CHAPTER 14

WHEN CAL WALKED into Curly’s Diner for lunch, Kelly was already waiting for him, seated at a booth in the back of the restaurant. She stared intently at her camera, unaware that her husband had even taken a seat across from her.

“Find anything interesting?” Cal asked.

Startled, Kelly nearly dropped her camera, fumbling it for a second before grasping control again. “Don’t do that to me, Cal,” she said. “You know I don’t like it when you sneak up on me like that.”

“You need to add a few more tracks to that one-track mind of yours. You’re going to miss quite a bit if you keep your head buried.”

“This was just too interesting to ignore,” she said.

“What did you find at Susannah’s old house?”

“Lots of things. For starters, nobody lives there.”

Louise, Burt’s lunchtime waitress, took their orders and scurried back to the kitchen.

“Really? I thought she built that house.”

Kelly nodded. “She did, but apparently nobody around here wants anything to do with it. There was a maintenance guy there cutting the yard, but the house looked really run down.”

“And it wasn’t for sale?”

She shook her head. “I checked the records online. The last time it was listed as being sold was when she bought it.”

“So, it’s just been sitting there collecting dust?”

“Among other things.”

“Did you get a peek inside?”

“Oh, yeah, and I’ve got a few pictures. Check these out.” Kelly scrolled through several photos on her camera’s display screen for Cal. “As you can see, it’s a tight space.”

“These will go great with the story, especially when we compare them side-by-side with the original images used during the trial. I really can’t believe nobody ever moved into that house again.”

Kelly shot him a look. “Would you want to live in a house where a crazy murder occurred? Especially if you lived in a small town? All the neighbors would want to talk about when they came over to visit was where was she killed, and is there still any blood left over. It’d never stop. Would you want to live with that?”

“Good point.”

Cal leaned closer to the screen as Kelly continued to sift through some of the pictures she’d taken. However, she stopped abruptly and looked up when the front door banged shut.

Cal looked at Kelly and then in the direction of her gaze.

“Good afternoon, Jacob,” Burt said as he wiped the counter. “I saved you a seat here at the bar.”

The man glared at Burt but continued walking toward Cal and Kelly’s table.

Louise emerged from the kitchen, carrying a couple of plates. She was headed for Cal and Kelly’s table but was halted by the man.

“I’ll take those for you,” he growled, snatching the tray away from Louise.

“What are you doing?” she said, taken aback by his demeanor.

He ignored her and continued his march toward Cal and Kelly.

Once he reached their table, he dropped the tray, sending some of the fries scattering across the table. “Your order’s up . . . and so’s your time in Pickett,” he said. “It’s high time you skedaddle from here and crawl back under whatever rock you came from. Do I make myself clear?”

Cal remained composed, unintimidated by the man’s threats. “You must be Jacob Boone,” Cal said as he offered his hand. “I’ve heard so much about you and have been wanting to meet you ever since you ran us off the road.”

Boone cocked his head to one side and eyed Cal. “I’m afraid you have me confused with someone else.”

Cal shook his head. “As a matter of fact, I’m not. I even had your plates run at the sheriff’s office. Not that they needed to run your plates. Apparently, you’ve got quite the reputation for running people out of town . . . and off the road.”

“If I’d run you off the road, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

“Well, whatever the case may be, we’re not interested in your threats or your little mind games. We have a job to do—and we’re not leaving until we’re finished. Do I make myself clear?”

Boone grabbed Cal’s glass of sweet tea and drained it before slamming it back down on the table. Putting his knuckles down on the table, Boone leaned forward and loomed over Cal.

“It’s best you leave well enough alone. There won’t be another warning,” Boone bellowed.

Cal didn’t flinch as Boone walked away.

“Louise,” Cal called, “I’m gonna need a new glass of sweet tea.”