Page 14 of Trick or Trouble
“Have a seat, please,” he instructed in a deadpan voice.They both sat down.“Are you Miss DeAngelo’s boyfriend?”
Logan’s eyes narrowed.“I’m not her boyfriend, but she was staying with me and my niece last night, and she disappeared.According to my niece’s phone, she made a 911 call.I want to make sure she’s okay, since I didn’t know she was gone until this morning.”
The officer, whose name badge read Bentley, nodded.“And did you fight with her?”
“No, we didn’t fight.”
“She said you were herabusiveboyfriend.Did you assault her?”He pinned Logan in a fierce stare as if he were dissecting his character and finding him unworthy.
“Of course not,” Logan protested, frowning.“What’s this all about?”
“Miss DeAngelo called for help because she said her boyfriend wouldn’t let her leave the home.Why wouldn’t you let her leave?”
Logan shifted uneasily.“Look, Officer Bentley, Darcy isn’t my girlfriend, no matter what she told you.I picked her up last night when her car broke down and...”He trailed off when he realized how that must sound to the suspicious cop.He tried again.“She was stranded, and I offered her a place to stay because she didn’t have money to get home after her car was vandalized and her purse stolen,” he explained.
The suspicious stare only deepened.
Logan tried another tactic.“Her boyfriend refused to come pick her up because he was two hours away, so I offered her a place to stay.I would have taken her home myself, but I’m taking care of my niece for the weekend.As it was, I told her I’d take her home this morning.Why she chose to tell you that story, I don’t know,” he added impatiently.“All I wanted to do in coming here was to make sure she was all right.”He stood up to end the conversation.
Darcy had some explaining to do.
Officer Bentley also stood up, disbelief warring with irritation.Logan was sure it was because he couldn’t pin him into something nefarious.
“Since there’s never been a domestic dispute at that address and Miss DeAngelo is safely home, I’ll let this go.She said she didn’t want to press charges in any case, so you are free to leave.”
Logan nodded, his lips tightening.Indignation rushed up his throat, threatening to spill out, but he’d save that for Darcy.As he left the police station, he glanced back over his shoulder.Bentley had followed him out. He pointed two fingers towards his eyeballs and then at Logan, indicating he would be watching him.
Great.
Thank God he didn’t live in this neighborhood.Having a wannabe Telly Savalas following him around wouldn’t be good.
Feeling like he’d had a narrow escape, he wished he had Darcy’s conniving little butt under his hand.As he got into his car and drove away, the surge of loneliness returned.He wanted to get to know Darcy.Clearly, she did not want to get to know him.
Rejection sucked.
He realized it for what it was and tamped down his disappointment.He’d tried to do right by her, and she’d slunk away like a thief in the night.He should be glad to be rid of her.
Except he wasn’t.
As he drove back to Holly’s place, he realized that despite her lying about him, he still wanted to see her again.If nothing else, he owed her a spanking.
Maybe she thought she’d gotten away, but he could find her if he wanted to.He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, indecision marching back and forth in his mind like a little tin soldier.Then he remembered he still had her witch costume.Surprisingly, it decided for him.He’d wash it and return it today, after he ran down her address.She might need it next year, right?
It was as good an excuse as any.
