The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt #1) - Stacy Green Page 0,64
was a painful memory of Stillwater, so Nikki eventually pushed her away, too. She did at least know that she was a nurse and lived somewhere in Wisconsin.
Caitlin nodded. “She told me to fuck off and to never call her again.”
Nikki drained her coffee, trying to hide the swell of pride she felt. She shouldn’t have been surprised that her oldest friend wanted nothing to do with the documentary, but Annmarie certainly didn’t owe Nikki her loyalty.
“Have you looked at the evidence, yet?”
Liam shoved his plate away. “We’re discussing official police business. Please leave.”
Caitlin looked around. “It’s a diner. I can’t eat?”
“As long as you don’t sit with us,” Nikki said.
“That’s right.” Courtney swung around to face her. “Take your ass to your table before I help you get there.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Courtney stared her down.
“Unprofessional,” Caitlin said as she walked briskly back to the group of protestors sitting around a large table, Bobby Vance among them. Nikki looked over her shoulder long enough to see that he sat quietly with his arms over his chest; he seemed partially separated from the others.
“Sergeant Miller’s just arrived.” Courtney waved him over.
Miller sat down next to Nikki and looked at Liam’s half-eaten cheeseburger. “You going to finish that?”
Nikki laughed at the look on Liam’s face and passed Miller her toast. “You find anything out from the day shift?”
Miller ate the toast in a few bites and then drank the water Courtney offered him. “You won’t believe it.”
“Excuse me.” A man wearing an old peacoat and corduroy pants had slunk over. “Are you Nicole Walsh?”
Nikki took out her badge. “Nikki Hunt, Special Agent, FBI.”
He smirked. “Is that supposed to scare me?”
“Do you want me to scare you?” Her temper threatened to boil over.
“You put an innocent man in prison. For twenty years,” he began to say.
“Enough,” Miller interrupted.
“Leave it alone, Doug.” Bobby Vance appeared at his side and tugged on the other man’s arm. He was a couple of inches shorter than Doug but far more lean and muscular. “She’s working. And this isn’t helpful to Mark’s case.”
“Listen,” Nikki snapped. She appreciated Bobby stepping in, but she could stand up for herself. “I don’t have to answer to you or anyone else. You have a problem with the conviction, talk to Sheriff Hardin.”
Caitlin’s eyes lit up like a predator’s as she walked over. “Are you saying Hardin deliberately mishandled the case?”
“I’m saying that I was a sixteen-year-old kid. My statement alone didn’t convict Mark Todd. Go bark up the right tree.”
Doug pointed his finger at Nikki. “You need to admit you were wrong before shit gets out of control. People are angry.”
Bobby moved toward him, but Miller blocked his path. “Are you threatening a law enforcement officer, Doug?” Miller’s tone sounded even more threatening than his physical stature.
Doug held up his hands. “Everyone just wants to hear from her.”
“I already gave Ms. Newport my statement,” Nikki said. “My team and I are one hundred percent focused on these active murder investigations.”
“We have a right to protest,” Doug said. “First Amendment.”
Nikki struggled to keep her tone steady. “I respect that right. You do not, however, have the right to impede my investigations.”
Bobby rolled his eyes. “He just wants to be included in her stupid documentary.”
“Doug, you aren’t helping Mark’s case at all.” Newport turned to leave and then glanced at Nikki. “Agent Hunt, if you ever want to discuss your feelings about Sheriff Hardin, give me a call.”
Why couldn’t Nikki control her big mouth?
Newport dropped a couple of bills onto the protesters’ table on her way out of the restaurant.
Doug glared at Nikki, obviously torn between pride and common sense as Bobby lingered behind him.
“Go on back to your table, or I will take you down to the station,” Miller said.
“I almost forgot. The FBI does whatever it wants and gets a free pass.” Doug puffed out his chest, emboldened once again. “Is that why you joined, Agent Hunt? To hide behind the badge?”
Liam stood, red-faced. “Do you know anything about respect?”
“Big guy finally stands up for his girlfriend.” Doug smirked at her. “How are we supposed to count on you to catch those poor girls’ killer? You can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”
“Oh, I see what’s in front of me.” Nikki stepped around Miller and glanced at the rest of the protestors. She lowered her voice. “Which girl over there are you trying to impress?”