In Your Dreams (Blue Heron #4)(92)

The whole room was set up for seduction.

Oh, and how cute. A giant wedding photo of Hadley and Jack sat on the bookcase, impossible to ignore. Em had to admit—Jack Holland in navy whites was a very nice sight. He and Hadley made a gorgeous couple; it couldn’t be denied. Hadley was beautiful and radiant and tiny, and Jack...Jack looked incredibly happy.

Em forced her eyes away from the photo. A bottle of wine, nearly three quarters empty, sat on the counter. One glass. The cork and corkscrew were over by the sink, indicating that it had been opened recently.

A lot of wine for such a petite woman.

“What can I do for you, Officer?” Hadley asked.

“Jack found a dead possum in his truck today. Would you happen to know anything about that?”

“Really?” Her face lit up. “That’s just awful! Was he upset? Should I call him? Does he need me?”

“Did you put it there?”

“Me? No!”

“And where were you last night?”

“I was here. Alone.”

Jack wasn’t even pressing charges. Maybe he knew it was his ex and didn’t want her in trouble. “Is there anyone who can confirm that?” Em asked.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I talked to my sister around ten. Frankie. Jack’s very fond of her. He loves my family. Well, they’re his family, too, of course.”

“You didn’t go anywhere?”

Hadley folded her arms. “I told you, I didn’t do anything. You think I’d touch a dead animal? Do I strike you as that type?” She had a point. As much as Emmaline would love to arrest Hadley for criminal mischief, she really couldn’t see her getting her perfect little manicured hands dirty. “After I talked to Frankie, I went straight to bed to get some beauty sleep. Maybe you should try it.”

Emmaline indulged in a brief fantasy in which she slapped some cuffs on Teeny Tiny and Mirandized her. Put her in the holding cell. Happy thoughts.

“Do you always drink alone, Miss Boudreau?” Em asked, nodding at the wine bottle and glass.

“Well, being married to a winemaker certainly developed my appreciation for wine, Officer. But not always. Sometimes Jack and I have a glass together.”

Em didn’t take the bait. “Make sure you don’t drink and drive.”

“Oh, I’m perfectly sober. In fact, it sounds like Jack shouldn’t be alone. I’ll go on up and check in on him.”

“No need, Miss Boudreau. The police have this covered.”

Hadley scowled. “Well, I think Jack could use some company.”

“Chief Cooper thinks so, too, which is why I’m going up there right now. I hope not to see any trespassers. Have a good night.”

She left the Opera House and walked across the green, past O’Rourke’s, which was already jumping, and down the street to her own little place. She needed to feed Sarge. Might as well bring Super-Pup, too, if she had to hang out at Jack’s.

Sarge twirled in circles of joy when she came through the door, Squeaky Chicken clutched in his mouth. “Hi, handsome! Are you happy to see me? You are?” Indeed, Sarge was whimpering and crooning with joy. Em ruffled his sides with both hands and let him lick her face for a few minutes. “Who’s a good boy? Huh? You are, buddy! Come on—out you go!”

While Sarge did his business in the backyard, Em took a look around.

It didn’t glow with femininity the way Hadley’s apartment did, that was for sure. But it was a happy space. There were a few pictures on the mantel; one of her and Angela, another of Levi pinning on her badge the day she’d graduated from the academy. Her and Nana one summer day long ago, both of them laughing, Em’s two front teeth missing. The furniture was comfortable and sturdy (rather like herself). Lots of books in the built-in shelves. A beautiful Tiffany lamp that she’d splurged on at Presque Antiques on the green.

This house was where she’d spent the happiest times of her life, aside from those years with Kevin. This was more home than the place where she’d grown up, which was someone else’s now, anyway. But it still gave her a pang, the ease with which her parents had sent their only child away for the bulk of every summer. They’d kept Angela close by their sides; even after the divorce, they were unable to split up because they might not see her as much.

Well. They had done Emmaline a favor. She’d been better off here.

“Come on, Sarge,” she said, as her dog raced in through the doggy door. “We have guard duty tonight.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

JACK FOUND THAT cooking had taken on greater importance since the accident, as it gave his mind something to think about. A science podcast was playing on his computer; another tool to keep his brain occupied.

Oddly enough, he wasn’t really concerned about the possum in his truck. A teenager, he figured, probably one of Josh Deiner’s friends. And if so, Jack sort of deserved it, didn’t he?

His phone buzzed with an incoming text. Hadley. Great.

Heard about “incident” 2day. U ok???? Xoxox

Was it so hard to spell out the words? Text-style spelling would make Stephen Hawking seem idiotic. He opted not to answer.

That was a mistake. His phone buzzed again, vibrating on the counter.

Pls let me know ur ok.

Jack sighed.

U want 2 come over 4 dinner???