin for? From what I’ve learned about Warren Hammond, he doesn’t strike me as the hunting type.”

“Me either.” I’d been surprised when he disclosed the property to me. Both of the Hammonds were city people, through and through. “But that’s what most people do in the bush, so I asked him if the hunting was good there. He said he didn’t hunt, and that the cabin was just a place to get away. Ilooked it up on a map. It’s not far from Hoonah. An hour or two by ATV or a short hop with a bush plane.”

Detective Quartermaine’s eyes narrowed. I could practically see the gears spinning in his mind as he mulled over that information.

“That’s good to know. Thank you,” he said, almost as an afterthought.

Pebbles barked and propped her tiny feet on my leg. I glanced down, and she wagged her tail. My spoiled dog was tired of being where she couldn’t see.

Scooping her up, I aimed a smile at the detective. “You’re welcome. If I can be of further assistance, you know where to find me.” I glanced past him to Ellis. “Give me a call next week. We’ll find you the perfect place.”

“I’ll do that.” He lifted his hand, my business card still in his fingers.

“Great.” I offered him a sunny smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some errands to run.” With a quick glance at the man’s still brooding brother, I waved at Mina, who was back to filling orders, then hurried out of The Cozy Cup and away fromOzzie’sintense, expressive gaze.

CHAPTER 9

Ozzie

Ireally needed to find Warren Hammond.

My thoughts in a blender, I mulled over what Claire said.

Why did a city dweller like Hammond need a mountain getaway? I understood how some people liked to take a wilderness retreat here and there for the solitude, but to buy a cabin in the Alaskan bush seemed a little extreme. Especially when it was someone who dressed like they worked in downtown New York.

Claire exited the coffeeshop and moved past the front windows, turning my thoughts in an entirely different direction. She was another city slicker, but unlike the Hammonds, there was a heartiness to her clothing that said she understood the harsh climate in which she lived. Her stylish sweater and jeans belonged on the pages of a fashion magazine, but the high-quality winter boots on her feet said she could easily add some snow gear to her getup and be right at home in the backcountry.

“Why didn’t you tell me your witness was hot?”

I turned a glare on Ellis. “What bearing does that have on my case?”

“None. But you know I’m always on the lookout for the next ex-Mrs. Quartermaine.”

Rolling my eyes, I walked toward the door, leaving him to trail after me. Ellis had been married a grand total of once, and after a bitter divorce, vowed to never do it again.

That didn’t mean he didn’t still love women, though. “Leave Claire alone,” I growled. “She’s not your type.”

“A hot blonde isn’t my type?”

I let go of the door, and it swung back, nearly hitting him in the face. Smothering a smirk, I kept walking. “Nice. She’s nice.” She and I hadn’t spoken for more than a few minutes, but the way she carried herself and the way she treated the few others I’d watched her interact with told me a lot about her character. Claire Holmes was kind. And classy. Even if she was nosy.

“The women I date are nice.”

“They’re nice to get what they want. Claire is nice just because she’s nice. And she’s not the type of woman you can use and throw away.”

“I don’t ‘use and throw away’ women. We mutually agree to a short-term, pleasurable relationship. Maybe she likes to keep things casual. You don’t know.”

I let out a quiet grunt. He was right there, but my people reading skills rarely let me down, and Claire didn’t seem like the type to parade a string of men through her bedroom. “I can guess.”

“You’re a cop. You’re not supposed to guess.”

That made me chuckle. “Only on cases, El.” I glanced over as he caught up.

“If you want her for yourself, just say so.”

I stopped, my jaw working as a slow burn of anger simmered in my belly. “Let’s get something clear. Claire Holmes is a witness in my homicide case. She’s off-limits, so even if I found her attractive, it wouldn’t matter. But I’m also not going to engage in a battle of who saw her first. If you want to ask her out, be my guest. Keep in mind, though, if you break her heart,I might break your nose.” And maybe a few fingers. Just the thought of Ellis dating Claire made me sick to my stomach. Not because I thought he’d treat her poorly—my brother was a serial dater, not a jerk—but because, despite my words, something about Claire appealed to me. And I didn’t want Ellis to be the one who got to know her better.

The smirk on Ellis’s face at the start of my spiel quickly faded. A more serious and contemplative expression took over. “You’ve changed, Oz.”

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