Cowboy Cool: Book 5 (Cowboy Justice Association) (10 page)

“So basically I’d like to see the tape from those two dates and times. I might recognize someone. Can you do that for me, Teri?”

The woman chewed on her lip. Her gaze darting back and forth between Kaylee and Reed. This didn’t look promising.

“I don’t want to get in trouble. Wouldn’t I be violating someone’s right to privacy or something?”

Reed leaned forward, his hands on the counter. “There is no expectation of privacy in a public venue like the library.”

Courts had various opinions about things like that, and if they were in Montana Reed would have had a search warrant just in case.

“I’m going to have to ask my boss. Wait here for a minute.”

Teri disappeared behind a door and he took the opportunity to take a good look around the library. Large, open, and airy, the three-story structure seemed to have everything a bibliophile would want, even a coffee cafe on the first floor.

An older woman came out with Teri and joined them at the counter. “Hello, Kaylee. Teri tells me you have a problem.”

Kaylee greeted the woman warmly and gave her a brief overview but Reed could tell that this had been a useless errand. The woman’s expression told the story without her saying a word. She couldn’t or wouldn’t help them.

“So that’s why we’re here, Betty. We just want a look at the surveillance tapes.”

“I wish I could help you but we only keep the digital recordings for five days, then the files are overwritten. Those days are gone.”

He could feel Kaylee’s disappointment as she exhaled slowly. “Well, thank you, Betty. I appreciate the help.”

Reed murmured his thanks and stepped away from the counter, already thinking about the next step in the investigation. Kaylee was still talking with Betty and Teri about books and their latest good reads. When she joined him she nodded toward the door.

“This was a bust. Are you ready to go?”

“In a minute. First I’d like to see the computer room where our friendly letter sender would have done this. Do you know where it is?”

“Of course. The adult computer room is on the second floor.” Kaylee’s head was tilted in question but Reed wasn’t sure exactly what he thought he would find in that room. He simply needed to see it.

“Lead the way.”

He followed her up the stairs and into the computer room that was—despite the hour of the day—filled with people. Ignoring the looks he was receiving, he walked the perimeter of the space, peering up at the cameras and getting an overall feel of the location.

“Let’s go,” he said when he was done. The trip hadn’t been all that enlightening but it had underlined some of his initial thoughts about the case. They exited the library and climbed into Reed’s truck.

“So?” she asked as he started up the engine. “Did anything jump out at you?”

“A few things. The first is that the place is crawling with cameras—interior and exterior. Look.” He pointed to the cameras on the corners of the building. “Those cameras are going to get everyone that goes in or out. Also, the computer room was shaped in such a way there was no place to sit that was out of a camera angle.”

“And?” she prompted. “I’m sure Ava would know what that means since she writes crime but I write romance. Emotions I know. How to commit a crime and not get caught? I’m clueless.”

“Most people are. You don’t find too many geniuses robbing banks and knocking over convenience stores. There are easier, less dangerous ways to make a living than being a crook.” He turned on the leather seat so he was facing her. “What I saw was a place that the perpetrator couldn’t hide. It could mean a couple of different things. One—that the person can blend in and not stand out. Chances are he wouldn’t have wanted to ask for help so he may have used these computers in the past or at the very least frequented the library to see the routine. Or the guy doesn’t give a shit about being caught. The camera is as clear as day in that room. Hell, maybe he got a thrill sending you those emails while Big Brother was watching.”

“Eww.” Kaylee wrinkled her nose and slumped down into her seat. “That’s a disgusting thought. Which way are you leaning?”

Reed always trusted his gut and often couldn’t explain why he felt a certain way. He simply knew it was the right thing to do. “I think it’s the former. If the person wanted to be caught I think they would have left more clues in the letters. No, this person doesn’t want to be identified but they did feel very comfortable in that library.”

“You’re going to check out everyone in my writing group, aren’t you?” she sighed.

“I am and the librarians too,” he confirmed. “It’s for your own protection. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I just let this go.”

“I know you’re going to do it but I don’t have to like it,” she retorted. “I wish this whole thing were over.”

Reed did as well. If he could find her stalker, then he could get back to his vacation although the desire to visit Florida had waned. Maybe he’d flip a coin and pick a direction to point the truck and see where he ended up. He’d certainly miss Kaylee’s excellent cooking and her low-key company. She was pleasant to be around and incredibly smart. She challenged and fascinated him in a way he hadn’t been in a long time. Maybe ever.

“I’ll do everything in my power to end this as soon as possible,” he vowed, putting the truck in reverse. “Do we need to stop anywhere on the way home?”

Kaylee gave him a sideways glance. “I promised Ava I would show you a good time since you are technically on vacation. I have an idea. I need to pick up a couple of pumpkins for Halloween. Will you help me pick them out? You can be the muscle and carry them too.”

“At least I’m good for something,” he laughed. “Point me in the right direction.”

He should insist that they head back to the house so he could work on the background checks but the delighted look on Kaylee’s face was too much to resist. He could make up the time later tonight and work while she slept. An hour or two of pumpkin hunting was just what she needed to get her mind off of all the crap she had to deal with.

Chapter Nine

“H
ow about this one?” Reed was wearing a huge grin on his face as he pointed to the sadly misshapen pumpkin. “It’s like the Charlie Brown tree. It needs a good home.”

