Never Let Me Go (Welcome To Redemption) (16 page)

Chase’s gut clenched. “How do you know about the bracelet?”

“I just told you, genius, Hannah stole it. A couple weeks before that Spalding chick’s Valentine party. I was having lunch at the diner when the lady came in and sat at the table next to mine. She got up to hit the restroom and the bracelet fell out of her purse as she walked off. Before I could reach down and grab it for her, Hannah snatched it up and stuffed it in her pocket.”

Chase had to admit, Jimmy’s story sounded plausible. In the report, Lindy had stated she was almost positive she’d taken the bracelet off at home and set it on the hall table, but that she wasn’t a hundred percent sure, which was one of the reasons she’d waited to file a report.

But Chase knew Hannah much better than this piece of shit ever had, and there’s no way in hell she would steal anything, from anyone. Period. His story was fiction, and Chase would prove it if it was the last thing he did.

“Really? So, why didn’t you turn her in, a fine, upstanding citizen like yourself?”

“Why do you think?” He grinned. “Because the sex was great. Like fucking fantastic. Hannah likes to experiment…though you probably already know that, don’t you?”

Mike cuffed him on the side of the head. Hard.

“Hey, you asshole! Police brutality in here!” Jimmy hollered to no one in particular.

“Shut the hell up before I really give you something to cry about.”

“Jimmy, I’m quickly losing patience with you,” Chase said, as calm and collected as humanly possible considering the circumstances. “You must think I’m a real moron to believe anything that comes out of your mouth.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’re a moron, I
know
you are. Hannah’s playing you for a fool just like she did me. She stole Lindy’s bracelet. If you search her room, I bet you’ll find it. She hasn’t sold it yet as far as I know, though we were out of touch for a while.”

“You’d say just about anything to save your own ass, wouldn’t you? You can’t possibly believe I, or anyone else, would buy this ridiculous story. In fact, you’re the one who actually stole Ms. Spalding’s bracelet, the night you delivered pizza to her door—isn’t that right?”

Jimmy grew angry; he clenched his fists and leaned forward to sneer. “You aren’t going to do a damn thing about it, are you? You don’t want your little slut to end up behind bars, so you and Deputy Dog here are going to find a way to turn this back on me; make me the scapegoat. Well, fuck you! I’m not going down for her, and if it’s the last thing I ever do, I’ll make sure you never get a turn on that faithless bitch again.”

“Mike, I’m finished with Mr. Swan. Would you mind escorting him down to lockup?”

“My pleasure.” Mike grabbed Jimmy by the back of his shirt and literally yanked him to his feet.

“Asshole,” Jimmy muttered as he fell against the desk. He righted himself, flipped Chase off, and cursed a blue streak as Mike dragged him out of the office.

Jaw clenched, Chase fought the urge to put his fist through the damn wall. Having to listen to that piece of scum talk about Hannah like that had been torture. But he had a job to do, and couldn’t let Jimmy goad him into doing something stupid.

When Mike returned, he closed the door to Chase’s office and plopped down onto the chair across from him. They were silent for a few moments as Chase contemplated what had to be done in light of Jimmy’s accusation against Hannah concerning the bracelet.

“There’s no way Hannah stole that bracelet,” Chase finally insisted. “You know that, don’t you?”

“What I believe doesn’t really matter. You and I have to follow up on this whether we like it or not.” He swept his hands through his hair. “But for the record, I think the little prick is lying through his teeth. The only question is why? Why frame Hannah instead of, say, Dillon, who already has a mountain of evidence against him in both the robbery and Lindy’s attack? The only thing that comes to mind is plain, old-fashioned jealousy. Jimmy obviously knows about you and Hannah, and jealousy can be a powerful motivator for revenge.”

It sure could. Only how could they prove it? “The only thing I know for sure is Hannah would never steal from anyone. But whatever his motive, I won’t stop until I’ve disproved his ridiculous claim.”

Hating the thought of having to explain all this to Hannah, Chase pinched the bridge of his nose as he wracked his brain for answers.

