“What’s the alternative?” Jason groused. “Letting guilty people go or arresting the innocent? We’re lucky to have the science.”

“He watches too much television. Thinks I should be able to interrogate a suspect and get him to confess.”

“And the case wraps up in less than an hour. Too bad that’s not the reality.”

Confessions were rare unless the suspect was trying to trade information for a lighter sentence. He and West exited the hotel room, locking the door behind them.

“Looks like you have company.” West grinned and gestured toward a car parked opposite his truck nearer the road. Brinley was climbing out of the vehicle with a purse slung over her shoulder. “I’ll leave you to deal with Ms. Snow. I got the feeling last night that I’m not her favorite person.”

Jason had that same feeling although it wasn’t West’s fault. He was just doing his job.

“Do you think she’s in any danger?” Jason asked abruptly. The question had been rolling around in his brain last night. He’d gone back and forth between yes and no.

“Right now we don’t know enough to answer that question.” West stroked his chin in thought. “I want to say no but I can’t be sure. Any ideas, big brother?”

“No clear signals. That’s the problem.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on her.” West softly whistled as Brinley came closer, dressed in red capris and a white blouse. With her long brown hair around her shoulders she looked very pretty this morning. Leave it to Jason’s womanizing brother to notice. “No, it would be a pleasure. Just let me know if you don’t want the job.”

“Go to your meeting,” Jason growled. “I’ll take care of Brinley.”

West laughed and tossed his car keys in the air, catching them on the way down with a flourish. “I’m sure you will. I’ll call you later with the autopsy results or any other new information.” West tipped his hat to Brinley before swinging into his vehicle and pulling away.

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and gave his neighbor a scowl even though he was kind of glad to see her. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to help.”

“Help?” he echoed. “Just how do you think you can help me?”

Her mouth tightened and she shuffled her feet on the concrete. “You keep saying that I’m the only lead in the case. How can I jog my memory if I’m sitting on the couch?”

“I’ll talk to West about getting pictures of the crime scene for you to look at, although you’ll probably wish you hadn’t. They can be quite grisly. Now go home.”

She didn’t budge an inch and he hadn’t thought she would. He was beginning to see that Brinley Snow was more stubborn than a mule.

“It won’t be the same. You’re assuming that I’ll see the one thing that will help me understand in a picture. Personally, I doubt it.”

“It’s not standard procedure to bring a civilian along on an investigation.” Jason rubbed at his temple trying to chase away the headache that was beginning to bloom.

“I would hardly call myself a civilian. You were the one that dragged me down to the police station last night. This poor man had my address, Jason. He must have been coming to see me about…something. I have to know and so do you. You said it’s the key to finding his killer.”

“I said maybe it’s the key,” Jason corrected. “Maybe being the operative word here. Last night you were trying to convince me that the address was wrong and that it could be anyone on the street. Should I take everyone down to the motel?”

“You and I both know I was grasping at straws last night. I don’t know why Roger Gaines had my address but I’m willing to admit it wasn’t a mistake. Are we going to argue about this all morning or are you going to admit that having me along might help?”

Their gazes met and held.

“Why do you even want to help? Believe me when I tell you there is nothing exciting about investigating a crime. It’s not like on television.”

“I’m not looking for exciting. I’m looking for information. I need to know why Roger Gaines had my address in his hand. I need to know where I fit in this murder. Can you blame me? Tell me you wouldn’t do the same.”

He couldn’t say it because she was right. But that didn’t mean he was ready to fold like a cheap tent.

“I understand your curiosity. You’re right, I’d feel the same. But there’s a difference between us. You’re a teacher – and probably a fine one – but I’m a trained investigator. You’d be wasting your time following me around.”

“It’s summer vacation. My lesson plans for the upcoming year are done. I’ve got a few hours I can throw away.”

Brinley clearly thought if she wasn’t with him she was going to miss something. Most people didn’t realize that investigations were mostly a combination of leg and paperwork. Neither of which was all that fun. But having her tag along would give him the opportunity to keep an eye on her.

“If I say you can go with me you’re going to have to do exactly as I tell you to. I mean it, Brinley. If I say you can’t touch something or you can’t go somewhere I don’t want any arguing.”

“Your show, your rules. I realize this is out of the ordinary and I appreciate you taking me with you. I won’t do anything to jeopardize this investigation. I promise.”

“Then get in the truck and let’s get some breakfast. I’m starved.”

“What about my car?”

“You can come back for it.” Jason cupped her elbow and led her to the passenger side. “If you’re going to hang around with me it’s easier if we’re riding together.”

He needed more coffee and a stack of pancakes. He always thought better with a full stomach. And this case needed all the brain power he could muster. They had very little to go on, plus the open question as to whether Brinley was in any danger.

Nothing would happen to her on his watch.

Chapter Five

‡

Brinley scooped the last bite of cheesy hash browns from the plate and into her mouth, humming with appreciation. She hadn’t eaten this morning, and by the time she and Jason had sat down and opened their menus her stomach had been growling with a ferocious hunger. Placing the fork next to the plate, she dabbed at her lips with a paper napkin.

Jason quirked an eye at the empty plates in front of her. She’d ordered a stack of pancakes, a side order of bacon, and some hash browns. Starved, she’d made short work of every bit of it. “I like a woman with a healthy appetite. Do you want anything else?”

An antacid wasn’t a bad idea but more food wasn’t going to happen. She could barely move at the moment.

“I’m full, thank you.” He didn’t appear to be kidding and the crack about the healthy appetite wasn’t an insult. “I didn’t eat this morning. And I have a fast metabolism. I think it’s from all the biking and walking I do.”

Jason held up his hands in surrender. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. I was serious. It’s good to see a female that doesn’t pick at her food. I ate all of mine as well.”

He gestured to his empty plates. He’d demolished a fair amount as well, including eggs, bacon, toast, and some granola-yogurt thing with fruit.

“I guess we both get a sticker for the clean plate club,” she teased with a smile. “I grew up with a brother that ate everything in sight along with all of his friends who would visit the house. If you wanted to eat, you had to be fast.”

Jason threw back his head and laughed. “It was the same when I was growing up. I have two brothers and one sister, but I also have a bunch of cousins and they practically lived at our house. My poor mother cooked for an army every day of the year. It wasn’t uncommon for her to fix a pound of bacon, a dozen eggs, and a loaf of toast for breakfast, along with a gallon of milk a day.”

“That sounds about right. My brother Dan is an athlete and his football and baseball buddies were always hanging around the house and eating whatever wasn’t nailed down,” Brinley giggled. “I remember the summer he grew four inches very well. My mom and dad were beside themselves.”