Page 70 of Dead Man's Alibi

So he watched.Considered a wide variety of things.When he noticed a car pull between buildings—a car he didn’t recognize—he kept his gaze on the path from parking lot to front.

If in a few moments no one came out, they were likely here visiting Cal.And he’d have to figure out who they were and why they were making a house call, so to speak.

But not two minutes later, a woman appeared.She walked up to the front of Honor’s Edge.Either she didn’t see the closed sign in the window or she didn’t care.She went to the door and tried to pull it open.When nothing happened, she knocked on it.

Jake surveyed her.She looked vaguely familiar.Medium height.Slender in an elegant kind of way that spoke of someone who worked very hard at their appearance.She was dressed fashionably and looked more suited for a bigger city than strolling along Main Street Marietta first thing in the morning.

When no one answered the door, she shaded her eyes and looked in the windows, then looked around Main Street as if it would tell her what to do.

He’d blame the big sunglasses for how long it took him to recognize her, but once he did, he sat up taller in his seat.

Olivia Underwood.Jules Hyatt’s friend.

He’d interviewed Olivia as part of his investigation since Jules had been staying with the woman when she’d been murdered.Olivia hadn’t been able to give police much, but she’d been cooperative.

What the hell was she doing at Honor’s Edge?

Well, he was certainly going to find out.He got out of his car.He was wearing his gun on his shoulder holster, so he grabbed his jacket out of his backseat and shrugged it on to hide it.He remembered the way her eyes had kept falling to it when he’d interviewed her before.Like she was wary he’d pull it on her, which was ridiculous.

But some people could only view cops as the enemy.Like Sam and the douchebag Bennets.

He jogged across the street, then reminded himself to be slow.Casual.Unconcerned.He was just heading up to the diner, and if they bumped into each other…

“Miss Underwood?”

She turned to face him.She looked braced for some kind of attack as her gaze swept over him.But it landed on the badge he wore around his neck, and she let out a little sigh that sounded like relief.

“You’re that detective.Yes.Hi.”She smoothed a hand over her already smoothed-back hair.“I… I’m sorry.I don’t remember your name.”

“Jake Hayes.”He held out his hand, offered a polite and professional smile.

The woman looked straight-upweary.But she took his offered hand and shook gently before pulling her hand quickly away.She offered him no explanations or further greetings.She looked at the door of Honor’s Edge wistfully again.

“I was just walking down to the diner for some breakfast.”He gestured at the Honor’s Edge building.“Are you in some kind of trouble?”

She shook her head.“No.No, I was just looking for the woman who runs the place.Sam Price.She… I…” Olivia shook her head.“It’s nothing.I guess she’s closed.”

“Yes, I know Sam.We’re friends.Maybe I could help you with something or help you get in touch?”

“Oh.Um.”She looked at the building, then back at him.

He worked to keep his expression friendly and kind while the woman clearly wrestled with the idea of giving him the truth.

“No, that’s all right.I have her phone and email.I can reach out to her myself.I just wanted to show her something.”

“Is she investigating something for you?”

The woman didn’t answer.Not a nod or shake of the head.Clearly, she didn’t want to clue him in, and that would be fine if he thought she was here for her own personal problems, but he very much doubted it.

This was about Jules, and she was going toSamfor help.When he was the damn cop in the situation.She shouldn’t be coming to Sam over him foranything.

He didn’t let that annoyance take hold.Not yet.Kept the placid smile of a man just looking to help.

When she didn’t say anything, Jake figured he had to press a little bit.If she was dealing with Sam, had Sam convinced her that Nate wasn’t the murderer?Yeah, Jake wasn’t going to let that fly.

“You know we have a suspect arrested, right?So, if there’s anything pertaining to the case, you really should come to the police.Sam’s great at investigating, but that’s not the law.”

Her mouth dropped open for a moment.“You… you arrested someone?”