Knocked Scentsless - A Cozy Mystery (Doused to Death Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Langey Gray

Author:Langey Gray [Gray, Langey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bisico Press
Published: 2021-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

I looked down at the silver bands wrapped around my wrists. One year ago, I was working my dream job in Brooklyn, too busy falling in love to foresee the turn my life was about to take. Now, I sit handcuffed in the back of a patrol car being escorted to the police station in a tiny town in eastern Washington. I had no money, no perfumery job, and no romantic relationship. Worst of all, I was a suspect in a murder investigation! I bit my lip. Don’t say anything, I told myself.

I watched Officer Santiago’s profile as he stared at the road straight ahead. His jaw was clenched; he had a firm, double-handed grip on the steering wheel.

Why hadn’t he questioned Owen? He was caught breaking and entering, too. I knew civil servants had some kind of unspoken agreement with each another, but how did a little file snooping land me with a murder arrest and Owen off the hook? I opened my mouth to voice my thoughts, then bit my lip harder. Owen had been very clear: I was not to say a word.

I stared at my hands, then out the window, then ahead to the front of the car. My eyes caught Officer Santiago’s in the rearview mirror. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn’t stop holding his gaze. I felt the questions bubbling up and pursed my lips to keep them inside. Our staring contest was growing tense until he finally had to look back at the road. Something about the shift made my mouth open. “Why did you go to City Hall?” I heard myself blurt out.

His eyes darted back to the mirror and met mine. “What?”

“I mean, what made you show up at City Hall, with backup no less…did someone tip you off?” It was one of the many questions I had been forming.

His jaw jutted out. “Ah. We had a tip,” he said simply, bringing his focus back to the road.

A tip? No one knew we were heading there. The only person who knew Owen and I were even together was Ted. Was it possible he followed us and called the police himself? “An anonymous tip?” I asked.

Officer Santiago didn’t even bother to look at me in the mirror; he kept his gaze steady as he looked straight ahead. I saw the station come into view just up the road on the left, and I knew our short drive was almost over.

“Any reason you didn’t arrest Owen for breaking and entering?” I know. I had been so good at not saying anything…for at least five minutes.

This time, he turned to look directly at me. His eyes were hard; I had obviously pressed a nerve. “Owen’s perfume bottle wasn’t found on the body of a dead man, was it? We aren’t arresting you for breaking and entering, Nati. You’re under suspicion of murder.”

Touché. Maybe Owen had been right about staying quiet. Once at the station, Officer Santiago handed me off to Gerald Hall.

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