Page 17 of Mine to Hold
She fell back in the rusted old chair with a grunt. She watched as Emmerson chatted with the other cop before turning his attention to the medical examiner who exited the motel room with the gurney.
She swallowed the thick lump in her throat.
The first and last time she saw a dead body was fifteen years ago. A memory that would forever be etched into her psyche, but she wished she could forget. It haunted her daily existence and visited her in her nightmares.
No matter where in the world she ended up, that damn dead body found her.
God, she wished this chair had been a rocker. She crossed and uncrossed her legs a dozen times while she watched Emmerson do cop-like things.
Whatever they were.
The ambulance pulled out of the parking lot, followed the medical examiner, and finally, the fire truck.
All that remained were the two cops.
Emmerson and Deputy Manzo stood in front of the motel for what seemed like a half hour. But since Rumor timed it, she knew it was only eleven minutes. Emmerson pointed to a few things before Manzo ducked under the crime scene tape and disappeared into one of the rooms.
She stood and leaned against the half-rotted railing. On the outside, she knew she appeared calm, but on the inside, she shook like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
He raked his hand across the top of his head. “I had no idea you were staying on this side of town.”
“It was all that was available.”
“What about the bed and breakfast in town?”
“Too expensive,” she said. “My funds are limited.” While she was a proud woman, she had no problem not only being frugal, but admitting that she needed to be. Based on the way hismother lived, she wondered if he could even understand that concept.
“Yeah. I get it. Melinda’s rates can be pricey. Especially this time of year.” He glanced over his shoulder. “In general, most places in Lighthouse Cove are safe, but this area lately has been nothing but trouble. I can’t get into all of it, but my mom is concerned about a drug ring that’s been working the East Coast from Miami all the way to Maryland. I’m wondering if this murder has anything to do with it since we did have a bust here a week ago.” He let out a long breath. “I don’t like you staying here alone.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m used to taking care of myself.” Her first stop in Tennessee had been Memphis. The one thing she’d remembered about her parents had been they were big Elvis fans. They loved music of all kinds, but Elvis was one of their favorites. Visiting Graceland had been one of those things she had to do. The little girl in her hoped she’d run into her parents on the streets of Memphis. The adult knew that was a fantasy. Yet she felt compelled to visit. However, it had to be one of the most dangerous cities she ever set foot in. She stayed in a dumpy motel for three nights. That had been enough. She toured Graceland and moved on to Nashville where she stayed for a couple months and eventually Knoxville.
Now that had been a great place to live.
“Well, I won’t sleep well if you’re staying here tonight. Not when I have a perfectly good pool house waiting for you to rent in a nice neighborhood,” he said. “Besides, I’m sure we can come to an agreement on rent. Why don’t you pack a few things and we can get the rest tomorrow.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “No offense, but I doubt whoever did this will be coming back.”
He tilted his head. “I’ve been a cop for twenty years and one of the biggest things I’ve learned is the perp always comesback to the scene of the crime. They can’t help themselves.” He planted his hands on his hips. “Look. Generally, this is a sleepy little town and murders don’t happen every day. It’s my job to keep people safe.”
“Are you going to ask everyone who lives on this street to come stay at your house?”
“No.” He scratched the back of his head. “But you’ve got another, safer option. In the last two weeks we’ve had a wave of drugs coming through town that has baffled us and now this. Just take what I’m offering. I’ll feel better and you won’t have to deal with this run-down rental anymore.” He held up his hand. “The owner isn’t even supposed to be leasing any rooms in this house. We’ve shut him down twice and come tomorrow, now that I know he’s done it again, you’ll be asked to leave anyway.”
“What? I answered a flyer hanging in?—”
“My point exactly. It wasn’t in the app.” He arched a brow. “This house has code violations with the town that haven’t been fixed. He doesn’t have fire escapes or fire alarms. I’m sure he never fixed the back window and there’s still cardboard covering it.”
She nodded. No point in lying.
“I could go on, listing all the issues, but the owner has been warned numerous times that this house has to be brought up to code before anyone can live in it and he certainly can’t rent it.”
“So, you’re going to strong-arm me into leaving.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.
“Yes,” he said. “But I’m not doing it because I’m being a dick. I wouldn’t have said anything until tomorrow, except you’re fighting me on this, so I’m driving the point home.”
“No, you’re pushing the weight of your badge in my face and I don’t appreciate it.” She turned on her heel and gripped the door handle. “I’ll need fifteen minutes to collect what I need.”
“I’ll wait.”
