Page 84 of Night Watch
When Erik and Kennedy were dating, Wanda had lost many of her upper teeth due to gum disease and uncontrolled blood pressure. She was a beautiful woman—an older version of Kennedy—but she couldn’t do implants, so she’d had to have her upper teeth removed. Was this Wanda’s plate and did Nora have it or did it belong to Nora?
“It’s in a small brown box labeled inDents,” Smitty added.
inDents.Alarm bells rang in Erik’s head, but he wasn’t going to share his knowledge with Smitty. Erik would save that for the detective. “Thatisodd.”
“Yeah, there were plenty of pricey electronics in reach, so this guy must’ve specifically been looking for the denture.” Smitty ran a hand over his silvery buzzed hair.
“You talk to the homeowner yet?” Erik asked.
Smitty shook his head. “Dispatcher told her to go to a café down the road to be safe. Was planning on heading over there after we wrap things up here.”
As the first responder, Smitty had a bit of work to do before he could leave, giving Erik enough time to question Nora. “You’ll loop Detective Johnson in on this, right?”
“Will do.”
“And have him give me a call.”
“You got it. Now back to your cushy private job while I do mountains of paperwork.” Smitty grinned. “Seriously. Good to see you, Birdbrain.”
“You too, man.” Erik wanted to rush away, but he took his time heading back to his vehicle and slowly pulled away from the curb.
“Where we headed?” Drake asked.
Erik explained and just finished when he found the restaurant brightly lit and filled with customers.
“Let me guess,” Drake said drolly. “You want me to stay here.”
“And here I thought I was the smart brother.” Erik chuckled and reached for his door handle.
Drake didn’t laugh. “I might not be coming in, but I’ll be right outside the door.”
“Just don’t let Nora lay eyes on you.”
They both got out, and at the restaurant door, Drake stopped next to a pillar in a shadowed area.
Erik pushed open the door, the bells above tinkling. The old-fashioned diner smelled of burgers and fries, and Erik’s stomach grumbled. Maybe he should grab some dinner here instead of eating the rabbit food Finley had brought to his place.
Nora sat at a counter facing the door. She spotted him, leapt from her stool, and ran across the room, barely missing a server in a short skirt and bright red apron, her arms filled with platters.
“Sorry,” Nora tossed off the quick apology but didn’t stop until she clutched Erik’s arm. “Did you go to the house? Did they arrest someone?”
Erik nodded, and her shoulders sagged.
He held her up. “We should sit down and talk about it. Somewhere private. Like my vehicle.”
“I’ve already paid for my coffee so I’m good to go.” She bolted for the door.
Her behavior might be funny if not for the fact that it was borne from terror. He gave Drake a subtle gesture telling him to stay put, then unlocked the SUV doors, and they got in.
“Do you know who they arrested?” she asked as she closed her door.
Erik shook his head. “But he fits the build of the person who broke into Wanda’s house.”
“I thought it might be connected to that.”
“Why would you think that?”
She bit her lip. “I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
