Page 90 of One Vote for Murder
He leaned toward me, his expression resentful. “I wasn’t anywhere near that kid when he died.”
“True, but I saw you come out from behind the stage not long before Kyle collapsed. I was wondering if you could shed some light onto why you were back there?” I kept my gaze fixed on him, hoping he’d just give me a reasonable explanation so we could all go on with our lives.
“Are you accusing me of killing Kyle?” he growled.
“No. I’m asking you what you were doing behind the stage.” I wasn’t going to let his angry bluster make me back down. It was a valid question. He’d had a run-in with the victim, and he’d been wandering around behind the stage. As far as I knew, he’d had no reason to be back there.
He curled his lip. “I love how you come in here, pretending you’re my friend, when all you’re really here to do is accuse me of murder.”
“I haven’taccusedyou of anything at all. I’m literally just asking you a simple question. What wereyou doing behind the stage?” Even I could hear the exasperation in my voice. “There’s no need for you to be so cantankerous. I think I’ve been more than fair with you. The day you attacked Kyle on the street, I could have hauled you in for assault. But I didn’t.”
“Kyle didn’t press charges. That’s the only reason you left me alone.”
I gave a humorless laugh. “If you don’t think I went easy on you, you’re dead wrong. As a cop, I didn’t need him to press charges. I could have arrested you simply because I’d witnessed the assault. I let you off because it looked like the only thing damaged was Kyle’s pride.”
“I barely touched him. He wasfine,” Quinn muttered.
“You still shouldn’t have attacked him,” Ivy interjected gruffly. She’d been as quiet as a mouse. I’d almost forgotten she was there. “He hadn’t done anything wrong. There was no need to be violent.”
Quinn gave her a sheepish look, but then his face hardened. “Go upstairs and make dinner, Ivy. I haven’t eaten yet.”
She scowled. “That’s all you have to say?”
“This doesn’t concern you,” he said. “Run along while I finish talking to Sheriff Callum.”
“It does concern me,” she snapped.
Scowling, he grated out, “Ivy, do as you’re told.”
She winced at his harsh tone. “B… but we still have to close up the shop. I haven’t even counted the till yet.”
“I can handle that. Go on, I’m starving.” He waved his hand at her dismissively.
Pressing her lips tight, Ivy gave her dad a dirty look. “I’m not your maid, old man.”
“Excuse me?” Quinn growled.
Wilting a bit, Ivy said, “You h… heard me.” But she turned and headed toward the back door of the shop. “And I’m making somethingIlike for once.” She slammed out of the store, and the bikes on the racks rattled alarmingly.
“She’s more like her mother every day,” he rasped, listening to her feet stomping up the outside stairs that led to the upper living area. “She’s lucky I don’t toss her out on her ass.”
I studied him, noticing deep lines in his tanned face. He looked like he’d aged ten years the last few months. “What in the world is going on with you, Quinn?” I asked gruffly. “You’re about as mean as a rabid coyote lately.”
“I just have a lot of shit on my mind.”
“What kind of shit?”
Avoiding my gaze, he mumbled, “Never you mind.” He leaned wearily on the counter, as if he needed its support. “Is that it?”
I hesitated. “Not quite. Did you ever call Kyle threatening him?”
“What?”
“Did you make a threatening call to Kyle, warning him to ‘knock it off’?”
Shaking his head, Quinn looked confused. “No. I didn’t call him.”
“Don’t lie to me,” I said gruffly.
