Mind Play (Bennett Sisters Book 3) (29 page)

Butch hadn’t been expecting her to jump up and straddle her legs around his
waist
, but he’d caught her with his hands underneath her butt
when she did
. Claire giggled and smashed her lips against his. “Let’s do it again.”

Butch laughed. “
Anytime angel.
”

Butch let Claire slide down his body. The
slow
move instantly
made his jeans feel a little bit tighter.
He threw his arm around her shoulder. “Come on
,
angel
. Let’s get you some food and see what we can find out.”

He pulled and held the door open for her. The bell strategically placed abo
ve
the door chimed their arrival. Butch let his gaze travel over the place like he always did, looking for any sign of a threat. Happy he
didn’t see
one
,
he pulled her to a booth in the back and held out his hand for her to slid
e
in. He’d chosen this booth for one reason. He could see everything
and
everyone coming and going. Butch would have felt better if Claire was on his side, but he’d keep her safe just the same. He’d always keep her safe. 

A waitress in her early fifties walked up with two coffee cups and some menus. Butch noticed the second that Claire had seen the woman’s name tag. She’d glanced at him and opened her mouth to say something until she saw Butch shake his head. They needed to wait
. T
hey couldn’t just spring something like this on her
. B
esides
,
he wanted to watch her. He’d never met the woman before,
and wanted to get a feel for her body language. He’d be able to tell just by her expressive hand
gestures
,
and
the
small ticks in her face, if she was lying.

They both glanced at the menu and placed their order
before they watched Glenda walk off
. 

“I can’t believe she’s here.”

Butch could almost feel the excitement emanating
from
Claire
, h
er need for the answers almost overwhelming her need to stay composed. Butch needed her patience while he attempted to understand who the
y
where dealing with.

Glenda
strolled over
carrying
the
ir
plates
ten minutes later
,
placing the plates in front of them
. Butch smiled up at her
as he caught a glimpse of Claire rolling her eyes
. “Thanks
,
sugar
.”

“Is there anything else I can get you?”

“Not just yet, but would you mind checking on us in a bit
?
” Butch glanced down at his food and then back up to her. “I’m not sure this is going to fill me up.”

Glenda smiled and nodded
.
“Sure, just holler for me when you’re ready.”

Claire waited for Glenda to move out of earshot before she asked
,
“Why can’t we just ask her?”

Butch glanced back over at Glenda wiping down a booth before moving his gaze back to
Claire
. “She needs to get use
d
to us or we’re going to spook her. Think about it
,
Claire
. T
hat wasn’t a good time in her life
,
and if she thinks for a second that we are threatening this new one, she’ll run
,
and we may never be able to find her.”

Claire lowered her head as if giving it some thought. “Okay.”

Butch and Claire talked while they ate. He thought he’d known everything there was to know about Claire
,
but she’d surprised him. Claire told him
about
all of the defensive classes that Mike made them attend. He hadn’t been expecting to find out that s
he held a black belt in karate and still practiced it
daily
. He’d
gone
exploring when she had left and went to Emma’s. He’d found her home gym and punching bag
but had
just assumed she hadn’t ever had a need to use it. It took all Butch had to keep his eyes on his surroundings and not just the woman in front of him, who
se
smile lit up the room
,
drawing him like a beacon on a harsh winter’s night
.

Chapter 15

Glenda returned with the check and a coffee pot in her hand. “Can I get you anything else
? H
ow about some apple pie?” She glanced between them.

“Not for me
;
how about for you
,
angel
?”

“Oh no thank you, I’m stuffed and couldn’t eat another bite
.
”
Claire rubbed her belly.

Glenda turned to leave as she
laid
the check down
on the table
. Claire placed her hand over
Glenda’s
. “I
’d
like to ask you a question, if you have a second.”

Glenda pulled her hand out from underneath
Claire
’
s
and glanced around the restaurant. They’d been there for two hours
,
and the place had started to thin out. She must have figured she could spare the time. She glanced at Claire and smiled. “What do you need? You two aren’t from around here
. D
o you need some directions?
”

Claire shook her head. “I’m hoping you remember my father.”

Glenda locked eyes with Claire and started shaking her head. “No
,
I don’t think so
,
honey
. W
hat’s his name?”

Claire scooted over and gestured to the seat next to her. “You might want to sit down.” Glenda glanced between them
again
and hesitated before sliding in next to Claire.

“Can’t sit here long before they come looking for me. Who’s your daddy?

Butch could tell what Claire was about to do
. H
e didn’t have to read minds to know her next move. She was just going to come right out and blurt it out. Butch cringed
,
waiting for her reply.

“Glenda, actually my father died a long time ago
,
and I could really use your help, kind of like the help he tried to give you.”

Glenda’s brows knit together
. S
he hadn’t figured it out yet. “Okay, I’ll try, but first you have to tell me who he was.”

“I think you knew him as Detective Bennett.” Glenda went to
slid
e
out of the booth, but Claire placed her hand over hers. “Please
,
Patricia, if my dad meant anything to you, you’ll help me
,
” Claire pleaded.

