Page 47 of All the Missing Pieces

The familiar voice still had that rasp to it, but there was something beneath it, a tightly held anger just trying to break free.

Hell.

Sully’s eyes widened on the screen. “Do you want me to call Baker? He can call the lawyer.”

I gave my head a quick shake. “No. Just give me a second.” The last thing I wanted was Baker overreacting and blowing this sky-high.

I pushed out of my chair and crossed to the door, Tater letting out a meow of protest at her nighttime nap being interrupted. Sliding the door open, I was greeted by Colt’s glowering expression, a deputy standing behind him.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Colt on his own was trouble in more ways than one, but Colt with backup said this was official trouble. I swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Evening, officers, how can I help you?”

“You can give us your whereabouts for the past three hours,” Colt clipped.

I frowned. So much for apologies and making nice. “I’ve been here, working on the next podcast episode.”

Colt’s jaw worked back and forth. “Can anyone corroborate that?”

Annoyance bubbled as I struggled to keep my cool. “Will you take the testimony of Tater?”

“No, I won’t take the word of a damned cat.”

My eyes narrowed on him. “Why do you want to know?”

The familiar energy began to buzz beneath my skin. Something had happened. Something that had to do with Emerson’s case. There was no other reason for Colt to be up here demanding my alibi.

Colt opened his mouth, and I knew it would be to blow me off, but then he paused, and it was almost as if he were playing out his options in his mind. He changed tack. “There was a break-in at the station tonight. Someone got into the room where cold case files and evidence are held.”

My jaw went slack. “And you think it wasme?”

Colt glared at me. “Who else would have an interest in getting access to those records?”

“How about the goddamned kidnapper?” I spat. Anger surged, pressing against my skin. Colt had made such a show of apologizing, but that was all it was, a show. Moments where I thought I’d gotten true vulnerability from him had just been bullshit.

“They’ve been in that storage locker for years,” Colt accused. “If a rogue kidnapper was wanting to cover his tracks, don’t you think he would’ve broken in there before now?”

“He knows that I’m working the case now. Looking for leads. He’s worried that there’s something in those files that points to him. We just have to find it.”

Something passed over Colt’s expression, a hint of doubt possibly. But he covered it just as quickly. “There is nowe. You are a suspect in an assault case, not to mention breaking and entering.”

“Assault?” I asked, shock bleeding into my voice.

“A deputy was injured when he surprised the intruder. He’s at the county hospital now getting stitched up and undergoing tests.”

Empathy for the officer swamped me, but fast on its heels was something that felt a lot like hope. Hope that I was on to something here. And there was someone who wasn’t happy about that. Someone who was still here in Shady Cove.

“Now,” Colt went on. “I’d like you to come down to the station for some questioning.”

I gaped at him. “Are you arresting me?”

“No, but?—”

“Excuse me.” Sully’s voice rose from the computer in the back of my van.

Colt’s hand went to the butt of his gun. “Is someone in there with you?”

“Jesus,” I muttered. “It’s my editor. I was on a video call with him.”

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