Mike sat forward and tapped his fingers on the edge of the desk. “Hannah’s at the diner, right?”

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you and I go search the house for that bracelet before we bring her in for questioning. We know we won’t find it, but it’ll set your mind at ease to know for sure.” When Chase opened his mouth to protest, Mike quickly added, “I know how you feel about her, man. But we have to do this. If by the smallest chance we do find the bracelet, we’ll at least have the option of talking to Hannah first; get her side of the story before anything official happens.”

As much as Chase hated going behind her back, he knew Mike had a valid point.

“Fine. Let’s do this.”

* * *

Unlike when they searched Zelinsky’s room, Chase prayed they didn’t find Lindy’s bracelet, or anything else incriminating, among Hannah’s things. He led Mike into the house, but he hesitated, feeling uncomfortable with his partner—or any other man—rifling through Hannah’s personal items.

“I think I’ll have you search the living room while I search Hannah’s room. We can get it done faster if we each take a room at a time.”

Mike didn’t argue, though he did cock an eyebrow. “Yes, sir.”

Chase hurried up the stairs, stopped for a moment outside Hannah’s bedroom as feelings of betrayal washed over him. After what they’d shared last night, he felt like a complete ass for even considering betraying her privacy like this. But he had a job to do, and frankly, this was a much better option than the other. So he shrugged off his reservations and stepped inside.

He did a swift yet systematic search of her closet, nightstand, bookcase, and desk, breathing a huge sigh of relief as he came up empty with each one. He opened the top drawer of her dresser and ran his hands under her clothing in a quick sweep, then the second and third. As soon as he pulled out the bottom drawer, a small jewelry box caught his eye. Chase pulled it out and set it on the floor beside him, then searched the drawer as thoroughly as he had the others. He picked the box back up and opened it without hesitation.

His gut clenched as he stared down in disbelief—Lindy’s bracelet.

The diamond-studded chain lay on top of some other jewelry, mostly earrings. Hannah loved big hoopy earrings. He sat back on his haunches and stared hard at the damn thing, oddly angry with the pile of gold and diamonds. Lindy had priced it at ten grand, and staring at the beautiful piece he could easily believe it. He picked it up and stared hard, wanting more than anything to be able to wish the thing away.

Remembering that the bracelet had an engraving—it had been a gift from her parents—hope lit up his chest even as he realized the futility of it. Hannah could never afford a piece of jewelry like this. Praying beyond hope for a miracle, Chase turned the item over and read the inscription: ‘To Melinda With Love – M&D’.

With a softly muttered curse, Chase pinched the bridge of his nose and contemplated his next move.

“Shit. The bastard was telling the truth after all.”

Chase dropped the bracelet back into the jewelry box, shut the lid, and shot to his feet to glare at Mike. “There has to be an explanation for this. Hannah a thief? It doesn’t make a damn bit of sense.”

With reluctant steps, his partner entered the room and came to stand beside him. “I hear you. But the proof is in your hands. Chase, we have to do this by the book or risk making things worse for Hannah. And Lindy deserves her bracelet back.”

Chase had almost forgotten that Mike and Lindy were friends. “You think I don’t know that? But this is
Hannah
we’re talking about. I’ve known her since birth, for crissakes. She’s as honest as the day is long. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmy planted the bracelet here himself. That’s it, it has to be! Maybe I should return the goddamn favor and then show up at his place with a search warrant.”

“Chase—”

“What? He’s a piece of shit and I’m not going to let him ruin Hannah’s life just because he can’t let go.”

“You’re a good cop, Chase. Hannah’s not the only one who’s as honest as the day is long. That’s why you two are such a great match. It’s also why you’d never frame somebody for a crime they didn’t commit. Even a scumbag like Swan.”
 

Chase eyeballed his partner with doubt and frustration. “I don’t know, man. If you weren’t here—”

“If I weren’t here, you’d seriously consider it, but in the end you’d do the right thing. It’s in your blood, Sheriff.”

