Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) (17 page)

“I had the same thought,” Kasey admitted.

“Scott could have just kept his mouth shut until things started sorting themselves out. That would have been a lot easier than giving the press even more ammo with the fact that they’ve questioned him.”

“Cody said Scott told him that when it came across the wire he informed them he knew Cody’s whereabouts.”

Riley relayed information back and forth to Von while they talked. “The fact that Cody was questioned at all got to the news pretty quick too. According to Von someone had to be giving that information to the press, because usually the police are kind of tight-lipped when these things happen with celebrities.”

“I was hoping Scott would help clear things up. There are at least two other precincts involved with all this mess. It could have been anyone,” Kasey said, but even she didn’t really believe it.

“If you say so.” Riley sounded doubtful.

Kasey sucked in a breath. “Okay, and Scott is a little jealous. Maybe you’re right, but I can’t even think about that right now.”

“I think all Scott has on his mind is getting closer to you. Removing Cody from the equation would do that.”

“No, it wouldn’t. That’s just crazy,” Kasey snapped.

“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just saying I think he believes that.”

“He couldn’t possibly think railroading Cody on something that isn’t even true is going to bring him and me closer,” Kasey said. “He’d get way more points if he helped.”

“Scott wants more, and in his mind I think he thinks if he’s not getting somewhere then someone else is. We’ve talked about this.”

“There’s no spark between us. It’s not like with Nick.”

“For you, but for him, maybe it’s total fireworks.”

“I shouldn’t have let him become such a big part of our lives. I’ve known for a long time now that this isn’t that kind of relationship.”

“The guy was smitten from the word go.”

“I know, and Scott’s mom is so daggone sweet. It’s been so nice to have them in our lives, like the family we really don’t have. If I break things off with him it will make it pretty awkward for me to spend so much time with her.”

“I’d hate to be you trying to ratchet all that down a notch. I have a feeling he’s kind of an all-or-nothing guy.”

“I’d be sad to lose his friendship.” She heard the horn honk out front. “Shoot. I’ve got to go, Riley. That’s Scott. He just pulled into the driveway.”

“What’s he doing stopping by so late?”

“It’s only eight o’clock. He does this all the time. Give me a call in the morning.”

Kasey hung up the phone. “Jake, I’ll be right out front.” She headed for the front door.

“Okay, Mom.”

Scott had already gotten out of his car and halfway to the porch. “I see your squatters have left.”

That comment hit Kasey wrong. “They were not squatters. They were invited. By me.”

Scott’s mouth formed a tight line.

Did you seriously just roll your eyes?
She bit the inside of her lip. “What brings you back?”

He hesitated, then visibly swallowed. “Can we sit?”

“Sure.” She led him to the front porch.

He sat on the porch swing where there was room enough for two, but she took a seat in the chair next to it.

Scott cleared his throat and leaned forward with his fingers tented, avoiding eye contact with her. “When I was talking to Cody about where he was last night, he said he was with you.” He looked up and held her gaze.

He’s hurt.
She nodded. “Yeah. That’s true.”
What did he hope she was going to say? That it wasn’t true? That Cody lied?
His probing gaze made her nervous.

He sucked in a long breath, and then lifted his chin. “I mean what he said exactly was that he spent the night in your house.”

“Right.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?” he asked in a strained voice. His eyes narrowed and he watched her like he was looking for a sign that she was lying. She didn’t appreciate feeling like she was suddenly the one being questioned.

“What are you getting at, Scott?”

“If you’re giving him an alibi, lying to keep him out of trouble, that’s a crime.”

“I can’t believe you just said that to me.” Her hands locked into fists.

“Kasey, we’ve been close for over a year and I’ve never spent the night in your house. Not for lack of trying either.”

So?

Scott’s jaw pulsed. “It’s just a little hard for me to swallow… if it’s true… that he slept here last night.”

“I am not lying for him,” she said, but his face twisted. “And, it’s not like you’re thinking either. We talked and then he crashed in the guest room. I’d have done the same thing for any friend in his situation.”

“I bet,” he mumbled. “His bus was in front of the house. He couldn’t make it to the driveway?”

