Even if I tried to mask it, there were experts who could detect such things. It would be one more piece of evidence tying me to Caroline Blakely.
I didn’t waste any time writing down my very brief account. I said that Seth had asked me to tell his grandfather that he loved him and he was sorry, and left it at that. At least I’d have an explanation if Detective Daniels figured out that I’d gone to see Hank.
When I finished, he read it over, then looked up at me. “You’re sure you don’t remember anything else?”
I gave him an innocent look and slowly shook my head. “No. That’s it.”
He stared at me for several long seconds before I asked, “Is there a problem, Deputy?”
“Detective,” he said in a short tone. “And no. If that’s all, I guess we’re done.” But he remained in his seat.
“I need to get ready for the evening crowd,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Just one more thing,” he said, finally standing up. He took a step toward me and invaded my personal space. “Where did you say your car was?”
“At Wyatt Drummond’s garage.”
“Uh-huh.”
I started to head to the back, but he called after me. “Have you had any trouble with it since it’s been there?”
Did he know about the break-in? I’d asked Wyatt to keep quiet about it, but had he told the sheriff anyway?
Turning back to face him, I said, “Seeing as how it’s still broken down, I’d guess I’m having all sorts of trouble with it.”
A hint of a smile lifted his lips. “True enough. But no other trouble that you know of?”
“I haven’t seen my car since Wyatt dropped me off at Max’s Tavern’s parking lot yesterday early evening, but I’ll be sure to let you know if he doesn’t repair it to my satisfaction.”
He only made it a couple of steps toward the door before he turned around to face me. “Oh,” he said, “one more thing. You say you’re from Atlanta, but you don’t have much of an accent.”
Shit. Was he suspicious about my past?
I tried to look more friendly with this one. “That’s because I moved to Atlanta from Michigan, Detective. My accent is a strange hybrid of both.”
More accurately a hybrid of my East Coast schooling and my Texas roots.
He nodded. “We truly are a meltin’ pot, are we not?”
“Greatest country in the world.”
He nodded again. “God bless the U.S. of A.”
I gave him a little wave. “You have a good day, Detective.” With that, I headed to the back before he had a chance to “one more thing” me again.
Chapter Fourteen
After I pulled myself together, I found Max sitting at the desk in his office and told him the detective had left.
He swiveled his chair to face me in the doorway. “How’d it go?”
“Fine, I guess. He seems a little suspicious of me, although I have no idea why.” Which wasn’t precisely true. People in Drum didn’t seem too keen on outsiders, and no one here really knew me. Easier to suspect a stranger than a neighbor.
Max grimaced. “I called Marco while you were giving your statement. He said they’re trying to work up a case against you.”
My throat tightened. “Do they have any evidence?”
In my mind, I saw my gun and my key fob. Those casings that may have been deliberately left behind. They didn’t even need to pin it on me. All they needed to do was attract the wrong kind of attention.
“No. It’s all circumstantial. I’ve given my own statement about walkin’ you to your room after you got off work last night. I made it very clear they’re barkin’ up the wrong tree.”
“I had nothing to do with Seth’s death other than finding him, Max,” I said. “I swear it.”
He gave me a reassuring smile. “Shit, Carly, I know that. Even a blind man could see that you’re incapable of such a thing. Don’t you worry. I have an ace up my sleeve to help.”
“What is it?” I asked.
He leaned forward. “You’ll find out later.” He checked the clock on the wall. “It’s nearly three. Why don’t you go have Tiny fix you something for lunch. Then I’ll open back up in about a half hour.”
“You don’t have to keep the bar closed on my account, Max,” I said. I hated that he was potentially losing money because of me.
“We’re usually dead anyway, and this will give you a chance to take a break.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Thanks, Max.”
“Hey,” he said good-naturedly.