Seams Like Murder (26 page)

Dane was so much more than a pretty face. He practically oozed character. When his father had disappeared, leaving him and his sister with an alcoholic mother, Dane had taken care of the family. I’d heard he did a good job pretending to be a bad boy, but he was also the one who took his sister shopping for her first bra.

Growing up that way could have left him angry and bitter, but instead he really did want to keep the streets of Cadbury safe. He knew bored teenagers were likely to get into trouble, so he converted his garage into a karate studio and gave the kids lessons and let them hang out. On top of that, he fed them copious amounts of spaghetti with sauce so delicious my mouth watered at the thought of it. He fed me, too.

While I might excel at dessert, I sucked when it came to regular food and mostly ate frozen entrees. But the relationship wasn’t all take on my part. I left him muffins and cookies a lot of the time.

It was probably because he was such a great guy that made me hold back even more. I had tried to explain my hesitation to him and his answer floored me. He actually said he’d gladly have his heart broken if it meant he’d gotten to spend time with me. Was he sure he was talking about me?

I apologized again. I knew some of the kids who hung out at his place were on the football team and I was sure he wanted to cheer them on.

“It’s okay,” he said, not sounding too convincing. “I have more things on my mind.” He looked up and down the street. There didn’t seem to be any need of his services, and he continued. “Chloe lost that job at the diner in Gilroy and everything that went with it—including her own place.”

“So she’s back staying with you?” I asked. He nodded.

Chloe was Dane’s sister and was kind of a wild child, the kind of woman my mother would have described as hard. She dressed to show off as much skin as possible, had hair that looked like she used crayons to color it, and though Dane had never said anything about it, I had the feeling she wasn’t too picky about who she went home with. I didn’t mean to be judgmental, but she was somebody I couldn’t understand at all.

“If only that was all there was,” he said. “She’s decided that she wants to be Butterfly Queen. She’s in the princess court.”

“Then she made it into the finals?” I said, surprised.

“It doesn’t work that way. Anyone can get into the princess court. All they need is a sponsor. I wish she had talked to me first.” He sounded dejected. “She went straight to the owner
of the beauty supply store. Apparently, she’s a big customer.” Dane rolled his eyes as he gestured toward his hair. “I guess it’s nice that she got something out of buying all that hair dye.” Dane rested his hands on his equipment belt as he checked the street again for criminal activity, but there was just an old man walking a beagle. I guess the only chance he’d do something requiring Dane’s attention was if he didn’t pick up after his dog.

“She’s really into this princess thing. She told me she thinks it’s going to open some doors for her. She won’t listen to me. Maybe you could help her pick out something to wear that looks like a princess for the event tomorrow night?”

“You’re kidding, right?” I said, and he let out a weary sigh. I’m sure he knew that Chloe wouldn’t listen to me either.

“I just hope there isn’t any trouble,” he
said.

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