Stranger At My Door (A Murder In Texas) by Mari Manning Page A

backless top tied in floppy bows at her neck and waist. His eyes traced the curve of her spine.
    “Who thinks you know where the money is?”
    “Gerry Sutton and Lonnie Bigsky.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Well, Mr. Gerry rode over here on his scooter the other day. He wants me to dig up the backyard and tear the house apart. He’s positive it’s here. And he wanted to know everything my daddy told me about the money. Which was nothing. I told him, but he didn’t believe me.”
    “What about Lonnie.”
    “He accused me of telling Teke where the money was.”
    Lonnie had been at the bridge when Teke was found. Rafe nodded slowly. “Anyone else?”
    She shook her head. “Just Mr. Gerry and Mr. Lonnie.”
    “Very good. I’ll follow up with them.” Lonnie first. Gerry Sutton could barely walk much less vault over fences and push able-bodied men off bridges.
    Dinah’s expression grew speculative.
    “Anything else?” he said. “Even if it seems inconsequential to you, it might fit the bigger puzzle.”
    Her brow still creased and troubled, she shook her head slowly. “It’s probably nothing.”
    “It doesn’t matter. Maybe—”
    From the hallway came the sound of china smashing against the floor. Rafe jumped off the sofa and nearly leaped over the table. Dinah was right behind him. It was Hollyn, standing amid shards of china and chocolate chip cookies. “I’m so clumsy these days.” She batted her eyes at him. “Must be the baby and all.”
    She stooped and began to pick up pieces of china. “I’m so sorry, Miss Dinah. I didn’t mean to break your momma’s dish.”
    “Don’t you worry, honey lamb. Those things are older than I am. They’ve lived a good life.” She pulled Hollyn to her feet. “I want you to go on into the kitchen and rest. Put your feet up for awhile. You’ve been working too hard around here. I’ll clean all this up after Office Morales leaves.”
    Hollyn looked doubtful. “I feel okay, Miss Dinah. I don’t want to leave you unattended.” Her eyes slid to Rafe meaningfully. “Should I fetch another plate of cookies?”
    “Officer Morales and I will be just fine.” The words curled out of Dinah’s mouth close to his ear, slow and soft and husky, like a siren call. The hair on the back of Rafe’s neck stood up. What is she up to?
    Dinah wound herself around his arm and pressed her breast against his bicep. “Officer Morales and I have some more discussing to do, if you know what I mean,” she cooed.
    Hollyn’s eyes glittered with disapproval, but her face turned twenty shades of red. She backed away. “Sure, Miss Dinah. Maybe I’ll take myself for a little walk.”
    Dinah pressed her hip against Rafe’s. “I’d sure appreciate it.”
    Hollyn disappeared into the kitchen, and he got his arm back.
    Things didn’t seem so clear suddenly. Maybe tough ladies were his fate. “Are you coming on to me?”
    She lifted a slender finger and pressed it against her sweet, kissable lips. “Shhhh.” Then she grinned at him, and added, “Would you like to come upstairs for a little bit, Officer.”
    His body stirred, and he struggled to hold onto his good sense. “I’m on duty.” Had he really said that? I’m on duty. He sounded like a nervous adolescent. The last time he felt this out-of-control was back in his Dallas days, with Sam. His instincts screamed at him to walk away. Dinah was too sexy, too smart, too blond, too tough…too Sam.
    With a crook of her finger, Dinah gestured for him to come upstairs with her. Her trim bottom and slim legs swayed as she climbed. Unable to stop himself, Rafe followed her.
    Her bedroom contained a double bed and dresser, both white and girlish. A shelf against the wall held schoolbooks and toys. When she’d left home, she’d still have been a girl. But she’d grown up fast. Esme, too. Maybe they all did. Life seemed to have a way of making that happen to girls. A night sky covered her bedroom ceiling, and he imagined her lying on