Kaylee had brought Reed to Curtis Orchard to pick out her pumpkins. It had a huge pumpkin patch for the season along with some amazing Honeycrisp apples. She’d pick up a dozen of those along with two or three pumpkins for carving.

A sunny but cool, crisp autumn day, it was perfect for doing almost anything outside. These were the hardest days to stay in and write knowing that soon the weather would be so bad she wouldn’t want to be outdoors for several months.

What she hadn’t expected was Reed’s playfulness as they’d pulled the red Radio Flyer wagon through the vast field looking for the perfect gourd. For a man who was a workaholic, he was having a great deal of fun doing nothing with her.

“There isn’t a decent side to carve.” Kaylee shook her head and pointed to another a few feet away. “That one looks better.”

Reed frowned and stepped two pumpkins over. “This one? It looks fine.”

“No, not that one. That one. The tall, thin one.”

Laughing, Reed threw up his hands. “If you tell me ‘it’s the orange one’, I’m getting in my truck and driving away.”

Kaylee slapped her hand over her mouth and burst into a fit of giggles. It was true there was nothing but a sea of orange surrounding them as far as the eye could see. She climbed over the wagon and indicated the correct pumpkin but once she got there she wasn’t as enamored. Sighing, she wiped off her dusty hands on her jeans.

“Maybe you should wait in the cafe. This might take me awhile.”

“You got me into this, now we’re going to pick two of the best pumpkins in this patch. The kind The Great Pumpkin would love.”

“That’s two
Peanuts
references. You must like them.” Kaylee leaned down and inspected a fat, round gourd and patted the bright orange skin. “This one. It’s almost perfect.”

Reed bent over and it into the wagon. “I guess I do. I always felt sorry for Charlie Brown when Lucy would pull the football away from him. That seemed kind of mean.”

“She could be nice though. Remember how she got up in the middle of the night and brought Linus in from the cold pumpkin patch? That’s a pretty good sister.”

He nodded and pointed out another perfect-pumpkin contender. “I always liked Linus. He was smart about jumping into leaves and things like that.”

Did Reed have to be this perfect?

“I have the Halloween special on DVD. Do you want to watch it tonight? I haven’t seen it yet this year.”

Reed stroked his chin as if he was considering her offer but he was also smiling. “I wouldn’t mind. Have you seen
Young Frankenstein
? I like to watch that movie this time of year too.”

Her eyes went wide and she squealed with happiness. “I love it. I have it as well. We could have a movie marathon. Do you like
Ghostbusters
? We can grill some steaks and I’ll make a chocolate cake for dessert.”

His chuckle was warm and throaty and it made a shiver run up her spine. “You make the cake and I’ll grill the steaks. That’s a man’s job.”

“I hope you are not serious,” she mocked. “A woman can do anything a man does and just as well.”

He stepped close so she had to look up at him. She could smell his clean scent mixed with the damp aroma of the earth. His dark hair had fallen down on his forehead. She had to resist the urge to reach up and sweep it off to the side.

“She can but she shouldn’t have to. I’m happy to share in the chores and cooking while I’m staying with you.”

“You’re my guest,” she protested. “I promised Ava that you would have some kind of vacation.”

“I’m not the vacation type.” Reed shrugged and pointed out another perfect pumpkin farther down the row. “I don’t need entertaining, and you’re not a B & B. I’m happy with a nice meal and a good book.”

He liked to present himself as a simple man but Kaylee could tell there were depths he didn’t reveal. He had the tall, dark, and mysterious thing down pat.

“We’ll see–” she began but was interrupted by her ringtone—the University of Illinois fight song. Digging into her purse, she pulled out her phone and almost groaned at the name on the display. The timing sucked.

“Shit,” she muttered under her breath. “Can you give me a minute?”

Kaylee pressed the accept button and took a deep breath. “Hi Brent, how are you today?”

“I’m fine, Kaylee. How are you? I had a great time at the writer’s group yesterday.”

“I’m fine. I had a good time too. It’s always fun, isn’t it?”

Her stomach tightened with tension as the realization of what was about to happen hit her. Brent was working up the courage here to ask her out. If she’d been paying attention these last few months instead of working on her latest book she might have been able to head this off at the pass without hurting a nice man.

Shit and double shit.

“It is.” There was a pause and it sounded like he dropped the phone but then he was back. “Listen, I was wondering whether you might be free for dinner tonight?”

Kaylee looked up at Reed who was regarding her steadily, his expression blank. He could easily hear both sides of the conversation. If she was looking for a clue as to how he felt about another man calling her for a date she wouldn’t find it there.

“Dinner? Tonight?” she parroted.

“If you’re not busy. Maybe we could discuss this scene that’s giving me so much trouble.” Brent’s words came out in a rush. “Unless you already have plans?”

Hell and damnation, she felt like she was stepping on a defenseless bug or kicking a puppy. “I’m afraid I already do have plans Brent, but thank you for asking. Maybe you could come over early before the next writer’s group and we could work on that scene.”

“Sure. I could do that. Well, I should have known better than to call for dinner just a few hours before. I know you’re busy.”

The enthusiasm had drained from his voice and Kaylee felt like a total bitch. Brent was a good guy, but he simply didn’t make her hormones stand up and take notice. He would never be anything but a friend.