Desire After Dark. Amanda Ashley

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      Tuesday night, Officers Ned Williams and Arnie Hall sat at table three, each working on his third cup of coffee. Vicki had called the police department earlier that day and told Chief Neil Ryan about the stranger who had been coming into the diner at about the same time each evening, and that she had seen him with both of the victims. Ryan had told her that he would send Ned and Arnie over to the diner later that night. And now they were here.

      “I thought you said he came in every night,” Ned Williams said, looking around. “I don’t see him.”

      Vicki shrugged. “Well, he was here Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights about this time.” The diner was closed on Sundays. “Maybe he was just passing through.”

      Arnie Hall pulled a small black notebook from his shirt pocket and scribbled a few lines. He was a nice-looking guy, with curly blond hair and blue eyes and a deep cleft in his chin.

      “Why didn’t you call us sooner?” Ned asked.

      Vicki shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I should have, but…”

      “It doesn’t matter,” Arnie said. “Did you see him talk to Sharlene or the Lewis woman?”

      “No, but I saw him leave with Sharlene.”

      “Did he make any overtures toward them at all?” Ned asked.

      Vicki shook her head. “I don’t think so, at least none that I’m aware of.”

      “Did he act like he knew them?” Arnie asked.

      She shook her head again, thinking that she wasn’t being much help. But then, she didn’t really know anything about the man.

      Arnie drummed his fingers on the table. “So, what makes you think this guy might have killed Sharlene and the Lewis woman?”

      “I…” She lifted one hand and let it fall. “I never said that. I read in the paper that the police were asking for help and, well, I saw him leave with both of them and, well, I don’t know, I thought he might have some information that would be useful.”

      “You did the right thing in calling us,” Arnie said. He drained his coffee cup and reached for his hat. “If you see him again, let us know.”

      “I will. Are you two going to Sharlene’s funeral? It’s tomorrow morning at eleven.”

      Arnie nodded. “We’ll be there.”

      “Yeah,” Ned said. “You never know who might turn up.”

      “What do you mean?” Vicki asked.

      “Killers have been known to show up at these things,” Arnie explained.

      “You’re kidding!”

      Ned shrugged. “It happens.”

      “Why would he take a chance like that?” Vickie asked.

      “Who knows? To thumb his nose at the cops? To hear what people are saying? Like I said, who knows what goes through a killer’s mind.” He dropped a couple of dollars on the table, then rose. “Take it easy, girl.”

      “As always,” Vicki replied.

      “Give my best to your mom when you talk to her again,” Arnie said.

      “I will.”

      She watched Ned and Arnie leave the diner. They were both nice guys. She had dated Arnie a couple of times. He was a wonderful man and she had tried hard to fall in love with him but there just hadn’t been any spark between them, at least on her part. Now, they were just good friends. Ned was married and the father of twin boys.

      Scooping the greenbacks from the table, Vicki dropped them into her pocket, then carried the cups into the kitchen.

      “You should give Arnie another chance,” Gus said, winking at her.

      “You sound just like my mother, you old goat,” Vicki replied with an affectionate grin.

      “Hey, since your papa passed on and your mama moved away, you are my business.”

      “I know, I know.” Gus Jacobson had been her father’s best friend. Since her father had passed away and her mother had gone to St. Louis to help Karen with the kids, Gus had adopted Vicki. Not that she minded. It was nice to know that, even though she was all grown up, she still had someone in town to look after her.

      “Tell Bobbie Sue her order’s up, will ya?” Gus asked.

      “Sure.”

      Leaving the kitchen, Vicki came to an abrupt halt when she saw that the stranger had arrived and was sitting in his usual place in the back booth. Strange, how that particular booth was always empty when he arrived.

      As though drawn by an invisible cord, Victoria walked toward him. As usual, he was all in black from the top of his head to the boots on his feet. Not for the first time, she noted how well the color suited him.

      He lifted one dark brow as she neared his table. “The police were here.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.

      “Yes.” She wondered how he knew Ned and Arnie had been there. Had he been lurking outside in the shadows, peeking in the window?

      “Did you call them?”

      She hesitated a moment before replying. “Yes.”

      “Why?”

      She had no intention of telling him what she suspected. Indeed, she was trying to come up with a good lie when his gaze locked with hers and she found herself telling him the truth.

      “Because I saw you leave here with Sharlene and that other woman, and now they’re both dead.”