Page 15 of Death of a Grill Master

Doug leaned in. “Unless someone else put it there.”

“Exactly,” Hayley said. “Feels staged. Like someone wanted it found—but not right away.”

Her eyes drifted toward the bar again. Randy and Chelsea were talking in low tones. Chelsea had her hand on the bar and her chin tilted up like she was making a point. Randy looked … resigned. He glanced at Hayley, then quickly looked away before disappearing into the kitchen.

Hayley got up and intercepted Chelsea near the register.

“What’s going on with Randy?”

Chelsea blinked. “What?”

“You two look like you’re planning a coup.”

Chelsea gave her a tight-lipped smile. “We’re just working out some business stuff.”

“Looks intense.”

“It’s nothing,” Chelsea said. “Anyway, Liddy seems smitten. Should we be expecting an elopement?”

“Nice dodge.”

“I do my best,” she said, vanishing toward the other end of the bar.

Before Hayley could process that, the front door opened and in stepped Police Chief Sergio Alvares, in full uniform, with Lieutenant Donnie behind him. Both had their duty faces on, and Sergio’s eyes scanned the room like he was hunting ghosts.

Randy emerged from the kitchen. He stopped short when he saw them.

Sergio made a direct line for Hayley’s table.

“Hayley. Bruce.”

“Evening, Sergio,” Bruce said with a smile.

Sergio focused his attention on Doug. “Mr. Marsh.”

Doug looked up, puzzled. “Yes?”

Sergio’s tone was neutral. “The gun recovered aboard the Slaughterhouse was registered to you.”

Doug’s face dropped. “That’s not possible.”

Sergio’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying you don’t own a gun?”

“I’m saying I haven’t touched it. As far as I know, it’s still locked in the safe at my rental.”

“Where were you the night Hank Desmond was killed?”

Doug looked at Liddy. “We were together. Right, Liddy?”

Liddy stared at him, then glanced away. “Yes, that’s right. We were together … most of the time.”

Sergio narrowed his eyes. “You were separated part of the time?”

She hesitated longer this time, her eyes full of worry. “I … he went to make a phone call before the fireworks. I don’t know exactly how long he was gone.”

Hayley watched Doug’s expression shift. His eyes pleaded silently: Please. Just say we were together.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” Liddy added weakly. “It was only twenty minutes, maybe.”