“Will you guys keep Royce’s house too?”
My stomach churned. “I don’t know, Girdy. Like I said, he might turn me down.”
She scrunched her face in confusion. “Why would he? Anyone can see he’s head over heels for you.”
I sighed. “He doesn’t trust that I mean it. He’s afraid I’ll change my mind once he’s moved in.” I was being way more open than I’d intended, but all of that stuff had been weighing on me.
“You do mean it though, right?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “I want to live here, but I want Royce with me.”
She looked relieved. “Okay, well, I think it’s all going to work out. Don’t you worry about a thing, Maxwell.”
My smile returned, along with a warm rush of something similar to affection. “You’re always so optimistic. I like that about you, Girdy.”
“Goodness gracious.” She grinned. “You’re truly in a growth phase, Doc. If you keep this up, every person in Rainy Dale will fall in love with you.”
I sniffed. “Well, now you’ve gone off the rails.”
Girdy laughed and came closer, slipping her arm through mine. “How about I buy you lunch, Maxwell?”
“Definitely not.”
She frowned. “No?”
I smirked and led the way downstairs. “I’ll buy you lunch instead.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Royce
The burned-out wreckage of Liam James’s car wasn’t for the weak of heart. Several of my deputies were sick to their stomachs from the scent of burned flesh and the heavy gasoline fumes. I myself was grateful I hadn’t eaten anything since lunchtime yesterday.
When I got back to the station, I made a list of people I needed to talk to. At the top of the list were Michael and Angela Raiden. My gut churned at the knowledge they were going to resent the hell out of me for bringing them in for questioning. Bottom line was they were close to Liam James, and I needed to talk to them. It didn’t matter how much they hated me for it. It had to be done.
We didn’t yet know for sure that the remains in the burned vehicle were Liam James’s, but seeing as he’d been missing for days and it was his car, odds weren’t good that he was still breathing.
Michael Raiden arrived an hour after his interview was scheduled. He looked as arrogant as always as he strode down the hall toward me. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Sheriff. I had more important things to do.”
Off to a great start already.
I forced a smile. “You’re here now as directed. That’s really all that matters.”
His face twitched. “I’m here by choice.”
“Sure you are.” I knew my responses were bugging him, and I couldn’t have cared less. The gloves were off with us. He’d hit me first, pushing the recall forward. I didn’t owe him anything. I’d be borderline polite, but that was the best he’d get from me.
We entered the interview room, and he sat down with a grunt. “Sorry Angela couldn’t make it,” he said. “She wasn’t feeling well.” He made a gesture like he was swigging out of a bottle.
I frowned at his disrespectful description of his wife. But then again, it was no real surprise seeing as he was a bona fide asshole. “That’s fine. I’ll bring her in later.”
He leaned back in his chair, running a big hand over his silver buzz cut. Despite his smug expression, his dark eyes were cold and resentful. “So what ridiculous reason am I here for this time?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard the news about Liam James’s torched car being found out in the desert.” I pulled my pad and pen out as I spoke.
“Yes.” He managed to look almost melancholy. “He was a good man.”
“Was?”
