Page 134 of Deception

Dark clouds were rolling in as she held the passenger door for Dani. “Are you sure you feel up to this? It looks like it might rain.”

“Definitely. The research I did said it was worth seeing. As for the rain, we’ll be inside.”

“Good. I’ve wanted to tour it ever since I first saw it.”

They both turned as Terri pulled in and parked on the other side of Madison’s Impala. She was glad Terri had agreed to stay with them at the judge’s house while she recovered, giving the three of them time to get to know one another.

Terri had led a fascinating life in the Army as a Delta Force G operator, and she kept them amazed at her exploits. And Dani had been incredible in her crusade to stop human trafficking. Madison didn’t know that she would have continued after having to fake her death.

“You want to come with us?” Dani asked.

“No thank you! Even if it were somewhere other than a jail, the funeral and then going through Mother’s things has been tiring. And I’ve been looking at an apartment near here.”

“Awesome!” Madison and Dani said at the same time. They’d discovered they were alike in a lot of ways, including the way they expressed themselves.

“Did you rent it?” Dani asked.

“I’m thinking about it.” She raised her eyebrows. “Any chance either of you might relocate to Natchez?”

Dani grinned. “I’m thinking seriously about it ... if you and Madison relocate here.”

Madison had actually been giving it some thought. Hot Springs was five hours away whether driving or flying—not conducive to building relationships with her mother and sister. Or Clayton. Immediately she brushed that thought away—even though he’dkissed her, he hadn’t said he was interested in anything other than friendship. “Since I travel so much, I could be based almost anywhere to do my job.”

Dani’s phone dinged with a text. “It’s Vivian Hawkins checking to make sure we’re still coming.”

“Let’s talk about this when you get back,” Terri said.

Less than ten minutes later, they pulled into the deserted parking area beside the Old Jail, and Madison climbed out of the car, glancing toward the west as she grabbed the box of files. An angry, dark bank of clouds with lightning arcing from it hovered over Vidalia, Louisiana, across the river. “We better hurry if we don’t want to get wet.”

73

Clayton called Brooke Danvers as he raced south on Highway 61 with his eye to the west. A dark cloud inched toward them. He’d spent the last half hour with Jen trying to track down her husband. “Jake just called. He’s sitting in the parking lot of the Blues Lounge. I’m going to try and talk him down. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency.”

“I thought they shut that place down when the sheriff arrested the owner for selling drugs.”

“Evidently it’s opened back up.”

“I’ve found something interesting in Madison’s first white-collar investigation.”

“Go on.”

“Seems a victim in the case was engaged to someone who grew up in Natchez. I found a note from one of the detectives in the case that she’d lost it when her fiancé died and made threats against Madison.”

“Who is it?”

“I’m still looking for her name.”

“Let me know if you discover anything.” He turned into the parking lot of the Blues Lounge. “Jake’s still here. I’ll call you later.”

Clayton disconnected and used his watch to turn his phone on Do Not Disturb before slipping it in his back pocket. Onlypeople in his Favorites could reach him, which included Brooke. He pulled in beside where Jake sat white-knuckling the steering wheel of his pickup.

Clayton needed to stay in his SUV in case an emergency occurred. He lowered his window, and Jake did the same. “Get in with me.”

His brother-in-law hesitated.

“Dispatch needs to be able to reach me.” Fat drops of rain splatted the windshield, and a cold wind blew from the north. Clayton let his engine idle.

Jake climbed out of his truck and crawled into Clayton’s SUV as the storm hit. He sat rock-still, staring out the window at the rain.

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