She sputtered a laugh.
This is not the way I want things to end between us, Scott.
“I don’t have to explain this to you, but I will because we’re good friends and I’d really like to keep it that way. Cody went through something traumatic—”

“Like murdering his agent?”

“Not like that at all.” She blew out a breath. “Scott, don’t do this. Cody needed some time before answering questions about Lou that the guys in the band were certain to have. We all knew that’s where he’d been headed and we sure didn’t expect to see him back that night.”
Why am I bothering to tell you all this? Are you even listening?
“Cody and I talked. Then he slept in the guest room. End of story.”
That kiss was in the moment, and it’s not relevant. Quit making me feel so damn guilty for it.

“Really?” Scott’s gaze was challenging.

“Yes. Really. He slept in the guest room. I should not have to explain myself to you.”

“If he was in your guest room, then technically you don’t
know
that he was really in that room all night, do you?”

“You have no right to act like this. It isn’t about Arty Max at all. This is about you and me. You’re making me so mad that I’d like to tell you that I had hot, wild sex with Cody Tuggle just to get even right now, but that is not what happened.”

She wished she could take the hissy fit back. She steadied her breathing, and chose her words carefully. “Yes, Scott. I am quite certain that he was in that room all night long. If he’d opened that window the alarm would have gone off, and if he left any other way, I’d have heard him. If I didn’t, surely Shutterbug would have. Why are you turning this into a witch hunt?”

He didn’t even flinch.

Jake swung open the door. “Hi, Mr. Scott.”

“Jake, we’re talking.” She tried to calm her voice. “I’ll be inside in a minute, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jake shut the door and Kasey swung her focus back on Scott. She spoke slower, trying to control her tone. “Cody was mad. He had an argument with Arty. I left the party after Cody did and Arty was quite alive when I left.”

“It feels very convenient.”

“It’s the truth, and I really don’t appreciate your tone. I was helping a friend, and I’m glad I did. And for the record, since this seems to be on it, I’d invite him into my home again.” She could almost see him gasp at her words.

“And yet you make sure I’m out of the house by ten o’clock. If we’re putting all the cards on the table, it seems awfully convenient that Jake was with Riley and Von last
night. I mean, he’s hardly ever out of your sight. Are you sure you didn’t plan this evening with Cody all along?”

Don’t. You. Dare
. “Maybe I don’t know you as well as I thought.”

Scott stood so fast the swing rebounded against the back of his legs. “Believe me. I’m feeling the same way. All I can say is his timeline better check out, because you might have his back, but I don’t. No celebrity will get off scot-free on my watch. Just because he’s a rich superstar does not mean he can play by his own rules.”

“He’s not like that at all, and when did a case in Rappahannock County suddenly become ‘your watch’ anyway?”

Scott started to move then stopped. “He was here in my town. That makes it my business.”

“Well, he’s gone now. So you’re off the hook.”

He looked away. “This is a homicide investigation. I have a responsibility to the people who elected me sheriff in this county. It’s not that simple.”

Yes it is.
“Look, if you’re unhappy that I have a friendship with Cody Tuggle, get over it. He was as much a friend after Nick’s death and during our search for Jake as you were and I treasure every single one of those friendships that got me through that nightmare. All of them. You, Cody, everyone involved. Don’t turn this into something personal.”

He sat back down on the swing like he couldn’t hold his weight up any longer. “I love you, Kasey. I’ve been trying to take this relationship somewhere and you keep dodging me like a rodeo clown. You keep me at an arm’s length. Then, this man who can have any woman in the world strolls right in and sleeps over? I’m sorry, but I can’t help but wonder.
Am I not rich enough, interesting enough? Maybe a small-town guy is just too small-time for you.”

You can’t possibly believe I’m that shallow.
She knew he’d had one relationship that ended because his fiancée didn’t want to live in a small town, but this was different. “If you think so little of me, then I think you should probably leave.”

He lowered his gaze and stood. His tone became chilly. “I was just asking.”

“Don’t. I’m not having this conversation right now. There’s nowhere positive it can go from here.”

“Fine.” He got up from the swing.

