The Silent Witness. Dani Sinclair
Читать онлайн книгу.
come down here and get inside? You’re a sitting duck on those steps. He may still be out here.”
“You’re just full of compliments these days, aren’t you?” But she wasted no more time coming down the steps. Her gaze swept the parking lot and worry lined her forehead. He handed her the keys and waited while she unlocked the back door to her shop. For an instant, he sensed her mental debate, but she didn’t slam the door in his face. He entered behind her and shoved the gun in his waistband.
“Tell me what happened.”
“Don’t you know?”
She flicked on an overhead light. The room was neatly organized with worktables and shelves. A bank of kilns stood against the outside wall.
“Did you think I was the one firing at you?” he asked.
She turned to regard him. “Were you?”
Alex sighed. “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead, Nicki.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Nicki!”
“You’re the only one around here I’ve seen holding a gun, Alex.”
“What about the person you saw the other night?”
Her eyes darted away.
“Tell me what’s going on, Nicki.”
“You tell me. You’re the one with the gun.”
“Forget the gun, will you?” Exasperated, he glared at her.
The scream of an approaching siren halted her response. Alex swore softly. If Osher caught him in here with a weapon, he wouldn’t be given a chance to explain.
“Here.” He pulled the gun from his waistband and tried to hand it to Nicki. She backed right into a shelving unit filled with bisque. One piece fell to the ground and shattered.
“I don’t want it!”
“Hide it for me. If Osher catches me with it, he’ll throw me in jail and toss away the key. I don’t have time for that right now.”
“Of course not. How inconvenient. But as it happens, I don’t want to go to jail either.”
“Nic…”
The police car came to a stop out back.
“Are you going to help me or not?”
For a second, he thought she was going to refuse. Then she took the gun gingerly, holding it by the barrel. With a glance around, she walked over to a kiln and lifted the lid. Without ceremony, set the gun inside.
“Try to remember to pull it out before you fire that kiln,” he warned. “It’ll make a heck of an explosion otherwise.”
A loud rap on the door made them both jump.
Nicki stared in consternation.
“Take it easy. Answer it,” he whispered, “but don’t mention me, okay?”
“No. It is not okay.”
He kissed her forehead. “Thanks, Nic. I owe you.” He moved past her office and into the large bathroom. Leaving the door mostly open.
“Officer Jackstone!” she greeted.
Alex relaxed. He liked Derek Jackstone. The man was a good cop.
“We got a report of more gunshots here in the alley.”
“Oh no!”
“You didn’t hear anything?”
“I just came down. I must have been in the bathroom.”
Why did he keep forgetting how spunky she was, Alex mused.
“So you didn’t see anything?” Jackstone asked.
“I’m sorry. No.”
“Okay. Stay inside, Ms. Michaels. Away from the windows. I’m going to check around. Hold off opening the store for a few minutes, all right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Lock the door behind me.”
“I will.”
Alex heard the sound of the deadbolt being turned in place. He stepped out to meet her. “Thanks, Nicki. You okay?”
“No!” She glared at him. “What are you doing here, Alex? Why are you carrying a gun? Who was firing at me? And why?”
“I wish I knew, Nicki.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the best I can do right now. I heard the shots, but I didn’t see who was doing the shooting.”
He rubbed his eyes, more tired than he could remember being in a long time. He was getting too old to stay up all night.
“Officer Jackstone wants me to wait before I open the store.”
“I heard.”
“That means he’ll be coming back.”
“Are you worried about me, Nicki?” He took a step closer, liking the sudden nervous awareness in her eyes.
“Take your gun and go, Alex.”
He reached out to stroke a tendril of hair. Her lashes fluttered closed in reaction. Such long, pretty lashes.
“I can’t do that, Nicki. They’ll arrest me.”
She stared at him, her concern palpable. She moistened her lips, reminding him of how sweet they could taste. He could smell the faintest hint of gardenias on her skin and he took another step closer, wanting to inhale the scent of her.
Remembered passion shimmered in her eyes, stirring to life each exciting memory of how it felt to hold her, to kiss her, to touch all those hidden—
“What sort of trouble are you in, Alex?”
She stepped to one side, opening the distance between them. A distance that should be a chasm, he thought ruefully.
“Nothing that concerns you. Go ahead and get your store ready to open. Pretend I’m not here.”
“My pleasure.”
He realized his curt answer had hurt her again. He didn’t want her hurt.
Nicki swallowed hard and managed a glare. How dare he send out such mixed signals? One minute he was devouring her with his eyes and the next he acted like she didn’t mean a thing to him and never had.
“I must have been really stupid at sixteen.” It would have made a terrific exit line. Too bad she couldn’t fade to black. Instead, she walked up front where he couldn’t follow without the risk of being seen by someone outside.
Alex made a sound of frustration. Good. Did he think she’d stand by and let him toy with her emotions? She hadn’t been pining all these years for Alex Coughlin.
“Why a craft store, Nicki?” he called softly from the shadows of the hall.
“Why not a craft store?” She picked up a duster and pretended to be busy. She did not want him to know how badly she’d wanted to taste his kiss again.
“I thought you wanted to go to college and become a teacher.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t always get what we want in life, do we, Alex.”
“What happened?”
She thought about telling him it was none of his business, but decided that was childish.
“My stepmother died in a car crash. I had to leave school and come home and help Dad. Hope was only fourteen and Brent and Gavin were still in high school. Someone had to run the house while Dad ran the business.”
“I’m