Page 11 of Fatal Witness

“But what if she doesn’t? I’m 99.99 percent certain Keith took Danielle and left town that night. If he was running from the law, like everyone believes, he would’ve wanted Danielle to forget her life here. It wouldn’t be hard for a nine-year-old to forget a grandmother.”

“If Keith Bennett was running from the law, why would he saddle himself with a nine-year-old girl, even if she was his niece?”

She stared down into her coffee mug. “I don’t know,” she said softly. Then she raised her gaze. “Keith was a good man. I have to believe he took her and was afraid to bring her back. If he didn’t...”

Mae didn’t have to finish her thought. If the person who killedher daughter and son-in-law took Danielle ... well, there were a thousand places a body could be buried around here.

“Aunt Mae?” a feminine voice asked. “Is that you?”

They both looked up. Mark didn’t recognize the raven-haired woman who had stopped at their table, but he did recognize the man with her. The mayor, Ben Tennyson.

Mae’s eyes widened. “Morgan? I heard you were in town.”

A smile lit up the woman’s whole face. “You were on my list to call tomorrow, and here you are.”

Mae’s gaze shifted to her great-nephew. “Afternoon, Ben.”

He bobbed his head. “Mae.”

Mark nodded to the two empty chairs at their table. “You two want to join us?”

Regret crossed the mayor’s face. “I have—”

“Of course!” Morgan pulled out the chair nearest her and plopped down. She turned to Mark. “I don’t believe I know you.”

“I’ll grab our coffees,” Ben said before he could answer.

“You should know me—we went to school together.”

“It’s Mark Lassiter,” Mae said.

Morgan gaped at him. “You were so skinny as a kid. You must work out.”

He shrugged. “Something like that.”

Morgan turned to Mae. “You’re looking good too. Still working in your pottery studio?”

“Every day. How about you? What are you doing now?”

A shadow crossed her eyes, then she straightened her shoulders. “Actually, I’m looking for a job. The TV station in Houston got a new manager who brought in all his people, including an investigative reporter, and they didn’t need two. Ben offered me a job working in his real estate office, but working for my brother who thinks he can boss me around just because he’s ten years older won’t work.” She palmed her hands. “Besides, I’m not a salesman.”

“You could learn,” Ben said as he set Morgan’s coffee in front of her. “And I do not boss you around.”

“Yes, you do.” She shook her head. “And I don’t want to learn. Aren’t you going to sit down?”

“Afraid I can’t—just got a text that someone wants to meet me in ten minutes about buying property on Eagle Ridge.” He turned to Mae. “I don’t suppose—”

“No. And I told you not to ask me again.”

“But Mae, you’re getting up in years—you need to think about moving to town.”

“No,” she repeated, more forcefully this time.

Mark had been tempted to tell her the same thing. Now he was glad he hadn’t. He didn’t want Mae glaring at him like she was at Ben.

“Okay.” The mayor checked his watch. “Sorry to leave you good folks, but I have just enough time to walk to the office before my prospective client gets there. Morgan, I’ll see you at the house later.” He headed for the door.

“Sorry about that,” Morgan said after her brother left. “He can be kind of pushy sometimes.”

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