Page 11 of Rascal

“And?” Harry inquired.

“Nothing to say?” Hawthorne asked me, and I shrugged. “It had a note attached saying, ‘I won’t miss next time.’”

“Guess he pissed someone else off,” I said, grinning.

“We tracked the delivery back. It was sold from a shop in Spearfish, and that had cameras.”

I didn’t flinch and just looked amused.

Frustration built, but Hawthorne turned a laptop toward me, brought up a video clip, and pressed play.

“Harry, the time,” I remarked.

I watched disinterested as a woman approached the desk, never once showing her face. She collected a box and then left.

“I see it,” Harry replied.

“Nothing to say?” Hawthorne asked.

“Like what?” I demanded.

“Miss Milton, that is you collecting the wreath.”

“You’ve only the back of her,” I retorted. Hawthorne smiled.

“The florist has already identified you. That scar is distinctive.”

“Yes, it is.” I smirked. “Anything else?”

“This is you dropping it off at the delivery firm. I guess so you could add the heart, dagger and threat,” Hawthorne said, playing more footage.

“Are you done?” Harry asked.

“We’ve enough to charge your client,” Hawthorne stated.

“No, you don’t. But we have sufficient grounds for a harassment suit.”

Hawthorne smiled. “With the eyewitness testimony and that recording, we will charge Miss Milton.”

“Small problem.” I sat there and grinned and saw worry cross Hawthorne’s face as Harry spoke. “My client has a rock-solid alibi for that time.”

“Does she?” Hawthorne sneered. “Let’s have it.”

“She was with the mayor of your fine city, a women’s abuse panel, and several criminal justice rights campaigners. So, whoever you have there, detective, isn’t Miss Milton! Now we’ll have the name of the florist who falsely identified Hallie, and she’ll be served with a civil suit as well.”

Harry let the bomb drop as I smiled sweetly.

Hawthorne looked as if he had just swum in pig shit.

Chapter Three.

Rascal–a day later.

“What do you mean you let her go?” I demanded, speaking to Lio on the phone. “That footage is solid evidence of her harassing me!”

“Small problem, buddy, she has twenty fuckin’ eyewitnesses, one of which is the mayor. She’s now filed a complaint of harassment against you,” Lio said.

I rocked back on my heels. “Lio, that was her!”