Butch kept quiet
. H
e was surprised his presence alone hadn’t scared the waitress off.

Glenda glanced over her shoulder
,
her bottom lip pulled between her teeth as she nibbled. Her
expression
was
a mix
ture
of hesitation and apprehension
before she turned back to Claire. “Not here. I’ve worked
hard for some semblance of a normal life
,
and I’d like to keep it.”

Glenda stood. “Go two streets north and take a right. My house is the last one on the left. I get off in fifteen minutes. Meet me there if you want to talk.”

Claire squeezed her hand
and nodded
. “Thank you.”

Claire maneuvered out from the booth and waited for Butch to drop some bills on the tab
le
. He pulled Claire from the diner and helped her back on the bike. This time she’d hooked her helmet herself. He loved the feel of Claire’s arms wrapped around his waist when she leaned in but was trying hard to
keep a clear head as he
concentrate
d
on
what questions he wanted to ask the little waitress
. He pulled up to the house and parked on the side, out of sight of the neighbors
,
hop
ing
not to draw to much attention
. He helped Claire dismount and threw his leg over the side.

Butch circled his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. He kissed her forehead. “You did good
,
a
ngel
.”

Claire pulled back and gazed up to him. “I hope she can help us. If not, I don’t know where to look next.”

Claire laid her head back down against his chest. Butch made small strokes up and down her back. “We’ll figure this out
,
baby.”

They hadn’t had to wait long before Glenda’s old beat
-
up station wagon
pull
ed
up into her drive. Glenda glanced around at the neighbors
’ houses
as she got out of the car. She tilted her head toward the
front
door and kept walking.

Even thirty years later, the woman was scared out of her mind. If he understood the situation right, the one man she’d been afraid of was dead. Who was going to hurt her now? Her being so nervous
and jumpy
didn’t make any sense.

Butch followed Claire into
the tiny house
. He was on his guard taking in everything in sight.
Glenda’s house was
small
,
but it was clean and
organized
nothing like he’d thought it would be. This woman possibly held the answers to who might be after the woman he loved
,
and he was going to make sure they got what they
’d come
for.

Glenda walked to her kitchen and started a pot of coffee with Claire on her heels. Butch took his time walking around observing. The
crystal knickknacks
on the sh
elf weren’t cheap.
He’d seen his share of
them
while guarding some wealthy people back in Virginia.
He couldn’t imagine where she’d gotten
them.
Maybe a garage sale or a friend had given them to her.
Butch heard them talking in the kitchen but kept walking around the living room. He noticed the pictures on the wall. She’d apparently had a kid, or maybe it was a relative. There were no pictures of
a potential
father
hanging anywhere in sight
.

Claire called him from the kitchen, interrupting his observation. He took one more look around the
small
living room before walking into the kitchen and taking a seat next to Claire. She h
eld an extra
cup of coffee in her hand and
handed it to him.

****

Claire wanted Butch with her when she asked the question. His expertise on reading people would prevent her from having to delve into the woman’s mind. “Thank you for talking to us. I’m Detective Bennett’s oldest daughter, Claire
,
and this is my fiancé
,
Butch Edwards.”

“I’m not sure how I can help you, but your dad was a good man
,
so I’ll try. What do you want to know
?
”

Claire cleared her throat and s
e
t down her coffee. “I need to know what happened when he died. Anything you saw, anything you noticed, the smallest detail might be able to help me.”

Glenda stood and walked to the sink, placing her hands on the counter
,
and dropped her head
,
“I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time. That was a long time ago, and I told the detectives back then everything I knew. It’s all in my statement.”

“Patricia
…
Glenda, I know this is hard on you. I’ve read through the reports and know what was said.
”
Claire stood and started pacing in the small kitchen. “One week ago, someone broke into my house and stole
money
I had raised for a charity. I would have originally thought it was just a break
-
in until some scumbag tried to cash one of the checks.”

Glenda turned around, placed her arms across her chest, and tilted her head.

Claire gestured toward Butch
.
“He got a tip on where the guy was, so we went to see if we could find out how he’d gotten his hands on
it
.
But before we could, he was shot and killed right in front of us by someone I believe was on the roof.”

Glenda walked back over to her chair and sat down. “I’m not sure I understand
. W
hat does this have to do with your father?”

Claire hesitated and glanced at Butch. Claire started pacing again and twisting the engagement ring on her finger. “Sal was drunk, and before someone killed him, he was mumbling
things like
‘
he’s going to kill me for ruining his plan
.’ H
is last words were,
‘
their damn father.
’

“I put two and two together
,
and the only thing that makes sense is that someone has it in for me and my family because of my dad. Maybe a grudge
. H
ell
,
I don’t know. My sisters and I decided to trace dear old dad’s steps starting with the night he died
,
work
ing
our way back in time. That’s where you come in.
”
Claire stopped pacing and placed her hands on the
empty
chair.
“
Please tell me what happened that night
.
I need to know.”