of petty theft.”
“I didn’t steal anything from her, certainly not a point.” She dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her forehead, and then looked at him, her clear green eyes questioning. “So what happens next?”
“I write up two reports: one for your B and E, one for Laura’s missing Elko-Eared point. I investigate your complaint and file Laura Montgomery’s.”
“What if she doesn’t let it go?”
“Without proof you took it, she can’t do anything.” He held out a hand to her. “C’mon. We’re done in here.”
She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. She paused and looked at him questioningly. He liked the way her hand felt in his, so he tightened his grip and led her out of the room. He didn’t let go until they reached the staircase.
Downstairs, she headed for the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine. “I’ve had a long day and I’m going to have a glass of wine. I’d offer you some, but you’re on duty.”
“I’m not on duty. This call was a freebie.”
She began twisting a T-shaped corkscrew into the bottle. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’m getting a lot of special attention from you.” She gave him the barest hint of a smile. “Should I be concerned?”
“Only if Laura Montgomery is right.”
She rolled her eyes and turned back to the bottle on the counter, but struggled to remove the cork. He stepped behind her, took the bottle, and easily plucked out the cork.
She stood completely still, trapped in the circle of his arms. She turned and faced him. Her body remained stiff. “I’m not a groupie,” she said softly. “If—if you’re testing me, you can stop. I’m not a groupie.”
“I stopped testing you yesterday.”
“Then what is this?”
He grinned. “Extra credit.” Her eyes flashed with heat and he could swear he saw her pulse jump. “Let’s make a deal.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out his badge, and placed it on the counter. “While we enjoy a glass of wine together, I’m not a cop. You’re not a victim.” He stepped back, immediately missing the rush of standing close to her.
“Deal,” she said. She poured the wine and he joined her at the kitchen table. She took a sip and sat back in her chair, her tension visibly draining away. “So tell me something. Are you for or against the Cultural Center?”
“Mostly I’m for it. Jack’s plan to build it could be a huge boon for Coho, a tourist attraction to provide jobs. The museum will be a big draw and Coho has needed a new library for a long time. The plan to include space for major retail chains has the Main Street vendors worried, and I know the tribe doesn’t want corporations to sponsor their potlatch ceremony. But when you get right down to it, unemployment means crime. The more people employed in Coho, the easier my job will be.”
“Do you think what’s happening to me could be related to the project? Someone who thinks they can intimidate me to stop the project and therefore the Center?”
“It’s an angle I’ve considered.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought I was your only suspect.”
He smiled. “We’ve been checking up on a few people. Has anyone treated you oddly?”
“Laura Montgomery comes to mind.”
He laughed.
“Do you think that artifact was really stolen?” Libby asked.
“No.”
“Pothunters usually respect, or at least are interested in the native cultures they loot. Yet she said the most awful things about Indians during her interview today. But she collects Indian artifacts? I don’t think so.”
“She said the artifact was Earl’s.”
“That makes more sense, I guess. Most likely that artifact was stolen, but not today—it was stolen when Earl collected it.” Her voice held a note of annoyance. “He probably took it from public land, which is illegal.”
Libby played with her wine glass, and then took a sip, before continuing. “People tell me all the time
“I didn’t steal anything from her, certainly not a point.” She dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her forehead, and then looked at him, her clear green eyes questioning. “So what happens next?”
“I write up two reports: one for your B and E, one for Laura’s missing Elko-Eared point. I investigate your complaint and file Laura Montgomery’s.”
“What if she doesn’t let it go?”
“Without proof you took it, she can’t do anything.” He held out a hand to her. “C’mon. We’re done in here.”
She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. She paused and looked at him questioningly. He liked the way her hand felt in his, so he tightened his grip and led her out of the room. He didn’t let go until they reached the staircase.
Downstairs, she headed for the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine. “I’ve had a long day and I’m going to have a glass of wine. I’d offer you some, but you’re on duty.”
“I’m not on duty. This call was a freebie.”
She began twisting a T-shaped corkscrew into the bottle. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’m getting a lot of special attention from you.” She gave him the barest hint of a smile. “Should I be concerned?”
“Only if Laura Montgomery is right.”
She rolled her eyes and turned back to the bottle on the counter, but struggled to remove the cork. He stepped behind her, took the bottle, and easily plucked out the cork.
She stood completely still, trapped in the circle of his arms. She turned and faced him. Her body remained stiff. “I’m not a groupie,” she said softly. “If—if you’re testing me, you can stop. I’m not a groupie.”
“I stopped testing you yesterday.”
“Then what is this?”
He grinned. “Extra credit.” Her eyes flashed with heat and he could swear he saw her pulse jump. “Let’s make a deal.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out his badge, and placed it on the counter. “While we enjoy a glass of wine together, I’m not a cop. You’re not a victim.” He stepped back, immediately missing the rush of standing close to her.
“Deal,” she said. She poured the wine and he joined her at the kitchen table. She took a sip and sat back in her chair, her tension visibly draining away. “So tell me something. Are you for or against the Cultural Center?”
“Mostly I’m for it. Jack’s plan to build it could be a huge boon for Coho, a tourist attraction to provide jobs. The museum will be a big draw and Coho has needed a new library for a long time. The plan to include space for major retail chains has the Main Street vendors worried, and I know the tribe doesn’t want corporations to sponsor their potlatch ceremony. But when you get right down to it, unemployment means crime. The more people employed in Coho, the easier my job will be.”
“Do you think what’s happening to me could be related to the project? Someone who thinks they can intimidate me to stop the project and therefore the Center?”
“It’s an angle I’ve considered.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought I was your only suspect.”
He smiled. “We’ve been checking up on a few people. Has anyone treated you oddly?”
“Laura Montgomery comes to mind.”
He laughed.
“Do you think that artifact was really stolen?” Libby asked.
“No.”
“Pothunters usually respect, or at least are interested in the native cultures they loot. Yet she said the most awful things about Indians during her interview today. But she collects Indian artifacts? I don’t think so.”
“She said the artifact was Earl’s.”
“That makes more sense, I guess. Most likely that artifact was stolen, but not today—it was stolen when Earl collected it.” Her voice held a note of annoyance. “He probably took it from public land, which is illegal.”
Libby played with her wine glass, and then took a sip, before continuing. “People tell me all the time
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