Cora flashed her badge and introduced herself and Liam. “Are you Zoe?”
The girl nodded, eyeing them like they were door-to-door snake oil salesmen. Liam was familiar with that look. He’d been on the receiving end of it countless times in his past life—usually for good reason. It was oddly comforting to know the world might appear different, but people didn’t change much.
“I spoke to you on the phone last week,” Cora said, putting her badge back in her pocket. “We’re looking for your roommate, Lindsey Albright. Is she here?”
“Nuh-uh.” Zoe blew a small bubble, then popped it in her mouth.
“Do you know where we can find her?”
Zoe scoffed. “Probably in The Doghouse with the rest of the freaks.”
“Doghouse?” Liam asked.
“Yeah, that motorcycle compound on the north side. She’s dating one of the Booze Dogs but keeping it on the down low because her parents are crazy conservative. Her dad’s a pastor, if that tells you anything.”
“Zo!” a young man’s voice called from inside the apartment. “Bring the pizza and get your fine ass in here, girl.”
Zoe gave an impatient flip of her hair, revealing a purple love bite on her neck. “I gotta get back to my study group.”
Liam raised a brow. Was that what they were calling it these days?
“Can you tell us Lindsey’s boyfriend’s name?” Cora pressed. “Or anything else that might help us find her? It’s important that we talk to her.”
“Look, she doesn’t hang out here much, okay? Me and Lindsey don’t run in the same crowd. We’re just roommates, and we stay out of each other’s business. Don’t ask, don’t tell. All I know is her boyfriend rides with the Booze Dogs.” Snap went the gum. “And he likes K-pop music.”
“He...” Cora looked skeptical.
“I know, right?” Zoe gave a derisive snort. “You’d think he’d be into death metal or something more eighties-hair-bandy, but nope. Lindsey wears his BTS shirt to bed at night.”
“Anything else?” Liam asked.
Zoe leaned against the door frame and gave him a coy smile. “Underwear, I guess. But like I said, I don’t ask.”
“Anything else you can tell us to help find her,” Cora explained in a voice filled with infinite patience. Liam had no idea how she managed to deal with the public on a daily basis and still remain calm and collected. It was a true gift. One he didn’t possess.
“That’s all I’ve got. Why? Is she in trouble?”
“Not at all,” Cora assured her. “We just wanted to ask her some questions.”
Zoe jammed a hand onto her hip. “Well, when you find her, tell her she needs to get her ass back here because rent’s due, and I don’t have the money to spot her again like last time.”
“Babe!” The music volume increased, and the man inside made a sound like a great jungle cat. “Don’t make me come haul you over my shoulder!”
Zoe rolled her eyes and said, “Later.” Then she shut the door in their faces.
Cora blinked at the wood paneling. “Thanks.”
“She was a treat.” Liam turned to go.
“No wonder Lindsey’s never home.”
“Yes. I imagine it’s difficult to live with someone who has such...vigorous study habits.”
Zoe’s piercing giggle and a deep male growl could still be heard over the music as they walked away.
* * *
Cora drove north toward The Doghouse with a growing sense of unease. While she hoped they’d find Lindsey there, she couldn’t help being a little concerned. The Booze Dogs were notorious for their rowdy parties and borderline-legal activities, and they weren’t keen on unexpected visitors. The founder’s family were moonshiners during the Prohibition era, and the club was known for having their own code of justice that didn’t always correspond with the law. Cora had never been to their clubhouse on the outskirts of town, but she’d heard about the place from other officers. It was down a long dirt road off the main highway, and the whole compound was surrounded by a chain-link fence with barbed wire. Not exactly a welcoming place.
“Can you not drive a bit faster?” Liam asked, shifting in his seat. “I’m going to grow white hair by the time we get there.”
Cora checked the speedometer. “We’re going exactly seventy, the speed limit.”
“Aye, but we’re law enforcers. I’d say that gives us leave to bend the rules a bit.”
“Which is why I’m driving, and you’re not.”
He leaned back in his seat and mumbled, “My class this weekend can’t come fast enough.”
“Is this the driving class taught by Finn’s friend Magnus?”
“It is, but they’re not friends,” Liam said with a chuckle. “Finn doesn’t like the man. He was so cold to Magnus at the bar the other night, I got frostbite just standing next to them.”
Cora frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Finn at all.”
“No? Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think.”
“Sure, I do.” Even though Finn was only a few years older than she was, he’d been golfing buddies with her father. For years Cora had always thought of Finn as being on the stuffy side with his polished manners and meticulous way of dressing, but she’d recently learned he wasn’t stuffy at all. There was a quiet strength in him she hadn’t noticed before, and he was steadfast and reliable, which was refreshing.
“Believe me, Cora, there’s a lot you don’t know.” There was a smug undercurrent in Liam’s voice that grated on her nerves.
She shook her head. “Your arrogance never ceases to amaze me, you know that?”
“I’m just speaking the truth,” Liam said with a shrug.
“I’ve known Finn a lot longer than I’ve known you,” Cora pointed out. “And since you’ve already proven yourself to be a hothead who’s prone to impulsive actions, forgive me if I’m more inclined to assume you misjudged the situation. Finn is a really nice person.” She gave him a sideways glance. “The jury’s still out on you.”
“Ah, the illustrious Finley Walsh.” Liam’s tone was laced with mock sincerity. “Ever the perfect gentleman.”
“What is your deal?” Cora spit out. “Finn’s been nothing but nice to you, so there’s no need for the sarcasm. Anyway, better a gentleman than a playboy like that Magnus guy.”