She stared at the chains swinging back and forth, unable to even stomach looking at him. She sat there trying not to let the emotion overwhelm her until she heard the engine of his car turn over and his car pull out of the driveway. Her hands shook. She took in a couple deep breaths and then went back inside.

Jake was still on the floor playing with Shutterbug, so she went into the kitchen to call Riley.

“Hi, it’s me,” Kasey said.

“You okay?”

“I don’t know.” Kasey replayed Scott’s visit for Riley in full detail.

“I told you he was up to no good. I just had a feeling, and you know how it is when I get a feeling.”

“Yes, I know about you and your intuition.”

“I hope he doesn’t manipulate the situation to make things worse for Cody. Even if Cody’s innocent you know how bad press can get out of control quick.”

“I do know. And there’s no if. Cody
is
innocent.”

“You know Von only trusts a cop as far as he needs him, so he’s probably not a fair judge of character, but he said to be careful.”

“I tried to be careful about what I said. I mean, there’s nothing to hide. Cody was here, so he’s innocent.”

“Von said you should go ahead and start timelining everything you did from the morning of the party until now. And have Cody do the exact same thing. You need to account for every minute. Every fact you can think of no matter how small. It’ll be much easier to remember it now than it will be later.”

“I can do that,” Kasey said.

“If you want to help Cody, then we need to get in front of this problem, and you know Von is the guy to do it.”

“I appreciate this so much. Cody is a good man. He doesn’t deserve all of this on top of the bad news about Lou and Arty.”

“If anyone can put the pieces together, Von can. Keep us in the loop.”

“I will.” Kasey pulled a notepad out of the kitchen junk drawer and sat at the table. At least she was doing something to help. She had one page filled and was starting on the next when she heard Jake’s giggle. It carried through the house and warmed her heart, but then she saw the time and realized he was up way past his bedtime.

She walked back into the living room. “Ready for bed, Jake?”

He rolled over and nodded. His eyes were half-closed already.

“Do I have to take a bath before I go to bed? I’m tired.”

“We can skip it tonight. Let’s brush those teeth though. We don’t want any cavities.”

“Okay.” He ran into the bathroom and by the time she turned down his bed, he was minty fresh and grinning big so she could see how pretty and white his teeth looked.

“Perfect, my little model.”

He changed into his pajamas, then knelt by his bed to say his prayers.

Kasey tucked him in. “Sweet dreams,” she said as she closed his door halfway shut.

She fixed a cup of tea and took the notepad into the living room. She pulled her feet up on the couch and reviewed what she had so far, inserting details as they occurred to her. She flipped to a clean page and picked up where she’d left off with what Cody had been wearing before he left to go to Raleigh.

T
ranscribing the pages of notes into a spreadsheet in chronological order was tedious, but at least it made her feel useful. Kasey was dying to call Cody after the sleepless night. His crew had probably been home a couple hours now.
Just send this to him in an e-mail and let him know I’m here if he needs me. He knows that, but I’d really like to hear his voice right now. Maybe he’ll call.

She proofread the list, and corrected a couple of typos. Cody would just have to fill in his activities along the timeline, and then Von would have a pretty good visual on where the gaps were and what alibis needed to be verified. She saved the file and started an e-mail.

That was easier said than done because it kept turning into a letter instead of a note. She backspaced over more thoughts than remained in the final version.

Short and sweet. That’s better.

Not five minutes after she hit Send on the message to Cody, her phone rang.

“I was just thinking of you when I got your e-mail,” he said. “You must have been typing all morning.”

“No, but it probably would have saved time if I’d typed it in the first place. It was Von’s idea. He said it would help. I
wrote it on paper last night, but then I figured it would be quicker to e-mail it to you so you could fill in the blanks. Are you home?”

“Yeah, we’re back. Thanks for this, and tell Von I said thanks too.”

“Have you heard anything about the funeral yet?”

“No. Annette’s looking into it, but she said she’s not sure if under the circumstances I should even go to Arty’s service. I have mixed feelings about it myself. A week ago, I’d have been a pallbearer, and honored to do it. I would have even offered to stand up and share all of the things he’d done for me. Right now, all I can think about is how he deceived me, and this mess he’s left me in.”