Crime & Passion (2 page)

Once everyone left, Frank made threats
against the police department and said the kids were his property.
He said it was his right to treat them any way he wanted.

Donovan tore into him without thinking and
threatened to kill him if he ever touched Stephanie or the children
again. Though Frank made threats to turn Donovan in, he never
called the station to report the incident. The few times he’d had
altercations with Frank in the past, Donovan’s old partner always
backed up his side of the story and he never received a formal
reprimand. Now, however, Stephanie was sure to tell everyone what
happened, and Donovan didn’t think he could trust Eric to help
him.

He looked at his young partner. “You’ve only
been here a month, Eric. Trust me, there’s not a soul in town who
liked that asshole. Plenty of people would’ve liked to see him
dead.” Donovan took a deep breath and tried to convince himself
everything would be okay. “Henry and I went out to that house over
twenty times in the last year. And that wasn’t the first time I hit
Frank.”

“Yeah, but it’s the first time he’s ended up
dead,” Eric muttered.

Donovan cranked his neck sideways, popping
his jaw. Eric had a point. “I didn’t do this.”

“I just hope Stephanie doesn’t throw
suspicion on us, because I didn’t do it either.”

“Even if she does report it, that still
doesn’t mean people should suspect us. I really was sick today, and
I promise I never left the restaurant. Can I count on you to not
say anything about me being in the bathroom so long?”

“Yeah. We have to stick together. That’s what
partners do, right?”

He grinned and clapped Eric on the shoulder.
“Exactly.”

Donovan looked over at the body, relieved to
see the coroner crouched next to it. Now they could try to piece
together what happened.

“I’m going to interview the witness. Why
don’t you deal with the coroner?” Donovan suggested.

Eric snorted. “’Course you’d pick the pretty
lady and leave me with a stinking body.”

Donovan laughed as he headed back to the car.
“Privileges of rank, kid.”

***

“It’s okay, Brutus,” Madeline assured the
dog, reaching into the back seat to pet his large head. Perhaps she
should just finish Brutus’ walk and take him home to his mommy.
There was no reason to sit around here. The cops could talk to her
at her house. Still, she hesitated against leaving because she
didn’t want to get into trouble with the police.

Finally, Donovan Andrews’ head popped up over
the small hill leading from the beach. He unlocked the door and
climbed into the driver’s seat.

He looked calmer than when he first saw the
body. Sadness didn’t seem to be the emotion he dealt with. If
Madeline had to guess, she would suppose it was either fear or
guilt, judging by the look that crossed his face.

“Well, now,” he said, locking his blue eyes
onto Madeline, “I just have a few questions about what you saw,
Miss Scott.”

“Can that wait, Officer? I have—”

“Call me Donovan.”

“—Oh, okay.” Madeline took a deep breath,
which flooded her senses with Donovan’s subtle cologne mixed with
the scent of the ocean. “Donovan, I need to get Brutus home to his
owner. You see, I’m a dog walker, and she’ll worry about him if
we’re too late. I can’t afford to lose her as a client. She insists
I walk Brutus without any other dogs, and she pays very well.”

“Ah...I’ve seen Brutus around. Thought he
looked familiar. Mrs. Stanfield bought him after her husband died
two years ago. Odd choice for an older woman, but he seems like a
good dog. Still, must be hard for her to control him on walks.”

Maybe finding a dead body made her grouchy,
but small talk didn’t interest her. The last thing she wanted was
his commentary on whether her client picked the appropriate breed
of dog. “I suppose that’s why she pays me the big bucks. I need to
get back to work.”

He tipped his head sideways. “I can’t believe
you’re a dog walker.”

Madeline immediately bristled, her hands
forming fists against her thighs. “It pays the rent. I’m actually a
grade-school teacher, but those jobs aren’t plentiful around here.
Dog walking mixed with substitute teaching pays the bills.” She
glared at him, daring him to make an inappropriate remark about her
profession. “I also work at Woofy Cuts as a groomer. Do you have a
problem with that?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Take it easy, Madeline. I
only asked for clarity.” He reached across the space between them
and patted her balled fist. “I wasn’t trying to offend. It’s good
work and gets you out exercising every day. Personally, I love
running in the—”

“I need to finish his walk and get Brutus
home, sir,” Madeline interrupted, slipping her hand out of his and
folding her arms together. “Do you think we could talk about things
later?”

