style="font-size:15px;"> “I told you the truth.” She sniffed. “Most of my work is inside a cubicle. But occasionally I take investigative trips.”
“So you found something and took one to Dallas. Why?”
“Actually, I was ordered to go. Which in itself is strange. They informed me after they’d already booked my ticket. I needed to meet with an insurance-company representative who had questions about several properties.”
“An owner was getting too greedy?”
Megan sat up straight, turning slightly so she could face him, brushing the makings of a tear away from the corner of her eye. “No, but they all have the same seller. All sold in the past seven months to different buyers. Approximately six weeks later, there was a fire ruled to be an accident. The buyers lost everything.”
“That sounds sort of suspicious.” He kept an eye open for cars headed their direction, but most were moving away from the streets close to Megan’s home. Two additional fire trucks joined the other first responders. “What did you find?”
“Well, that’s just it. The sales are legitimate. The fires were ruled accidental. Other than Harry Knight, the Dallas County Clerk, actually having signed as the notary, they didn’t have anything else in common.” A strand of hair blew across her lips, and she wrapped it around her ear.
“That’s the man who was murdered? Is it strange for a county clerk to be a notary?”
“He might be, sure. But that meant he was present at all the sales. That’s the strange part. Why would he be?”
“Did you mention that to anyone else?”
She shook her head, long curls hiding her face as she looked at her feet. “Just him. I asked if he thought there was anything strange about the transactions.”
“You ask and he ends up dead. That’s where we start, with that connection.”
“Come on. He wouldn’t kill himself and frame me for the murder. This situation has to be connected to a different case. I mean, they had someone who looked like me. Wouldn’t that take time, preparation?”
“Just a tall, fairly good-looking woman and a wig.”
“You think it’s that easy to imitate me?” She gave herself the once-over, sort of waiting for him to do the same.
He accommodated her, appreciating every molecule. But in the end, he knew he was right. “They don’t need anything elaborate. If there’s one thing I know, eyewitness accounts are never completely accurate. All these guys had to do was get a woman who looked similar.”
“And they’ve already gotten rid of her...along with my house.” She covered her face. “That’s awful. I’m thinking about my house, and two people are dead. That poor woman. And whatever Harry Knight was involved with...he didn’t deserve to die.”
“It’s okay to be human, Megan, and think about yourself in all this mess. If you don’t, we won’t determine how to get you out of it.”
She scooted off the tailgate and rubbed her arms. There was an easier way to get her warm. He’d never been one of those guys who thought about sex every six minutes.
With Megan...he might slide into the norm.
“Looks like this is what I’ll be wearing in lockup.” She slid the backs of her fingers down her sides. “We should probably get going.”
Jack slammed the tailgate, then checked his watch. He’d only lasted three.
“That’s the sixth time you’ve called your partner. Is he always this elusive?” Megan didn’t think her voice was shaking, but the nervous flutter in her throat verified how uncertain she was about what to do. She had to move forward. Waiting did no one any good.
The possibilities in her mind wouldn’t stop whirring around like unpredictable fire. One thought led to another, then another. But sooner than later she landed on the poor, poor, pitiful me side of things and had to shake the thoughts away.
“He’s probably busy.”
“What?”
Jack set his cell on the dash. “You asked about my partner.”
“Oh, right.” Concentrate on something else. “Your sister doesn’t seem to like him much.”
“She thinks he persuaded me to leave Liberty Hill. And she’s stuck working for my dad instead of me.”
“Then why not blame you? Seems like there’s more to that story.”
“Nope. That’s about all there is.” Jack dipped his chin, cleared his throat nervously and pressed his lips together.
His phone rang and he answered using the hands-free device. “Sorry I didn’t call sooner, Mrs. D. But I’ve had something come up and can’t make any of the homecoming meeting.”
“Little Jack, there is no excuse for this. Your father assured me that you’d handle the parade next Saturday. It’s huge this year, with over twenty floats. You need to be here instead of sending your sister as a surrogate.”
“She’s perfectly capable. The parade isn’t that—”
“If I remember correctly, young man, you were taught not to interrupt. So let me finish.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jack tapped the steering wheel with his thumbs.
Megan covered her mouth to hide her chuckle. The older woman had just chastised Jack when she was the one interrupting. He raised his eyebrows and sighed. The man does have restraint.
“How long will it take for you to get back? It will throw off my agenda, but we could move the parade to the end of the meeting.”
“I really do apologize, but I’ve been called out of town. Gillie will be there. She’ll pass along anything that I need to do. I should be back in a couple of days.”
“Jack MacKinnon Jr., I can’t believe you’re shirking your volunteer responsibilities.” His next-door neighbor kept talking.
Or preaching. Megan tried not to laugh. She pressed her fingers into her lips, practically holding the giggles inside. Surprised that one phone call could clear her mind of the multiple “why me” traps.
“I really am sorry, Mrs. D. I’d be there if my job hadn’t needed me. Gotta go.” He clicked the cell off. “Small town. You can laugh now.”
“Sorry. It’s obviously important to her.”
“Homecoming in Texas. Damn straight. Former state champs. This year’s team heads to playoffs if they win this week. Yeah, it’s important to a lot of people. But not as important as keeping you safe.”
If she remembered correctly, they weren’t too far from the Rangers’ headquarters.
