Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Dare strode up the bricked pathway leading to the stately colonial house, its white columns and pristine fa?ade giving it an air of timeless elegance. The lawn was meticulously kept, and the landscaping was immaculate, the flowers expensive and well-groomed, not a single weed to be seen.

Beside him, Cam made a little sound in the back of his throat. “Not a thing out of place.”

Dare had the same thought. He punched the button to ring the bell, and they waited. The chirping of birds and the distant hum of a lawnmower filled the silence, grating on his nerves.

His heart rate ratcheted up at the sound of approaching footsteps, and a moment later the front door swung open. Dr. Joel Parsons stood there, his expression morphing from curiosity to recognition and concern as he saw the uniforms. “Can I help you?”

Dare dipped his chin. “I’m Sheriff Jensen with the Brookhaven Sheriff’s Office. This is Lt. McCoy.”

Parsons’s expression didn’t change. “What brings you by?”

Cam gestured to the house. “Do you mind if we come in for a minute?”

Parsons stepped aside to let them in, and they entered the spacious foyer, the cool air a welcome relief from the May heat outside. Paintings of serene landscapes adorned the walls, and the scent of fresh roses permeated the air.

Ainsley’s admission flashed in his mind, and Dare’s stomach roiled. His fist clenched of its own volition, and he forced his muscles to loosen, swallowing down the urge to wrap his hands around the man’s neck.

“Dr. Parsons, we have some news to share,” Dare began, his voice steady despite his inner turmoil. “Your ex-girlfriend, Ainsley Layne, was shot at in the parking lot of the grocery store in Brookhaven.”

Joel’s eyes widened, genuine shock washing over his face. “My God, is she okay?”

“She was treated and released at the local hospital,” Cam assured him. “But, as I’m sure you understand, this is a very serious situation. We need to know if you have any information that might help us.”

“I haven’t seen Ainsley for weeks.” Joel ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. “Not since she broke things off.”

He was a good actor, Dare would give him that. “Have you spoken with Ms. Layne recently?”

“Unfortunately, no. I came home from work one day and found her bags packed by the door. She told me she wasn’t happy anymore and that she needed some space. I… I thought about reaching out to her, but I wanted to respect her wishes.”

Liar. Dare bit his tongue to keep from calling the man out as he continued, “I blame myself for that. I’ve been so busy recently, and…” He glanced up at Dare with a shrug. “Well, I’m sure you know what it’s like. Ainsley must be terrified. I should reach out to her.”

Not on his life. Dare was certain Joel was fishing for information, but he’d be damned if he would indulge the asshole. “Did she mention where she was going?” Dare asked, ignoring the man’s implication.

“No, she didn’t,” Joel replied, shaking his head. “We agreed it was best not to stay in touch. She wanted a clean break.”

Every cell of Dare’s body vibrated under the fury coursing through his body. Before he could say anything else, Cam cut in. “Are you familiar with Ainsley’s friend, Tess Newman?”

Joel’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Detective Montgomery stopped by to ask me the same thing. He said she’d recently been in contact with Ainsley and thought she might have some insight. Apparently she hasn’t updated her address yet.”

He glanced up at Dare, who stared back silently. On the off chance the asshole wasn’t responsible for the shooting, he now knew she was back in Brookhaven. Dare wasn’t going to give him anything else to use against her.

Undaunted, Joel continued, “I’m sorry to hear about the woman’s death, but I’d never heard of her until the detective mentioned her.”

“She was a close friend of Ainsley’s,” Dare said. “We’re trying to piece together if there’s any connection between the two incidents.”

Joel’s face was a mask of concern and puzzlement. “I wish I could help more. I’m truly sorry for what happened to Ainsley and her friend.”

“We appreciate your cooperation,” Cam said, his tone deceptively conciliatory. “Would you be willing to provide your schedule for the past week, particularly during the time of the shooting?”

“Of course.” Joel nodded, moving towards a sleek glass console table. He retrieved a tablet and pulled up his calendar. “I had surgeries scheduled all day. You can check with the hospital; they’ll confirm I was in surgery during that time.”

Dare took note of the times. “Thank you, Dr. Parsons. This will help us narrow down our search.”

Joel emailed over a copy of the schedule, his expression earnest when he spoke. “I want to help in any way I can. Ainsley and I may not have been together anymore, but I still care about her.”

Dare was certain of that. Joel cared about getting her back, and he would stop at nothing to accomplish it.

“We appreciate that,” Cam said, exchanging a glance with Dare. “If you think of anything else, anything at all, please contact us immediately.”

Joel nodded, accompanying them to the door. “I will. And please, keep me informed about Ainsley’s condition.”

“Sure thing,” Dare lied. He turned toward the door then paused, his gaze drawn to a handbag hanging on a hook on the wall behind the door. Ainsley’s?

Joel’s expression slipped the tiniest bit as Dare glanced over at him. “That belongs to a… friend.”

Dare smiled benignly, gritting his teeth as the obvious lie rolled over him. The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the yard as they stepped out onto the porch.

“Thank you for your time,” Cam added, giving Joel a reassuring nod before they made their way back to their cruiser.

As they drove away, the house growing smaller in the rearview mirror, Dare spoke. “What do you think?”

“He seemed genuine,” Cam replied, tapping his fingers on the dashboard. “But something doesn’t sit right with me about this whole thing.”

“Me either,” Dare agreed. “Let’s keep digging. Someone has to know more than they’re letting on.”

Joel Parsons had secrets, and it was only a matter of time before they uncovered them.