Donovan shrugged. “How ‘bout I walk with you?
Then we can accomplish everything at once.”

Madeline knew she wasn’t in a position to
argue. Besides, she tried not to notice, but Donovan attracted her
in a way she hadn’t felt in a while. She avoided interesting men at
all costs since her failed wedding. As intriguing as he seemed, his
touchy-feely nature and apparent confidence warned her to be
careful. Donovan Andrews was very likely a player.

He looked to be nearing forty—a very sexy,
distinguished forty to be sure—and didn’t wear a wedding ring. His
actions so far hadn’t made a good impression on her. He was a man
used to being successful with the ladies, no matter what he
did.

Madeline reminded herself none of that
mattered. She wasn’t interested, and Donovan had his hands busy
with a murder investigation. This wasn’t a dating service. “Sure,
you can walk with us.”

“So that’s when I saw the man in the
dark-colored suit running away,” Madeline said.

“Can you describe him?”

Madeline thought about the figure. She had
just walked over the top of a rise when she saw the person on the
beach, but had been too far away to see him clearly. In fact, she
wasn’t even certain the runner was a man.

She shook her head. “I didn’t realize
anything horrible happened until I found the...victim.” She tugged
on the leash to encourage Brutus to keep walking instead of
inspecting the same bush for the hundredth time. “I’m plenty busy
with this beast.”

“I can imagine.”

Glancing over at Donovan, another thought
occurred to her. “You know, it might not have been a jogging suit I
saw, considering the person obviously wasn’t down there for a
run.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the color the person wore was like
your outfit.”

Donovan sucked in a breath, and Madeline
risked another look.

He ran his hand over his face. “You think
it’s a cop?”

“No, I didn’t mean... That’s not to say...”
Great. She offended him. Certainly, the other cops would love
hearing she half-accused one of them of being responsible for the
crime. Madeline exhaled heavily. “Look, it could have been anybody
wearing anything. That’s all I meant. The color was similar to your
uniform and there was something shiny the sun hit when the person
turned my direction for a few moments. It could have been metal,
like a badge.”

Donovan stopped walking and made a notation
in the notebook he carried.

Happy to take advantage of the break, Brutus
trotted over to mark a signpost. Thankfully, they were only three
houses away from his owner, and Madeline could drop him off and
head home. She felt in desperate need of a hot bath and some
chamomile tea.

She dragged Brutus away from the post and
hurried to his owner’s door. Donovan stayed on the sidewalk,
watching her. That at least kept her from having to answer
questions about why she had a police escort, though Mrs. Stanfield
might have wondered about the jacket saying ‘Police’ in big, yellow
letters. Perhaps she didn’t notice.

After Brutus was safely inside the house,
Madeline returned to Donovan. “I really don’t have anything else to
offer, sir. Is it okay if I head home now?”

He nodded. “That’s probably for the best.
Where’s your car? I’ll walk you to it.”

“That’s nice of you, but my apartment is
three blocks away, over on Holly Street. I’ll be fine.”

“Holly Street? Overlooking the ocean?” At her
nod, Donovan quirked an eyebrow. “Kind of a nice neighborhood for a
dog walker...or a substitute teacher.”

Madeline looked at the sidewalk, refusing to
answer the unspoken question. He didn’t need to know she’d pulled
out her entire life savings to chase her dream of living next to
the ocean. Northern California seemed like the perfect escape once
she realized she wouldn’t be marrying Cameron.

She had just enough saved to finance the
apartment for one year. After that, she’d have to rethink her life
plan and make a decision that wasn’t so impulsive. Still, falling
asleep to the sound of the ocean, watching the waves crash into the
shore beneath her picture window, taking walks on the
beach—spending all her money was worth that.

“I’d better walk you home,” Donovan said, and
she looked back up. “There’s a killer out here somewhere. I don’t
think you should walk alone.”

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. “I’d
appreciate the escort.”