Chase gave a curt nod. “Sucks being this frickin’ noble, though.”

Mike grinned. “I can only imagine.”

“So, if Bernie were in similar trouble…what would you do?”

“Probably the same damn thing you’d do. But then I’d wait to catch the bastard alone and beat the living shit out of him.”

Chase chuckled. He could see his hotheaded friend doing exactly that.

He set Lindy’s bracelet back into the jewelry box, and then carefully put everything back in its original place. “Are you ever going to tell me why you keep beating your head against the wall where Bernie’s concerned? You’ve been pursuing her since you moved back to Redemption, but she looks at you as if you were pond scum.”

Mike’s expression sobered. “I am pond scum.”

“Come on. So things didn’t work out in high school and you ended up marrying someone else. It happens. And Bernie was engaged to Scott Ritter for a while, so it’s not like she’s been pining for you all this time.”

“That’s only half of it…Look, forget it. It’s not fair for me to talk about this with you or anyone else because it’s Bernie’s personal business—and she already thinks I’m a big enough schmuck as it is.”

“I can’t imagine what you could have done that’s so bad, but I respect both your privacy, so consider the subject dropped.”

“Thanks.” Mike glance around the room. “So, how do you want to handle this?”

“I’m going to ask Hannah to stop by the station on her way home from work so I can question her. I’ll explain that it’s procedure to issue a search warrant, and pray like hell she has a damn good explanation for having the bracelet in her possession.”

* * *

Dreading the conversation he would soon be having with the woman he loved, Chase paced his office like a mad man. He sure as hell didn’t want to give any credence to Jimmy’s ridiculous story, but he’d had no choice. Searching Hannah’s room had been a gut decision, one he didn’t regret making. Because at least now he wouldn’t be blindsided when he did find the bracelet. And he’d be able to gauge Hannah’s reaction with a clearer mind.

His pulse kicked into high gear when he caught sight of her in his peripheral vision. She waved and greeted everyone in the station as she headed his way. His heart swelled—as did another part of his anatomy—as he watched the sexy sway of her hips.

She opened the door, strode inside and simply stood there staring at him with that sassy little smile he loved so much. The woman lit up a room like nobody’s business.

Good God, man, get a grip
.

Once the door closed, Chase got up and closed the blinds for a little privacy. A chorus of snickers reached his ears—Hannah’s, too, if her soft chuckle was any indication. He turned to face her, but lost his train of thought when he realized she’d come up behind him.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” she told him as she twined her arms around his neck. “I assume you’ve been thinking about me as well since you decided to summon me to the station…?”

“I haven’t been able to think about anyone or anything else,” he admitted, his voice rough. He reached back to unclasp her hands from behind his neck noting the bruising under her eye had darkened quite a bit.

She frowned, confused, and took a step back. “Is something going on?” When he motioned for her to have a seat, she crossed her arms, her frown deepening. “Chase, you’re scaring me.”

He took a seat behind his desk and propped his forearms on the arms of his chair. “Hannah, you’re not going to like what I have to tell you.”

She finally walked over and took a seat across from him. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense any longer. What in the world is going on?”

Chase decided to rip the bandage off in one quick pull. “Jimmy claims that you’re the one who stole Lindy’s bracelet back in February.”

She shot to her feet just like he knew she would. “That’s ridiculous! I’ve never stolen anything in my life. Why would he say such a thing?”

“We brought him in for questioning, and he wasn’t very happy about it. He kept making snide remarks about you and I; seems to know something’s going on between us. I think that may be his motivation.”

“When does he claim I stole the bracelet?” A tear of frustration slipped down her cheek and she quickly swiped it away.

 
Though he wanted nothing more than to race around his desk and sweep her into his arms, shield her from Jimmy’s damaging lies, he cleared his throat and continued on. “He claims a couple weeks before Lindy’s Valentine Day party she came into the diner, headed into the bathroom and the bracelet fell from her purse. Jimmy says he watched you pick it up and slip it into your pocket.”