The Midnight Within

Chapter 23

Wishing she still had rum to pour into her coffee, Mia turned around with two steaming cups in each hand. She forced a smile at the harried looking detective sitting at her small kitchen table. He had been waiting in her driveway when she had gotten home and she silently kicked herself for not going right over to Zakk's instead of stopping home first. She was just happy to find out they had sent someone she knew, maybe a little too well, but this was business and right now Cooper Grim, was all business." So you let him into your home without asking why he was out so late? Then decide to cut and dye his hair for the fun of it? " He said it flatly, trying to hide the smirk that wanted to creep into his expression. " Yeah, I did. " Mia almost snapped at him. She left out the getting him drunk part and gave Coop a shrug of her thin shoulders. " I then fell asleep on the couch after watching some shitty movie about tomatoes and when I woke up he was gone. "" He didn't tell you he had a fight with his dad? Didn't indicate that there was something going on? Maybe admit to murder? Didn't act any different at all? " " Yeah, he told me they had a fight. He thought he was going to be sent away to boot camp so I'm guessing that he didn't know Nick was dead. "" Do you know where he went? Has he called or tried to get a hold of you in any way? Is he with Zakk? or someone else? " " I have no idea where he is and if I did know do you really think I would be here talking to you right now? And this happened when? Last night and already the next day you're on my doorstep? "" Look Mia, a man is dead, whether it was an accident or not the last person to see him alive is missing and you were the last person to see him last night. Do you realize I could haul you in on a trumped up charge and call you an accessory? " " And my name was the first on your list of people to check out right? You just had to rush over to my house when you found out? " She knew it wasn't fair but she was getting tired and feeling pissy. She had not lied other than omitting the drinking they had done and was pretty sure it was Daniel's mom who had sent the cops her way first. Then again if it had been her husband who had died and her son was missing she would probably do the same thing." We have checked with his other friends, and dammit Mia, don't give me that look."" So now what? " She sipped at her coffee as she tried not to glare openly at him. " We step up patrol and you call me the second you hear anything, OK?. All we want to do is talk to him, find out what might have set him off. "" You are NOT going to try and tell me that I am in danger Coop! He's not a killer, Daniel's not going to come near this place and I know for a fact that he did not kill his step father. Yes, they fought, often and hard but Daniel is not a killer. " " You know that the rumor is he had something to do with Thane Winters disappearance don't you? And he didn't get along with Sam.... Look all I am saying is that he needs to come in and talk to us, tell us what happened. " " Don't you dare bring Thane into this. You know what Thane did to me and you never did anything about it. "Cooper's eyes darkened behind his sunglasses. She had hit a nerve. " He vanished before we could talk to him. Hell I could bring you in for questioning on his disappearance too but you have been though enough. So will you please let me know if you hear from Daniel? "Cooper stood up, drank down half the cold cup of coffee and ran a hand through his dark spiky hair. He wanted to tell her to call him anytime, day or night but the look on her face warned him not to say anything more. He knew Mia was being honest and could be trusted but, they would have to keep an eye on her nevertheless. He also knew that she would be trying to find the kid herself the second he left. " I will keep you posted. " Mia walked the detective to the door, wishing like hell this could be anything other that what it was. She had liked him more than he had known. That and he was pretty damned fine under that suit and tie for a man of his age. " Thanks, Mia. " He paused to squeeze her shoulder then stepped out into the warm mid morning sunlight. She waved to him, watching him walk back to his sleek black car. Her tummy rumbled and she realized that she had not eaten anything since leaving the house. Grabbing her keys she locked up and headed to her bug. If she wanted to find Daniel, she needed to eat first.