***

“So this Scott girl probably saw the killer
but can’t give an accurate description?” Chief Kenneth Stone boomed
from behind his desk. “That’s not a lot of help to us unless she
remembers more.”

Donovan sighed and clasped his hands behind
his back. “Sir, she saw someone in a blue suit running away, but
she was on the hilly part of the beach at the time and didn’t even
realize there was a body or that a crime had been committed. She
was too far away to be useful.”

“She’s new in town. Do you know anything
about her background?”

“No.” Donovan shrugged. “Why? You think she
overpowered Frank and then stuck around to report her crime?”

“Doubtful,” Stone admitted. “Then again, a
coldly calculating killer might, in hopes we wouldn’t look at her
for the crime. We’ve never had something like this happen here
before. New residents are automatically suspicious in my mind.”

Eric laughed from his place on the tiny
office’s only guest chair. “Miss Scott’s quite a willowy thing.
Tall, but I doubt she could’ve taken down a tough guy like Frank
Johnson.”

“Never underestimate a woman, rookie.” Chief
Stone ran a hand through his silver-streaked hair and shook his
head. “Check into her more to make sure, but she’s probably a dead
end. Did she tell you
anything
useful?”

Donovan hesitated. “She did say one thing
that was interesting.” And sure to land Donovan in trouble as soon
as Stephanie Johnson complained.

Stone raised a bushy eyebrow. “Out with it,
Andrews.”

He knew he’d have to tell them. It would look
worse if he didn’t. “She thought maybe, and she’s not very sure
about this, but it’s possible the jogging suit could be a police
uniform or some other type of suit entirely. If that was the killer
she saw, obviously he wasn’t down there for an evening jog.”

“Hmmm...” Stone leaned back in his chair and
put his arms behind his head. “And you two were the only officers
near the scene at the time. What does that say?”

“We were eating dinner, sir,” Eric
squeaked.

Donovan launched a quelling glare at his
partner, praying the dumb rookie wouldn’t say anything else. “Like
I said, Chief, Madeline wasn’t too sure about anything.”

Stone sat straight up in his chair.
“Madeline?”

“Miss Scott,” Donovan amended, shaking his
head at his own carelessness. He already sat in a precarious
position with Chief Stone, and it wouldn’t do to act interested in
another woman.

Donovan dated Stone’s daughter for a few
weeks before growing tired of her possessiveness and clingy nature.
Stone foolishly thought Donovan would commit to her and had been
pissed when Suzie tearfully informed him Donovan had other plans.
Donovan couldn’t help it if he wasn’t the marrying type.

More accurately, he couldn’t help it if most
women bored him to tears. He’d dated Suzie as long as he had out of
respect for the Chief. She still came around the station house
nearly every day, making mooneyes in Donovan’s direction. It was
enough to drive him mad.

Then again, he’d cycled through the available
talent in this small town. Heavy tourist traffic wouldn’t start for
another few months. Madeline Scott just might provide a much-needed
break in the monotony of his current dating life. She seemed smart
and definitely had a sarcastic sense of humor, even when faced with
a body. They could have fun together for a while.

The Chief stood and walked to the office
door. “See that you keep things on professional footing with Miss
Scott, Andrews. I don’t want any problems with my witness.”

Donovan nodded as Stone opened the door, and
Eric hurried past them out into the main room.

“A quick question, sir.” Donovan’s heart beat
fast, but at Stone’s nod he dove on. “Who’s questioning Stephanie
Johnson?”

“It’s already been handled.”

“And did she mention a reason someone might
have done this?”

Stone shrugged. “She’s only interested in
getting her children back. She didn’t even blink when they informed
her Frank was murdered. Maybe she’ll talk to us more once she’s met
with Social Services.”

Well, wasn’t that funny? Here Donovan worried
about Stephanie accusing him of killing her husband, but perhaps
she did it herself. “Are we looking at her for this?”

“Yeah.” Stone wiped a large hand across his
wrinkled face. “She seems a more likely candidate than Miss Scott.
So far, she’s the only person I’ve found who has motive. Get back
to work and round me up more suspects. I don’t want those kids
yanked out of her house a second time if there’s a chance someone
else did this.”