Read Online Shopping is Murder (McKinley Mysteries Book 6) by Carolyn Arnold - Free Book Online Page B

hadn’t paid Sean any attention since they got into the office, and Sara took that to mean his comments were genuine.
    “All right, I’ll be back tomorrow morning, first thi—”
    “You’re certain the cameras work?” Sean interrupted.
    “I am responsible for making sure a backup is made at the end of my shift. So, yes.”
    Sara smiled. If she and Sean were insurance adjusters competing for the credit, she ’d come out ahead. “Thank you, Collin. Although, I must say, I’m disappointed.”
    Collin let out a deep breath and braced his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry.”
    She shrugged a shoulder. “As you keep saying.” She left with Sean in tow.
    Once outside the store, she let out the laugh she was holding. “It was never this much fun as a cop.”
    “Just remind me not to get on your bad side.” He mocked her performance, which had him bobbing his head side to side and his finger pointed toward her. All that was missing were the words, nah-ha, you don ’t sass me like that .
    “The only thing is, if that kid was this adamant about a warrant, we might have to go in stronger than we did today,” she said.
    “Or call in reinforcement.”

    “Jimmy.” They said his name at the same time.

 

     
    Playing Matchmaker
     
    “AND I’M HERE, WHY?”
    It was the next day and they were in the mall’s food court. The only store open at this time of morning was a coffee shop.
    Jimmy sat across from them and placed his clasped hands on the table. “I still don’t understand why you don’t just handle this.”
    “You’re here because they won’t know who you are,” Sean said.
    “I don’t know who you two are. When I said I’d help, I never imagined this level of involvement. Never mind. You really think this is going to work?”
    “It’s got to. We need to know what’s on that tape. And, Jimmy, you did say that you’d help us whenever we needed it. How’s the Scotch? The cognac? Do you need a refill?” Sara batted her lashes.
    “You two are at it again. You,” he pointed a finger at Sean, “play the tough guy while she sweetens the pot.” His finger traced to Sara.
    Sean wrapped an arm around Sara and pulled her in. “And she does a terrific job of it too, doesn’t she?”
    Jimmy took a slurp of his coffee and let his vision trail after an attractive woman leaving the shop. She worked at balancing her purse, a laptop bag, a ringing cell phone, and a coffee. A little spilled over the lip and had her cussing as she emptied her arms on a nearby table.
    “Why don’t you talk to her?” Sara asked.
    Jimmy’s eyes snapped to hers . “Why would I do that?”
    Sara leaned across the table and made certain her voice was low . “You like her.”
    It warranted a belly chuckle from Jimmy, and it just so happened the woman laughed at the same time, but she was now settled at the table, deep in a conversation with her caller.
    Jimmy spoke in hushed tones. “How can I like her when I don’t know her?”
    Sean was smirking.
    Sara addressed Jimmy. “You get to know someone by talking to them.”
    “Yes.”
    She smiled. “Stop playing obtuse.” Sara sat back, not taking her eyes off her former boss.
    He shifted under her gaze, but kept sneaking in peeks at the woman. There was the hint of a smile on his lips. “Let’s get back to this—work—whatever it is. Please.”
    “All right, but after you introduce yourself.”
    There was a shattered glaze that cocooned him, and Sara wished she could reel in her words. She took a sip of her coffee, hoping that Sean would take over again.
    He stepped in. “All we need is to see that camera footage.”
    “Here’s the thing, the papers are already reporting that it is something not involving foul play. Now you want me to go in there as if I’m still investigating it. Even if we probably should be.” Jimmy mumbled the last phrase.
    “See, even you want answers. Just play it from the angle that the media doesn’t always have their facts straight—a