She felt Jonas tense a bit, but then that tension seemed to dissipate. “Officially we kept our relationship secret. We were partners. It was against policy to be involved. So if we celebrated, we did it alone. Only a few people knew about us—Zeke, Brenda’s parents, another good friend of mine who had nothing to do with the police department. Once in a while we went there together and had a night of playing cards.”
“The friends who were at the barbecue last year and I couldn’t go?” Her cancellation of their last-minute plans had caused a misunderstanding between them. It had happened around the time Violet had found out she was pregnant, and everything had been complicated by that.
Suddenly someone tapped Daisy on the shoulder. It was Tamlyn. “Hi there,” Daisy said. “I thought I saw you, but I wasn’t sure with you wearing that fluffy hat.”
Tamlyn rubbed her hands together. “Anything to keep warm. I’m not sure why I came, maybe just to get out of that house for a while. I think I’m going to resign my position and try to find something else. Mr. Vaughn doesn’t really need me.”
“Does he cook for himself?” Daisy asked.
“Oh, no. Ms. Nurmi was doing some of the cooking, but she hasn’t been there the past few days.”
Since the night the police had brought her in for questioning? Daisy wondered. If Glenda and Rowan were having an affair, that could be motive for murder. Daisy supposed Glenda was wise to keep her distance from Rowan.
“I thought I’d start looking around before Mr. Vaughn decides to sell the house. I heard him talking to a real estate agent. I can’t imagine him staying there all by himself. I’m not sure he even liked the place from the beginning. Margaret’s the one who wanted it, from what I understand.”
“It’s a beautiful old home,” Jonas said.
“It needs somebody rich to own it. There’s a lot of upkeep. Mr. Vaughn’s always calling one handyman or another.”
Suddenly there seemed to be a ruckus about ten yards away—raised male voices. One of the volunteer firemen strode in that direction.
“I think that’s Zeke over there,” Jonas said, getting to his feet. “It looks like Zeke and Jasper Lazar are having some kind of altercation. I’m going to head over that way,” he told Daisy.
Daisy wasn’t content to stay put, so she followed Jonas, trying to keep up with his stride.
When they reached the area, Daisy saw that Zeke was pointing a finger at Jasper Lazar’s chest. “You know more than you’re letting on,” he said.
Jasper shot back, “You’re crazy.”
It was possibly true that Jasper knew more, but Zeke shouldn’t be having this conversation with Jasper here. If there was any merit to his accusation, it should be done in private. This atmosphere was anything but private.
Her assessment must have been the same as the one Jonas was making. The wind had picked up and was slapping against Daisy’s jacket. She was chilled, but the drama in front of her made her adrenaline level accelerate and warmth spread through her. Someone had to stop this before either Jasper or Zeke took a swing. If Zeke was going to take Jasper in for questioning, he could do that quietly.
The firefighter who had been studying what was going on turned to Jonas. They nodded to each other as if they knew each other.
“Hi, Frank,” Jonas said. Then in a lower voice, he asked, “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but Zeke Willet’s been drinking.”
“If he’s drinking, then he’s not on duty. He shouldn’t even be questioning a witness.”
Frank nodded. “That’s what I thought. But I have no authority to do anything.”
“I don’t either,” Jonas admitted.
Daisy slid into position beside Jonas.
Jasper pushed Zeke away from him, saying, “You shouldn’t even be a cop if you can’t hold your liquor.”
To Daisy’s dismay, Zeke bounced right back. He took Jasper by the shoulders. “You can’t talk to me like that.”
Jasper was practically shouting now to be heard against the wind. “You’ve no right to ask me anything without a lawyer present. If I say I want my lawyer, you have to back off.”
Apparently, Jonas didn’t want this to escalate. He said to Frank Dowling, “Can you go around the other side? I’ll try to talk to Zeke.”
Frank did as Jonas suggested in case they had to physically break up a fight.
Jonas approached Zeke with an easy gait, put a hand on his shoulder, and asked, “Need some help here?”
Zeke shrugged off his hand. “No, I don’t need help, especially not yours.”
Jonas turned to Jasper. “Are you interested in talking to the police?”
“If I was,” Jasper said, anger in his voice, “I wouldn’t be talking to this detective.”
“You’ll talk to me because I’m on the case,” Zeke returned.
“Zeke, do you really think this is the way to have your questions answered?” Jonas asked calmly.
Now Zeke swung around to Jonas. “Stop butting in on my business.”
“Stop making a spectacle of yourself,” Jonas advised. “Do you want me to call Rappaport?”
“And just what do you think he can do? He’s not getting any further with this investigation than I am.”
Jonas’s voice was steady and even. “You know it takes time. You know one clue leads to the next.”
“I want you out of my life,” Zeke shouted at Jonas.
Maybe frustrated and disappointed with the way Zeke had been treating him, Jonas asked, “Then why did you come to Willow Creek? You could have gone anywhere.” Backing off a couple of steps, Jonas gave Zeke space.
“I needed a new job.”
“And this was the only one that was open? Did you know I was here?” Jonas’s expression was as somber and questioning as his voice.
“Yeah, I knew. I thought maybe we could get things straightened out once and for all. I thought you’d be as unhappy as I was. But, no, you’re just moving right along. You’ve got a new girlfriend and everything.”
Daisy took in a sharp breath, knowing no good could come from this public discussion. She seemed to have an
