Page 39 of Counter Attack

“I did. Ethel at the Corner Diner told me to talk to Tom Weaver, and I rented a furnished duplex on Maple that he had. It’s on the east side of the high school.”

The hair on the back of Nathan’s neck raised at the mention she’d rented a place from Tom. What if she’d been the one who rented the house they’d just left? That house was south of the high school. Kayla could have been the victim. He eyed her sternly. “Be sure to keep your door locked at all times.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I will say I thought coming to Pearl Springs would be a change of pace from Chattanooga.”

“Crime is everywhere,” Alexis said. “I hear Nathan is trying to talk you into being a cop.”

Kayla frowned, then her brow smoothed out. “Oh, the criminal justice class. I haven’t signed up for it yet. Not sure that’s my calling.”

“From what I know about the night Alexis was shot, you have the instincts to make a good cop,” Nathan said. “I stopped by to let you know I’m headed into Chattanooga. If anything comes up, call my sergeant, Jared Westbrook—he’ll know if I need to be in the loop.”

She saluted. “Aye, aye, sir.”

“Oh, and we haven’t received your high school transcripts yet.” Kayla’s other references had checked out, but she’d had such a brief work record, he’d wanted to see those records as well.

“Really?” She cocked her head. “That’s odd. I’ll call them. You did receive my college transcripts?”

“Yes. Pretty impressive.”

“I try hard.”

With a 4.0 GPA, he would agree. Nathan turned to Alexis. “I’m ready if you are.”

A few minutes later, he backed out of his parking space while Alexis checked her messages on her phone. Instead of heading toward her grandparents’ house, he said, “You sure you want to drive? We can go in my truck, and I can drop you off when we return.”

She pointed to the tablet mounted in the cupholder. “The case files came in, and I just emailed them to you. I’d rather drive and let you read over them.”

He nodded and then said, “Why don’t you drive my truck?”

“You’d trust me with your pickup?”

“You’re a good driver, aren’t you? I mean, no reckless driving tickets or anything like that?”

“I have a perfect driving record.” Then she laughed. “Any speeding went undetected.”

He laughed with her, glad they’d slipped into an easy relationship. So much different from a few weeks ago.

She changed places with him, and ten minutes later theycrossed the Pearl River and he’d settled into the passenger seat reviewing the files she’d emailed him. He’d gotten as far as George Smith’s file when they reached police headquarters on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga. He grabbed his tablet and followed Alexis inside.

“Been missing you, Alex,” the guard said when they approached the sign-in desk. “You doing better?”

“I’m up and going again, Ralph.” She introduced Nathan. “We need passes.”

Ralph handed them a clipboard. “Sign here.” Then he turned to Alexis. “Hope Russell County doesn’t steal you forever.”

Her face turned a bright shade of red. “I think my grandfather is on the other side of that fence.”

As was Nathan. They signed where the guard indicated and took the passes. He hoped Alexis staying in Russell County was a done deal.

They encountered several people who spoke to her as they walked to the evidence room, most of them expressing the sentiments of the guard. “You’re well liked around here.”

She shrugged off his comment. “I’ve always kept my head down and done my job.”

Inside the evidence room, Alexis requested the items in the murders, and both she and Nathan signed for them. “We don’t want to take them out of the room and will use the table over there.” She nodded toward the wall.

The officer brought out six boxes and set them on the scuffed table. “I have to observe to keep the chain of command in place.”

“Of course,” Alexis said.

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