Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn Page B

business. Open up.”
    Gee, everyone sure was bossy tonight. I smiled at him sweetly and opened my eyes wide, the innocent damsel look. “I had no idea Hope and Cheryl brought in a partner. They didn’t say one word to me.”
    “You know what I mean.” Even in the dim light, I saw a muscle in his jaw twitch.
    I looked over my shoulder. Wait a minute. Where’s Darlene? If she snuck out the back door I’d never trust her again. Of course, I shouldn’t have trusted her to begin with.
    She used me to get what she wanted, into the store.
    I unlocked the door and jerked it open. “Forget it. She took off and will never admit she came here.”
    “She who?” Ted lumbered inside and stared down at me.
    This was why I should stay out of investigations. I didn’t have to worry about anyone snitching on me, I snitched on myself. “Doesn’t matter.”
    “I think we should finish this conversation at the station.”
    TEN

    Once again I was in the police station, sitting in a tiny room, waiting for the police to interrogate—talk—to me. Anxiety raced through me even though I knew this time I hadn’t done anything wrong.
    Okay, maybe a little wrong as Ted...Detective Roget...had warned me not to get involved. I had told him I had no intention of doing so. I meant it. I really did. I had only wanted to see if I could discover why Belinda had showed up at the store. It wasn’t my fault that Darlene had showed up and coerced me into letting her inside.
    I pressed my hands onto my knees to stop my legs from shaking, afraid I’d be showing an admission of guilt to a murder. A murder I once again had nothing to do with, but somehow got wrapped into because I was conveniently at the wrong place at the wrong time. It was the convenient part that might end up getting me into trouble. How many people ended up being tied into a murder once, much less three times?
    I watched Detective Ted Roget pace in front of the small window, hands gesturing in the air. I wasn’t sure who he was yelling at, though I guessed Steve. My choice for the one phone call. My list of people to call in an emergency wasn’t very extensive, and with this type of issue, I figured Steve was my best bet.
    Darlene lied to me. She had the perfect plan and ran out when I needed her. I should’ve left her outside. I took a huge risk for nothing. No clue. No evidence. Nothing except for a trip to the police station.
    Would I need bail money?
    The door banged opened and I sat up straight, hoping to portray innocence and confidence.
    “I thought you weren’t getting involved in this investigation.” Ted charged in and threw the question at me. He slapped a folder against his thigh.
    I craned my neck, trying to spot Steve. Didn’t he come here to save me, not leave me in the lion’s den I had kind of willingly climbed into?
    “I expect an answer, Faith.” Ted pressed his hands onto the top of the metal table and leaned forward. His gaze drilled into mine.
    “I’m not. Not really. I was curious on why Belinda decided to stop by the store. It’s just weird she picked that time...”
    “How do you know she went there at that time?”
    “I...” I slapped my lips shut. I didn’t know. I was pretty sure. The alarm would’ve gone off earlier. “Nancy at Sound Security called around that time. I wouldn’t think they’d delay in calling me about a possible break in. Unless...” My stomach started churning, the yummy lasagna not feeling yummy anymore. “...Belinda was killed somewhere else and brought to the store. Why?”
    Ted sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I should’ve known. I should’ve known she’d turn that comment into a question.”
    “It’s a good question.” I crossed my arms and glared at Ted. Was Ted trying to trip me up? Get me to confess to the murder. Well, it wouldn’t work. For one, I didn’t kill anyone. Two, I wasn’t that brainless.
    “I’m the detective. Got it?”
    I nodded. I knew how this little exchange went. He