‘Isn’t that Tommy Lowell?’
Mary startled and turned quickly.
Heath Grady was standing beside her. She had been so intent on wondering why Tommy would be upset that Emma Baxter was with the police that she hadn’t noticed him walk up. She nodded.
‘Since when did he get a dog?’ Heath sounded as if the idea of a dog was somehow offensive.
‘It’s not Tommy’s. It belonged to Ian Miller, the man who was killed at the fairgrounds.’
Heath pushed his cowboy hat back on his head and cocked one hip. He watched Tommy until he and Ranger disappeared around the corner. ‘Yeah. Gabe told me about that. The guy with the dog who watched us put the show together. So the dog doesn’t live with them? It’s not little Tommy’s dog?’
Mary nodded, wondering why Heath sounded so speculative and why the sneer? Tommy wasn’t little, in any way, but the way Heath said his name …
‘What’d that guy do that someone wanted to kill him?’
Mary gritted her teeth. Heath was certainly in a mood today.
‘I don’t know. I’m not sure the police know, either, but they’re working on it.’
‘Sure.’ Heath sounded as if he held Tommy in disdain and the police as well.
Where had that come from? It hadn’t sounded as if he even knew Tommy, so why the sneer? As for the police, unfortunately there were a lot of people who didn’t hold them in high esteem. Some had reason not to, but others just seemed to distrust the police for no particular reason. She wondered which camp Heath belonged to. Or did he hold most other people in disdain? That was a possibility. He and Gabe looked alike: both tall, lean, with large blue eyes and dark brown thick hair, but there the resemblance ended. Gabe wore heavy jewelry and his jeans were a little too tight. His smile for the girls, even much older ‘girls,’ was a little too familiar, his handshake for the guys or clasp on their shoulder a little too quick. Heath was just the opposite. No jewelry, jeans bleached almost white with washing, his smile rarely given to anyone and his hand never extended. That faint look of disdain wasn’t only for the police department or Tommy.
‘What brings you to town?’
His eyes narrowed and, for a moment, she thought he was going to tell her it was none of her business, but he didn’t. ‘Had some banking to do.’
‘Oh. Is Gabe with you?’ She looked around for the white-paneled van that looked like a rolling fireworks show, the one that had almost run her over the other day, but it wasn’t in sight. She didn’t think Gabe would miss a chance to get to town and what little action Santa Louisa could supply.
‘He’s at home, packing the van. We’ve got a job this weekend.’
‘You two certainly keep busy. Don’t you ever worry about leaving the ranch all alone while you’re gone so much? I mean, all those fireworks and everything and you’re so far out.’ Much to her fury, her voice faded away under Heath’s soft, mirthless laugh.
‘Anyone fool enough to try to get on our land or in that barn or the house would get a pretty unpleasant surprise. Gabe isn’t good for a lot of things but he’s a whizz with electronic stuff. The White House isn’t protected nearly as well as our place.’
The look on Heath’s face almost dared her to ask how, but she decided she didn’t care. ‘Well, it’s nice to see you again but I’ve got to pick up Millie and get home. Good luck with your show.’
Heath grunted. She smiled at him. Feeling a lot safer knowing the van wasn’t in town, she crossed the street into the park on her way to Furry Friends and Millie.