but let me ask this – does it have to do with our temp teacher slash sub?”
“You always were an astute bastard.”
“And you were always easy to read. That was her car still parked at your place after eleven last night, wasn’t it?”
Shawn reached the bar, parked, and cut the engine, then angled toward Clayton to say, “Yes, and I’m not even going to ask how, or why you know what make of car Lisa drives.” Annoyed with the pinprick of jealousy he experienced from Clayton’s remark, he slammed out of the cruiser, muffling the idiot’s laugh.
“Relax, McDuff,” Clayton drawled as he held the bar door open and waved Shawn in ahead of him. “That bright yellow bug is hard to miss in Spur’s parking lot, even at night, and I saw her in it shortly after guest night. It’s serious, then?”
Shawn nodded toward a corner table in the dimly lit room. Sitting down, he signaled the day waitress, ready to dish out some payback when he saw it was Sharon Mize. Skirting his question, he stated, “I’ll never know since she’s only here through May. Speaking of serious…afternoon, Sharon.”
The thirty-one-year-old, twice-divorced brunette nodded at Shawn but turned a mega-watt smile on Clayton. “Deputy Sheriff. Hey there, Clayton. What can I get you, darlin’?”
Laying her order pad on the table, she bent over and braced on one arm, holding her pen poised as she locked her gaze on his. Shawn appreciated the blatant view down her gaping, low-cut blouse, even if Clayton didn’t from the dark glare he gave her. Clayton made the mistake of dating the woman right after her affair with a married man in Boise ended, going on the rumors she was done with relationships and was only looking for a good time. In other words, perfect for him, until she turned clingy and started hinting at wanting more after a few nights of burning up the sheets.
Two months had passed since Clayton had ended things, but Sharon took advantage of every opportunity to flirt and tempt him into returning to her bed.
“The Monday special, please,” Clayton told her.
“Make that two, and two beers,” Shawn added.
Straightening up, she ran one long red fingernail down Clayton’s arm, her smile suggestive as she replied, “Anything else, you be sure and let me know.”
Clayton glared at her back and then at Shawn. “Don’t say a word.”
“Fine, spoilsport. On to another subject, then. Lisa has picked up a stalker.”
“Ah, fuck.”
“Exactly.” Shawn spelled out what he knew. Clayton might joke around a lot, and had a tendency to take very little seriously, but mention someone getting away with breaking the law, and he could switch from charmer to a ruthless prosecutor without a hitch.
“And she has no clue who this could be?” Clayton asked when he finished.
“None, and I believe her. Now that he’s proven he’ll chase her down in a different state, she’s too worried to hold back, and I drilled her about every relationship, even the ones at the club she frequented in Phoenix. I plan to follow up with Father Joe tonight.”
“Keep poking at her for details about everyone she’s been in contact with in the weeks prior to the first message. Nine times out of ten, a stalker is someone the victim knows but doesn’t have a clue is obsessed. Whatever you need Dakota and I to do, you know we will.”
Gratitude filled Shawn. He’d never been more appreciative of the unconditional support they always offered each other. “Thanks. She’s staying with me until this bastard is caught, and I’m hoping she’ll mention something I can check out.”
Sharon returned with their order and provided them with another glimpse down her gaping top as she set the plates down, her suggestive smile and wink only for Clayton. Shawn smirked as Clayton made a point of ignoring her. She reacted to the blatant insult with a huff and twitch of her ass then spun about and stalked over to the next table.
“You’ve got yourself a real winner, there, pal. I’ll bet getting laid wasn’t worth the grief of that one.”
Clayton’s annoyed expression dropped off, replaced by his usual, I-don’t-give-a-shit grin. Picking up his sandwich, he took a huge bite, saying with his mouth chewing, “Not so. I can ignore her, but the dick wants what the dick wants, my friend.”
He couldn’t argue with that, not when he thought about Lisa. The difference between them being his open mind to more than sex, whereas, Clayton was content and happy to continue