Page 56 of A Little Bit Whiskey
“I have my reasons.”
“I’d like to hear them.” He lifted his chin. “Or are you going to give me more BS like you gave Anna at breakfast? Because all she wants for you is to be happy, and all you did was dig your heels into the ground like a toddler.”
Tamsyn laughed. “Are you serious? This morning, yours and Anna’s sole purpose was to get me to break up with Noir.”
Fred raised his palm. “My words were to put the relationship on pause until this crisis is over.” He lowered his chin. “Anna might come at things sideways, but she means well.”
“Maybe so, but there’s no way I’m going to call it quits with Noir.”
“I’m not asking you to,” Fred said. “However, living there isn’t a good look for you or this department. You can put that on hold and public appearances with Noir. That’s the responsible thing to do.”
Not if she was going to catch whoever wanted to frame Weezer and Carter.
Fred leaned forward, opening a desk drawer. “I really didn’t want to tell you this way, but the full autopsy report on your mom is back and it’s as we suspected.” He pushed it across the table.
“Does Anna know about this? Is this why her panties are in a wad?” With tentative fingers, Tamsyn lifted the folder. She took a quick glance over the pages. Her heart hammered in her throat.
A feather pendant had been found with the body.
That made no fucking sense.
“Anna doesn’t know the details, but yes, she’s aware. It’s going to be public knowledge in fifteen minutes.”
All the more reason for Tamsyn to go ahead with her plans. Part of her wanted to trust Fred. Tell him about the necklace. About her thoughts regarding this being her biological father. The problem with doing that was she had no motive. She didn’t understand what grudge her real father might have with the Rivers. She needed the backdrop of the Holiday Showcase to set her plan in motion. She needed to see the reactions of the townspeople.
And she needed—no, wait. Maybe she didn’t need to be in uniform to do that.
“Are you going to let me work the showcase or not?”
“No,” Fred said with a furrowed brow. “You’re not going to ask me about that report?”
“I don’t need to. My mother was murdered. Gunshot to the head. Close range.” She glanced down. “The body had also been moved. It makes no sense for Carter and Weezer to unearth my mother and move her to a new location—on their property no less.”
“I’m going to a judge for a warrant to see if their weapons match that of the one that took your mother’s life.”
Tamsyn tossed the file on the desk. “That will still be circumstantial. We both know that Weezer had two registered shotguns. Carter had two as well. He has a permit to carry a pistol. I can name twenty people in this town who carry the exact same one. That would include you and Silas.”
“Jesus, Tamsyn. You have a right to that report. But I’m pulling your access.” Fred snatched the file and stuffed it back in the drawer. “You’re blinded by whatever emotions you have for Noir and they’re clouding your judgment.”
“Carter and Weezer are good people. They didn’t hurt my mother.”
Fred let out an audible sigh. “I don’t for one second believe Carter could hurt a fly.” Fred held up his hand. “Unless his family was attacked, and then all bets are off. But that’s true of most good men. But Weezer? That woman is a loose cannon. There are things we’ve uncovered that I haven’t shared with you and it all points back to Weezer.”
Tamsyn’s muscles tightened. She couldn’t believe the words that were tumbling out of Fred’s mouth. What Kool-Aid was he drinking? It was utterly ridiculous. “You seriously can’t believe that?”
“We both know I have to go where the evidence points.” He cocked his head. “And no, you can’t see it. If you warn the River family where this is going, I will have your badge.”
“I know better.” She bit her tongue.
Fred was a better cop—a better investigator—than this. She had to wonder if this was his way of pissing her off to either keep her away, or to keep her digging on her own, without causing waves within the department or with State.
She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but that was damn hard considering the scowl he sported. “I will respect the investigation and your wishes, but I won’t give up my boyfriend.”
“I wish you’d reconsider.”
“May I be excused?”
“Of course.” Fred nodded.
