“She spent most of it.”
Grace surveyed what she knew about her landlord’s possessions. She couldn’t account for all the designer clothes and high end furniture. A bookseller didn’t make that much. “On what?
“It all went up her nose.”
“Coke? She’s a drug addict?”
She hadn’t seen that coming. That opened up a whole new file of suspects, not making her job easier.
“Was. She’s been clean for a year, but not before she blew through most of the money.”
This didn’t make the case any simpler. What if the killer was someone from her drug days?” Grace ran a hand down her face. “Who was she blackmailing?”
“Kent Winger.”
Zach’s former boss? “With what? And how do you know this?”
“Dolores and I have partied together.”
Is there anyone who hasn’t? She wondered why there wasn’t a revolving door on Dolores’ house.
“And you are?”
“Joe Smith.”
“Really?”
Her skepticism, born of too many louts in her life, jumped out of her voice.
“Really.”
Grace mulled over this. Why hadn’t Zach mentioned her drug problem? Joe could be a suspect, too. “Why’d you tell me all this?”
“Just doing a community service, he said.
He waved then disappeared into a car next to her. He drove away before she could ask him anything else.
Chapter Seventeen
Someone pounded on Zach’s door so he clicked off his monitor. No one would be able to see what he was searching for. Especially not Grace.
This time Grace didn’t wait for an invitation, but brushed past him. She sucked in a breath, but didn’t pause. “You didn’t tell me Dolores had a drug problem.”
“Had. She’s been clean for over a year.”
Grace crossed her arms and tapped her sneakered foot on his ceramic tile. “This could be drug related. Someone she pissed off in her former life?” Her eyes were wilder than during her last visit. Something had happened.
“Why now?” he asked.
“They could have just gotten out of prison. Or just gotten sober enough.”
Zach closed his front door, then leaned against it. Tired lines creased her face. He longed to take her into his arms as she had for him at the hospital. But now she needed the comfort.
Fighting her demons had to be hard enough, but trying to save someone who didn’t want to be saved must be even more difficult. “Let’s talk to Dolores when she comes home tomorrow.”
Her face lightened. “You mean it. She’ll be more receptive with you there.”
He reached out and brushed a hair from her face. She flinched, but didn’t back away. “Am I that repulsive?”
Her eyes found his. “No,” she whispered.
“Then why do you react or pull away every time I touch you.”
She shook her head, wresting his hand from her face. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“I’m feeling pretty receptive to some odd things at the moment.”
She sighed, her breath coming out between pursed lips. “You believe I go back in time.”
Her voice came out hollow as if the fight had gone out of her.
He took her hand and laced their fingers together. “I believe you have some kind of gift I can’t explain.”
Her gaze rested on their joined hands. Her face didn’t let on what she was feeling. What would he find if he crawled inside her head?
“That’s better than nothing, I guess,” she said.
“Your eyes cloud over and your body becomes stiff when I do this. Why?”
She bit her lip. “I see colors when you touch me.”
“Colors? Like a hallucination?”
“I guess. Having never done drugs I can only guess it’s like that.”
“What are you seeing now?” He traced a line across her jaw.
“Swirls of blues and oranges.”
“And now?”
He used his other hand to pull her closer to him. Her eyes had that faraway look to them.
“The colors are swirling faster. Like spin art. And I’m feeling dizzy. Stop.”
He let go of her. She stumbled back, but didn’t fall. She blinked as if she had something in her eyes.
“Better?”
“Yes, but my heart’s pounding. Don’t do that again.”
Zach frowned. “But I want to kiss you.”
Her eyes widened. “You always this straightforward?”
He thought for a moment. “No, I’m not. There’s something about you. Something I want to protect.”
“Oh. So you’re feeling alpha male.”
“Kind of. Certainly protective.”
She put a hand up to him, but didn’t touch him. He resisted the urge to move closer to regain contact with her. His body had been on fire from within and now he only felt numb from the absence of her heat.
“I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t need someone else to do that,” she said.
“Fair enough. What do you want?”
He stepped closer and she pulled her hand away as if from a hot stove. Not wanting to torture her, he didn’t move, just let her retreat.
“I want to solve Dolores’ murder and go about my life.”
She sighed and he could see her weariness painted into the dark circles under her eyes. He longed to take it all away from her. He’d take the burden, but she wouldn’t let him. Maybe she couldn’t.
His feelings for her were growing. He had no idea what to do with them. “What does it feel like to hold the fate of another’s life in your hands?”
She jammed a hair behind her ear. “More responsibility than I want.”
He moved closer to touch her. His fingertips brushed her arm. “Does anyone know what you can do?”
“Mark.”
“Of course.”
Somehow that guy managed to come between them even when he wasn’t here. “Why him?”
“Because he’s been my friend for a long time. Since high school.”
“And you aren’t lovers?”
She looked away from him. “I think Mark would like us to be.”
“Yes, I can see that.”
“Oh?”
“The way he looks at you.” Zach cocked his head, contemplating his next move.
“And how is that?”
Her voice was quieter now, more intimate. He liked how it took on a husky tone. “Like you were a side of beef and he was a hungry man.”
