Free Lie Catchers by Rolynn Anderson Page A

mom’s?”
    Parker smiled. “No time for dancing, but I do have questions. Could you spare some time?”
    “I guess so. Excuse us, Tuck?”
    “Do I have a choice?”
    Liv seemed to consider the question. “No, you don’t.” She took a breath. “I think we’re done here.” Taking Parker’s elbow, she said, “Let’s find a quiet spot, okay?”
    “Suits me.” Parker made eye contact with Barber. “Will you be in your office tomorrow around ten? Or would you prefer that I come to your apartment?”
    With a stony look, Tuck said, “Monday. Here. Ten.”
    Parker squeezed Liv’s hand to his side and led her out the office door.
    ****
    Liv couldn’t speak. In silence she put on her jacket and pulled the hood over her head while Parker did the same. She walked out into the rain with him, and immediately began to shiver from the cold, the wet, humiliation, and anger. She was mad at Tuck, and peeved that Parker had barged in. But mostly, she was ticked at herself for screwing up her plan. Had she drunk too much to carry it out successfully? Was she too tired? Maybe she had a cold coming on. Her mission had been simple but she’d botched it, alienating the one man in town who had money for the family project. With a glance at the guy who was escorting her home, his elbow pinning her arm to his side, she sighed. The problem was Parker.
    She unlocked the store and walked upstairs to her apartment, figuring Parker would come up behind her even if she told him to go home. He was a man after answers, so he wouldn’t leave her alone until he was satisfied with what she had to say.
    Escaping to the bathroom, she used the toilet, put a brush through her hair and checked for mascara smudges. She closed her eyes and leaned against the bathroom counter, weary of her charades.
    Parker stood silently in the middle of Liv’s living room. She wanted to ask him what he wanted from her, but couldn’t bear the complications in his answer. Soothing. I need soothing . She clicked on a Diana Krall disc waiting for the first words of “Killing me Softly” to warm the space. Fingering the amber stones of her necklace brought a memory of the last time she wore them. January 24th, one year ago. A blustery day of shopping in Sitka. Rain came with lightning, a rarity. Memorable. As always, date details grounded her, bringing exactness to a whirlwind of confounding emotions.
    Parker touched her shoulder. “May I have this dance?”
    Liv twirled to find him so close she could smell beer on his breath. A hint of cologne. Had he shaved recently? Smiling at the thought he might have done that for her, she gave him her right hand and rested her left hand on his shirt collar, intent on finding a way to touch his chin to answer the shaving question.
    But the shave-or-not dilemma was a minor one. She’d already screwed up with one man tonight, would she make a wrong move with Parker, too?
    She drew her thumb along his chin and sighed at the silky smoothness. Forget the man’s mouthful of queries and his intense gaze. Just dance.
    While the singer lamented over losing her mind, Liv’s body disappeared into Parker’s. Soothed, she was and aroused at the same time, aware Parker knew not to use words. A close shave and a close dance spoke volumes. She was the silent one, afraid to say what might start an avalanche of sentences, lowering her guard, exposing too much to the wrong person at the worst time. This man who held her was a cop and she was on his list of murder suspects. Even if Parker was unorthodox as an investigator, he still held the power of his profession. The reason for his offer to dance wasn’t clear, was it?
    The strumming ended, emptying the room of the singer’s piercing ballad.
    “Good night, Liv. And thank you for the dance.”
    Parker kissed her on the forehead, walked out the door and closed it quietly, taking with him all the unasked questions she would never answer.
    ****
    “How was Lito’s tonight?”
    Parker squinted