Page 30 of A Little Bit Whiskey
“That’s a bit premature, don’t you think?” Noir ripped off his snow-covered cap and stuffed it in his pocket. His face hardened and he stared at her with daggers shooting from his eyes.
For a split second, she contemplated telling them about her mother’s pendant, but thought better of it for the moment.
“I’m looking out for your family,” she said, pointing to the grave. “This is new.” She waved her hand toward the fence. “I can tell that was cut and tied back together. With the amount of snow coming down, it’s going to be hard to find footprints and tire tracks, so time is not on your side. However, the State forensics team will be able to tell if this body has been here for a while or put here recently. That will tell us a lot. In the meantime, protecting the integrity of this scene is my job. Your job is to protect your family and that starts by understanding that none of this looks good on the outside, looking in.”
“You’re acting as if someone in my family did something wrong,” Noir said.
“No. I’m behaving like a cop. Now let me do my job.” She hit Fred’s number and turned.
“She’s right,” Carter said. “I knew what would happen the second I brought her out here. I’ve already contacted Ben Hargrove.”
“Your buddy from law school?” she heard Noir ask.
“Yes. He’s on his way,” Carter said. “I could have called the police first, but that wouldn’t have been fair to Tamsyn. I thought she should have been the first person to see this. Your mother and I owed her that.”
Tamsyn closed her eyes for a brief second. A single cold tear dribbled down her cheek. Carter had always been a kind and gentle soul. While he put his family first, he took care of the people of this town, herself included. She appreciated what he had tried to do and the sentiment behind it, but in this case, it could end up backfiring on him and his wife.
8
NOIR
Noir sat at the island in the small kitchen, staring into a cup of coffee. The steam rose toward his face, carrying a rich aroma. It filled his senses, awakening his brain, but did nothing to settle his nerves. Those were like bricks in the pit of his stomach that won’t move.
He’d given a statement to Fred, Tamsyn, Eddy, and a police officer from the State with Ben present. It had been short and sweet. Nothing had been asked or answered that he believed could jeopardize his family, but he still didn’t like the way Tamsyn carried herself. It was as if she were a different person.
As if she were anyone other than the woman he loved.
He’d seen her in action before, but this hurt his heart. It felt like a personal assault and he couldn’t separate his girlfriend from the police officer doing her job.
He and his parents had left the scene around midnight. His father had told him to go home and get some sleep. That hadn’t happened. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could focus on was what might have been buried in the ground.
Glancing at his cell, he checked the time and for messages.
It was five in the morning and he hadn’t heard shit from Tamsyn.
He sipped his coffee. It burned the roof of his mouth and soured his belly. He had half a mind to march off into the vineyard and find out what the hell was going on, but he knew not only would that do no good, but she’d send him away.
Lights cut through the darkness, flashing through the window. His heart lurched to his throat. A combination of anger, fear, and sadness filled his soul.
Anger over the situation.
Fear regarding what could be happening with all the different scenarios that played out in his mind.
And horrible sadness for a conclusion that would rock Tamsyn’s world.
And his.
He raced to the front door, swinging it open.
Tamsyn stepped from Fred’s patrol car. She hugged him.
Fred waved but said nothing before ducking back behind the steering wheel.
Noir wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. He held the door open.
Tamsyn kicked her snowy boots on the step. Shaking off her coat, she handed it to him and stepped inside. She sucked in a deep breath as she made her way toward the kitchen. She pulled out a mug and placed it under the coffee maker. “Did you get any sleep?”
“A few minutes here and there,” he said. “Are they done?”
