Cultivating the Truth (Dorothy Dennehy Mystery Series, #4) by Jamie Tremain

Author:Jamie Tremain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery Crime, Female Investigator, Romance, Police Procedural, Private Eye
Publisher: Jamie Tremain
Published: 2023-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Driving to the police department to meet Dorothy and Shelby Keleher, HB wondered if he should talk with Max about Charlotte. He was out of his depth dealing with kids in the first place and Charlotte had him confused. Last thing he needed was some teenage girl thinking the wrong things about him. There was no one he’d feel comfortable discussing this with, but at least Max had had experience raising a daughter.

He pulled into a visitor’s spot, noting Dorothy’s Jeep a few spaces away. A text first thing from her earlier told him there was a development she’d share at the meeting. He doubted it was good news or she would have called with details.

The morning sun glinted off his side mirror. He’d need his sunglasses later. His unsettled mood he credited to concerns over Charlotte, but why did he grow more antsy the closer he got to his destination?

Dispensing brief nods of greeting, he walked closer to Keleher’s desk. She and Dorothy were deep in conversation. Dorothy must have brought the coffees in with her. A third cup, unopened, awaited him. They hadn’t spotted him yet and HB had a brief, illuminating, moment to connect his uneasiness with Keleher. No, he corrected himself, it’s not uneasiness, but an unfamiliar spark of excitement. He wanted to see the Sergeant. And then Keleher glanced his way. He met her eyes and quickly found something else to look at. “Boss. Sorry I’m late. What a day yesterday, eh?”

“And another day we’re no closer to finding Etienne Rivard.” Dorothy’s sigh of frustration matched HB’s take on the case as well. Dorothy tapped the chair next to her for him to sit.

“Boss, you said there was a development. Anything helpful?” HB turned to the Sergeant. “Dorothy has my breakdown on events yesterday, so I’m sure you’re up to speed, Sergeant.”

Shelby kept her eyes on HB, offering a rare smile. “Yes, HB, thank you.” Her eyes still held his, but there was a wall. HB didn’t return the smile, unsure of the territory he was in. The smile slipped away. “Apologies. Would you prefer I call you Mr. Bartholomew?”

“HB’s fine,” he managed to mumble, uncomfortable — or encouraged — with the tone of familiarity. He didn’t miss the twinkle of amusement in Dorothy’s eyes, causing his inner turmoil to rise. As if dealing with Charlotte wasn’t bad enough, now he had to decipher signals from Shelby Keleher, although it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Keleher took command. “The development, yes. Details, finally, for a ransom drop.”

HB tensed. “When? Nothing had come in while I was there. It must have happened after I left?”

Keleher nodded. “9:13 p.m. to be exact. Olivia St John-Rivard answered it. She was told to drop the money at 6:00 p.m. today.” Keleher emptied her coffee cup and tossed it into a bin beside her desk.

“Where?” HB never cared for delaying tactics and Keleher seemed to enjoy dragging out the details.

She pushed a piece of paper toward him, with an address. “Recognize this?”

No way.

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