Page 91 of Under Fire

Uh oh. That sounded expensive. “What’s this going to cost me?”

“Your Nolan Ryan baseball card.”

Matt flinched. “Sheesh, Kira. That hurts.” He’d looked long and hard for that card and had been lucky to find one in mint condition.

“It’s for my nephew.”

That took some of the sting out of his loss. Jase was a great kid. “How is Jase doing?”

“He’s hanging in there.”

“Still waking at all hours of the night?”

“Unfortunately. He wakes up crying for my sister. I don’t know how to help him, Matt.” The forensic accountant’s voice was rough.

“Talk to Marcus Lang. He might have some suggestions.”

“That’s a great idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that sooner. Thanks.”

“Sure. I’m out of town with Delilah right now. I’ll get the card to you as soon as I return to Otter Creek.”

“Thanks, Matt. Jase will be thrilled.”

Maybe the baseball card would lift the nine-year-old’s spirits. Although he hadn’t seen the boy in a while, Matt liked to spend time with the baseball fanatic whenever he was in Nashville. “Send me everything you have, Kira. I’ll pass the information along to the detective working on Mrs. Holloway’s murder.”

“Will do. Best of luck to you and Delilah on sorting everything out. I’ve got another call. I have to go.” She ended the call.

Matt accelerated onto the highway.

“What does this mean, Matt?”

“You’re a target because you’re the executor of your mother’s estate and the missing money. Whoever is embezzling money from your mother’s accounts is desperate to hide the theft.”

She looked skeptical. “Oliver Shannon may have been stealing from my mother?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to check his financial status.”

“But he’s been Mom’s friend and lawyer for years. Mr. Shannon was the one who handled all the details when my father died. I can’t see him doing this to Mom.”

“We have to start somewhere. Look, I don’t like this anymore than you do, but the fact is we’re likely to learn the guilty culprit is someone you know.”

“I hate the thought that someone who could be family or a friend is a snake in the grass, waiting to strike me down.”

“I’m not fond of snakes.”

She stared. “You hunt terrorists and yet you’re afraid of snakes?”

Matt frowned, his face burning. “Hey, some of the deadliest snakes in the world are natural inhabitants of the places Fortress sends Bravo. I have to keep my mike bag stocked with anti-venom in case we’re bitten on a mission. I’m not a fan.”

“Want to know a secret?”

Disgruntled, he glanced her direction. “What?”

“I’m not a fan of snakes, either.”

Some of his irritation vanished. “I won’t discover you have a secret pet snake?”

“Good grief, no.” She shuddered.

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