Page 34 of Dark Angel
“Yeah, no phone, but she had an iPad. They use them for school. The ME told me to ask for it and to file it just in case someone needed to go through it.”
“I know it’s Sunday, but can we get it today?” Styles exchanged a triumphant look with Beth. “We’re at Tommy Joe’s.”
“Okay, I’ll go get it out of evidence and come by.”Ryder disconnected.
Raising her eyebrows, Beth looked at Styles. “Well, it might be his first murder but at least he’s following procedure. Everything he’s given us so far has been thorough. He hasn’t missed anything so far.”
“Yeah, he is reliable. It’s time he hired a deputy. He can’t be in two places at any one time. That’s when he usually calls me in to help, but now that you’re here, I have a feeling we’ll be handling cases far and wide.” Styles smiled. “While we’re waiting for Cash, I’ll call the hospitals and ask if either of our suspects are working today.” Styles went to work using his own brand of charm to get the information he needed.
When Ryder appeared carrying an iPad inside an evidence bag, Beth signed the paperwork to get it released to her and nodded to him. “Thanks. Why don’t you join us, and we’ll bring you up to date with the case?”
“Oh, Styles called me last night and gave me the rundown.” Ryder indicated with his thumb to the door. “I’m in the middle of something just now and people are waiting at the office for me. Maybe next time?”
Wondering if she intimidated him, Beth gave him her brightest smile. “I’ll look forward to it.”
“Ah sure.” Ryder backed away and hurried out of the door.
Beth watched him go and shook her head slowly. She seemed to have that effect on men. Maybe some of them were psychic?
THIRTY-FOUR
As Styles was deep in conversation with his phone pressed to his ear, Beth stood and went to the counter. She liked TJ and his bar and grill. He employed an excellent chef, and the pastries behind a glass display under a sign of a steaming coffee pot had caught her attention. Among the usual selection of pies and Danish pastries sat a delicious Black Forest cake. The thick chocolate frosting decorated with cherries made her mouth water. She sensed rather than saw TJ come toward her and lifted her gaze from the delights behind the glass. “I had no idea Wez was such a fine pastry chef.”
“Well, apart from creating sumptuous mains, he likes to experiment with desserts and most times what he cooks turns out delicious.” TJ grinned at her. “The Black Forest cake is new to his collection of delicacies. Can I tempt you with a slice?”
After eating a burger and fries and drinking two cups of coffee, Beth considered her calorie intake was more than enough for one day. Keeping fit and healthy was a priority and she’d become more of a salad type of person, but since she’d joined the Rattlesnake Creek field office, it seemed she’d been consuming junk food 24/7. Styles, it seemed, would eat dog food if hungry. She found it hard to believe a man in such good shape cared so little about his diet. She looked at the cake again and slowly raised her gaze to TJ. “It does look delicious, but I have just eaten one of his amazing burgers.”
“Aw come on. Wez will be so disappointed if no one orders this today.” TJ grinned at her. “But I’m not giving you the hard sell because what’s left over I get to take home.” He chuckled. “I’ve already eaten two slices today.”
“I’ll have a slice.” Styles came up behind her and peered through the glass and then up at TJ. “I’m not gonna let you have all the fun.” Beside him, Bear whined. “No, you’re not getting chocolate cake. Didn’t anyone tell you chocolate is not good for dogs?”
“I’ve a nice juicy bone out back if he’d like that?” TJ looked down at Bear. “On the house.”
“Sure. One juicy bone and one large slice of chocolate cake.” Styles looked at her. “You’re not going to like me eating that in front of you, are you?” He chuckled. “Look at all that chocolate frosting and cherries. Mmm, I can taste it through the glass.”
Never having friends who joked with her about anything, Beth stared at him not quite knowing what to say. She understood that something was missing in her own psyche, the part of her that didn’t care about people’s feelings when it was appropriate that she should. Although, without conscious effort, her lips twitched into a smile, as if it were a normal response for her. She leaned into the feeling. It was like being in front of a warm fire on a freezing day. Turning her attention away from Styles, she looked at TJ. “Okay, you forced me into it. I will have a slice, thank you.”
“I have a feeling we’re corrupting her.” TJ winked at Styles and then went about cutting the cake and placing it onto plates. “Although Wez is getting quite creative with his takeout salads. He loves an ego stroke and your compliments have given his creativity a boost.”
Beth couldn’t remember smiling so much in her life. Was this what being normal felt like? She nodded. “Yes, they’re excellent. After all the takeout I’ve been eating on our trips, I’ll be ordering one every day next week. Tell him to use his creativity and I’ll be his guinea pig.” She picked up her plate from the counter and carried it back to the table. At least, she didn’t intimidate the chef, Wez Michaels. She smiled to herself. That was a start. She would have to work on her personality traits a little more to fit in with this friendly town. Having men run a mile from her was not a good look.
“I struck gold at the hospitals.” Styles sat down and moments later Bear arrived carrying a large bone. “Go outside and eat that, boy.” He pointed to the back door, and the dog wandered off, his mouth stretched wide smiling around the bone.
Beth slid the fork through the cake and lifted it to her mouth. She sighed as the delicious creamy chocolate flavor coated her taste buds. “What did you find out?”
“Luckily, everyone was very cooperative. When I asked if Ainsley Rice or Emerson Green were working today, they told me the days they’d be there. Apparently, they both have shifts at different hospitals, some at the same time. Today, we’re lucky. Ainsley Rice is in town and working in the ER until eight tonight. We can catch Emerson Green tomorrow. He is working at, would you believe, Spring Grove. If you can organize a chat with the kids at the local school in the afternoon, we can catch him beforehand. He’s working there all week. Ainsley Rice has shifts there as well, mornings on a few days. I have all the details.”
They finished eating their cake in silence, both enjoying the rich delight. After finishing her third cup of coffee, Beth’s head was buzzing with caffeine overload. She glanced at Styles to see him staring at her, a questioning expression on his face. She patted her lips with a napkin. “Do I have chocolate all over my face?”
“Nope. You look just fine.” Styles pushed away his plate, drained his cup, leaned back in his chair, and sighed with obvious contentment. “I was just enjoying not arguing with you all the time.”
Amused, Beth gave him a serious stare. “I blame the cake. It puts me off my game. I’ll try harder for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Hmm.” Styles pushed on his Stetson and gathered his things from the table. “It’s obvious you have quite an insight into psychopathic killers. Is it all from research or do you have any firsthand knowledge?”
Collecting the iPad and pushing her phone into her pocket, she stood. “A little of both.” She indicated to Bear lying on the back porch. “You’re not going to allow your dog to take that bone inside the truck, are you?”
“Nah, I’ll ask TJ to wrap it to go.” He smiled at her. “If you know anything about dogs, taking away food is like a punishment, and Bear has been exceptionally good during our trip.”
