Her Christmas Detective - Laura Ann Page 0,2

watched her. What’s she doing?

“Enemies?” Mrs. Harrison balked. “I am a guest here,” she said, her accent becoming stronger as she grew upset. “Who would I have as an enemy?”

Bella stopped by Hank’s side, a stylus poised above her phone. “You never know, Mrs. Harrison. Have you spoken to anyone in town? Have you noticed that you’re being followed? Has anyone made you feel unsafe during your trips to town?”

“What is this?” Mrs. Harrison asked, leaning away as if that would protect her from the rapid-fire questions.

“What indeed,” Hank murmured. He gave Mrs. Harrison a polite, if fake, smile and gently took the interrogator’s elbow. “Would you excuse us for a minute?” he said to Mrs. Harrison before leading Bella away. He walked her to the far side of the room and swung her into the corner as gently as he could through his frustration. “What do you think you are doing?” he asked. He fought to keep his tone low.

She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “What do you mean?”

Hank squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. This woman was beautifully distracting, but he was seeing why Bill said she might be trouble. “I mean...why are you interrogating Mrs. Harrison?”

Bella kept eye contact with them while slipping her phone into her back pocket, then she put her hands on her hips. “Why aren’t you?”

He jerked back. “I did.”

“No, you didn’t,” Bella argued. “You asked a couple of questions. You definitely didn’t interrogate her. Interrogation involves asking things in a formal or aggressive manner.” She smirked as if she’d won.

“I hate to disappoint you, Ms. Wood,” he said, “but I’ve found you will always get more information with honey rather than vinegar.” He smirked back. “So while I might not have been as aggressive as you wanted me to be, I got the information I needed without angering or scaring her.” He folded his arms over his own chest. “That’s a win-win in my book.”

Bella rolled her eyes. “But how do you know that there isn’t more to it? You need to put pressure on her...try and get her to crack and admit she just misplaced the ring.” Her eyes widened. “OR!” She stepped closer to him, her citrusy scent overwhelming his senses. “Maybe she sold the ring and doesn’t want her son to know.”

Hank shook his head, completely dumbfounded by her wild ideas. “Tell me, Ms Wood. Just why would she sell an important family heirloom?”

She put her hands out, palm up. “The money, of course. Isn’t that what everyone wants?”

“I don’t think money is a problem for her,” he pointed out.

Bella pointed a finger at him. “So she says.”

“And so does her son,” Hank replied. He straightened, cutting off their private conversation. Being stuck in the corner with her was starting to feel a little too intimate...making his mind wander to paths like dinners and holding hands, which would eventually lead to things like cuddling and kissing. He shook his head. Keep it professional, Hank. You’re here for a job.

Bella squished her lips up, nearly touching her nose with the pout. “Fine. But I still think she’s hiding something.”

Hank couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think your journalism degree is messing with your head.” As soon as the words slipped out, he knew he shouldn’t have said it. Not only was it not exactly kind, but it lit a fire under Bella that had him worried. And he barely knew her.

“Why?” she asked, her voice low and deadly. “Because journalists are all about sensationalizing everything? Because we would do anything to sell a headline?” She stepped into his space, poking him in the chest. “Or is it because I’m a woman journalist? Maybe we women just have more active imaginations? Am I too weak to see the truth for what it is?”

Hank finally held up his hands in surrender. “You’ll have to forgive me, Ms. Woods. I let that slip out without thinking.”

“But you were thinking it, and that’s telling,” she shot back.

Hank’s shoulders drooped. “You’re right,” he admitted. “And it was wrong of me. You just seem really...eager...and I had an uncharitable thought. I shouldn’t have said it, let alone thought it.” He stuck out his hand. “Truce? Can we start over?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but finally took his hand.

Hank tightened his grip and pulled her slightly closer. “And just so we’re clear. You being a woman has nothing to do with anything. I know women on the force who would beat