Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend Page B

your house, saying he wanted to speak to me. He asked me to bring you. I don’t know anything else, either. Believe me, I’m as confused as you.” He looked me over. “Well, maybe not just as confused.”
    “You’re hilarious. Has anyone ever told you that?”
    His lips moved, and I could tell he was fighting back a grin. “I have my moments.” He climbed out of the car and opened my door before I had a chance.
    I refused to dwell on any of his positive qualities. My vision might have revealed incredible passion and chemistry between us, but it had also predicted heartache. Something I’d had more than my share of and didn’t want to experience ever again.
    “You’d better lay off the tea. You look like crap,” he said.
    “Thank you.” I felt remarkably better.
    He’d reminded me of how wrong we were for each other, and that was all I needed. I planned to get this meeting over with, then stay out of his way while I did a little sleuthing of my own, as far away from Detective Stone as I could get. If he wasn’t near me, then there was no way my vision could possibly come true. The fact that all of my visions had always come true niggled at the back of my brain, but I simply had to believe there was a first time for everything. And a little help on my part couldn’t hurt.
    “You’re welcome, I guess.” He reached for the door to the police station.
    “I got it.” I grabbed it before he could and pulled it open. “Don’t do me any favors . . . really.” I wrinkled my nose at him and ushered him inside. “After you, Spanky.”
    “You’re one strange woman, Tink.” He led the way inside with long purposeful steps.
    “I’ve been called worse.” I hurried to catch up.

5

    A tall, wiry man with a bald head and a neatly trimmed goatee opened the door to a room and stepped out into the hall. “Ah, just the man I wanted to see. Right on time as always, Detective Stone.”
    Mitch shook the man’s hand firmly. “Captain Walker.” He turned to me. “Sunshine Meadows, meet my captain, Grady Walker.”
    “So nice to meet you, sir,” I said with a smile, and shook the man’s hand.
    “The pleasure’s all mine, ma’am.” He bowed slightly and then swept his hand toward his office. “Come on in and take a load off. We’ve got some business to discuss.”
    My eyes briefly met the detective’s, and I could tell he really didn’t have any more of a clue than I did as to what this “business” was all about. I followed Mitch inside, then sat in an overstuffed chair across from the captain, who closed the blinds so the rest of the station couldn’t see us, then perched on the corner of his desk. Mitch walked over to the window and remained standing.
    Finally, he turned around and faced his captain. “What’s this all about, sir?”
    Captain Walker stared hard at Mitch. “You’re not going to like this, but you don’t have a choice.”
    Mitch stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “That means, this isn’t my decision. This is coming from the top. Mayor Cromwell is up for reelection. He wants this murder case solved quickly, and Chief Spencer is backing him up all the way. I was told in no uncertain terms that whatever it takes to get the job done, we will do.”
    “And what exactly does he think it’s going to take?” Mitch asked, narrowing his eyes.
    Captain Walker looked from Mitch to me and back to Mitch again. “You two working together.”
    “Whaaat?” I shrieked, surging to my feet. The plan had been to stay away from Detective Stone, not work side by side with him.
    “No way am I taking on a partner, Grady.” Mitch began to pace.
    “I might be your friend, Mitch, but right now I’m speaking as your captain.” He scrubbed a palm over the top of his gleaming head. “My hands are tied on this one.”
    “Well, untie them. She’s a suspect. You can’t be serious.”
    “Dead serious. Right now she’s the only lead we have. She knows more than any of us about what