supply of funds.
Would it be unrealistic to run her name for a record? She admitted she’d been in trouble a few times as a teen for curfew with related drug charges, as well as a drunk driving charge three years previously. It never hurt to be safe rather than sorry, even if people did change.
He shook his head as he pulled into a parking spot at the thrift store. Jaden wasn’t a suspect and she wasn’t guilty. Yet. Maybe he’d have Carol Ann run Jaden’s name anyway.
He tugged the sunglasses from his eyes and nibbled on the earpiece. If he wanted a chance with her, he needed to think like a man interested in a date, not a cop trying to catch a suspect.
Then what the hell was he doing outside the blasted thrift store? He didn’t need furniture and wasn’t in the market for gently-used clothes. Sliding down in his seat, he scanned the lot. A jet black Mercedes Benz sat six spots from the door. Hers? He wasn’t sure.
Part of him wanted to barge into the store and hunt her down. The greater part of him wasn’t so sure. What if she was staying away from him on purpose? She could be up to something she didn’t want him to know about. Marlon rolled his window down to let in fresh air. Maybe the stiff breeze would clear his head.
He doubted it.
“I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s going on,” he murmured.
Chapter Four
Ten minutes of watching the ebb and flow in front of the thrift store bored Marlon to the point of tears. Nothing thrilling happened aside from a green car parking next to the Mercedes. No one exited the vehicle, and since it was a public lot, he had no grounds to question anyone. He gave up his post and headed to the sheriff’s department. He strolled inside and made his way to the reception desk. He nodded to Carol Ann Leidecker, the receptionist. “Hi, darlin’. Is Mac in?”
The raven-haired woman grinned. A fresh piercing decorated her right nostril. Thick black kohl rimmed her eyes. “He’s in his office and fired up about the rash of auto break-ins. He’s got Ronan out checking one of the complaints. How are you?”
“I’m alive and breathing.” Marlon grabbed the schedule clipboard off her desk and riffled through the pages. “Good enough for me.”
“Right.” Carol Ann snorted. “Why are you here, then? You don’t usually come in on your days off, especially if Sabrina’s off, too. Looking to pick up extra hours?”
“We broke up more than six months ago. What Sabrina does is her business.” He reorganised the sheaf of papers and placed them back under the clip. “Last I heard, she moved on to some guy named Tim.”
“I heard the same thing and good, too, except his name was Terry. Doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to have to get rid of her again.” Clicking the keys on the keyboard, Carol Ann resumed her typing. “I’m glad you two split. I don’t care if she was an actress, she wasn’t quite on the level.”
“You and me both.” He shrugged and headed to his desk. “I’ve got a name I want you to run down for me. By the way, what’s that thing in your nose? It looks goofy.”
With a black-tipped nail, she toyed with the crimson jewellery. “Yeah, Daddy didn’t like it either, but Craig said it looked hot. I like it.” She drummed her fingers on the metal desktop. “I’ll bet you want to know about that celebrity suspected to be in town. Possibly a record and her recent activities?”
Stopped in his tracks, Marlon cracked his knuckles. “Who is the celebrity you’re referring to?” Like he didn’t have a clue.
“Jade Weir.”
So everyone knew? Wonderful. “What’s she got to do with Crawford? It’s not like the rich and famous run off to Ohio when they get bored.” He rummaged through some paperwork, not really looking at the words on the pages. The image of Jaden, sitting on his couch grinning and natural, ran rampant through his mind. His sixth sense screamed that she belonged in his life. “Besides, I’m
Sean Dalton - [Operation StarHawks 03]