Truth & Lies: A Queen City Justice Novel by Elizabeth Bemis Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Bemis
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December. It couldn’t get here soon enough. His hands began to shake. How could he wait that long?
He placed the sweater back in his suitcase and zipped it, then lay back down, burying his head in the pillows in the bed, wishing she were there with him. Wishing she’d said “I love you” back when he’d said it to her.
Was it possible she didn’t love him?
He shook his head. She’d tell him next time.
He could almost guarantee it.
Chapter Six
Friday, November 21—7:30 a.m.
Oakley Neighborhood, Cincinnati, Ohio
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay while I’m at work?” Deck asked. “I can take the day off if you want me to.”
Dana looked deep into his eyes and wished for some Jedi mind voodoo. You want to leave for work. Right now. She glanced over his shoulder at the clock on the kitchen wall. She had exactly twelve minutes from this second to get rid of her suddenly sticky “fiancé,” gather her bag, and make a mad dash for the bus if she wanted to make it to the meeting at FBI Headquarters.
“No. I’ll be okay.” Go. Now.
He hesitated.
These are not the droids you’re looking for.
After too many precious seconds ticked by, he finally spoke. “Okay. If you’re sure.” He pulled a key off a hook by the back door. “If you go out for any reason, lock the door behind you,” he said, handing her the key. He slid a business card from his pocket and placed it on the kitchen counter. “Here’s my number at work. If you need anything, call. There’s a telephone on the wall.” He indicated the land line.
“Okay. Have good day.”
He slid his keys off the counter and, after a final wave, left through the front door.
Dana slid the key into her pocket and ran to the foyer, watching through the frosted glass of the side panels until his car backed out of the short driveway and headed down the street. She wished she had more time to wait to make sure he didn’t come back for any reason, but it couldn’t be helped.
Last night, she’d plugged her phone into the outlet behind the bed to keep it charged, but kept it turned off so Deck wouldn’t hear it. However, she’d checked it as soon as she’d woken to find a text from Sherwood. Possible case in Warren County. Killed in August. Meeting with the Sheriff @ 8:45 @ office. Attend if possible .
The text message was every bit as efficient and succinct as the man was in person.
She’d checked the bus schedule, then texted back. Plan to be there. Will advise if I run into problems.
It seemed like a good idea at the time to take the bus. If Deck caught Dana taking the bus, she could claim she was trying to see the city. If he caught her getting into or out of someone’s car, she’d have some serious explaining to do.
But now, while trying to appear as if she were taking a non-noteworthy stroll and still covering five blocks in seven minutes, it seemed less like a good idea and more like a recipe for showing up late.
She dashed the last block as the bus came to a stop with a hiss of the air brakes. It was with great relief that she plugged a dollar and some change into the automatic feeder before taking the first side-facing seat opposite the driver.
With her back in a corner and every passenger within her line of sight, she relaxed, only to realize that after the meeting, she had to reverse the process and get back before Deck realized she was gone.
That should be a good time.
Precisely fifty-eight minutes later, she stepped off the bus, crossed the street, and trotted into the building, past security, and finally up to the war room, where the meeting had evidently just begun.
“Sheriff, thanks for coming on such short notice,” Sherwood said to a man dressed in a khaki uniform.
Sheriff Adam Robbins looked at the assembled agents and detectives. “It looks like my little case is a small piece of a much bigger, even uglier picture. I just hope the information I have to give you helps. I’ve gotta tell you, this folder has
He placed the sweater back in his suitcase and zipped it, then lay back down, burying his head in the pillows in the bed, wishing she were there with him. Wishing she’d said “I love you” back when he’d said it to her.
Was it possible she didn’t love him?
He shook his head. She’d tell him next time.
He could almost guarantee it.
Chapter Six
Friday, November 21—7:30 a.m.
Oakley Neighborhood, Cincinnati, Ohio
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay while I’m at work?” Deck asked. “I can take the day off if you want me to.”
Dana looked deep into his eyes and wished for some Jedi mind voodoo. You want to leave for work. Right now. She glanced over his shoulder at the clock on the kitchen wall. She had exactly twelve minutes from this second to get rid of her suddenly sticky “fiancé,” gather her bag, and make a mad dash for the bus if she wanted to make it to the meeting at FBI Headquarters.
“No. I’ll be okay.” Go. Now.
He hesitated.
These are not the droids you’re looking for.
After too many precious seconds ticked by, he finally spoke. “Okay. If you’re sure.” He pulled a key off a hook by the back door. “If you go out for any reason, lock the door behind you,” he said, handing her the key. He slid a business card from his pocket and placed it on the kitchen counter. “Here’s my number at work. If you need anything, call. There’s a telephone on the wall.” He indicated the land line.
“Okay. Have good day.”
He slid his keys off the counter and, after a final wave, left through the front door.
Dana slid the key into her pocket and ran to the foyer, watching through the frosted glass of the side panels until his car backed out of the short driveway and headed down the street. She wished she had more time to wait to make sure he didn’t come back for any reason, but it couldn’t be helped.
Last night, she’d plugged her phone into the outlet behind the bed to keep it charged, but kept it turned off so Deck wouldn’t hear it. However, she’d checked it as soon as she’d woken to find a text from Sherwood. Possible case in Warren County. Killed in August. Meeting with the Sheriff @ 8:45 @ office. Attend if possible .
The text message was every bit as efficient and succinct as the man was in person.
She’d checked the bus schedule, then texted back. Plan to be there. Will advise if I run into problems.
It seemed like a good idea at the time to take the bus. If Deck caught Dana taking the bus, she could claim she was trying to see the city. If he caught her getting into or out of someone’s car, she’d have some serious explaining to do.
But now, while trying to appear as if she were taking a non-noteworthy stroll and still covering five blocks in seven minutes, it seemed less like a good idea and more like a recipe for showing up late.
She dashed the last block as the bus came to a stop with a hiss of the air brakes. It was with great relief that she plugged a dollar and some change into the automatic feeder before taking the first side-facing seat opposite the driver.
With her back in a corner and every passenger within her line of sight, she relaxed, only to realize that after the meeting, she had to reverse the process and get back before Deck realized she was gone.
That should be a good time.
Precisely fifty-eight minutes later, she stepped off the bus, crossed the street, and trotted into the building, past security, and finally up to the war room, where the meeting had evidently just begun.
“Sheriff, thanks for coming on such short notice,” Sherwood said to a man dressed in a khaki uniform.
Sheriff Adam Robbins looked at the assembled agents and detectives. “It looks like my little case is a small piece of a much bigger, even uglier picture. I just hope the information I have to give you helps. I’ve gotta tell you, this folder has
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