Page 75 of Fatal Witness

“Any time,” Mr. Peterson replied.

Instead of walking to the door, Mark headed toward the aisle where Toby stocked groceries.

“Hey! You said—”

“I’m not going to hinder him from his job.” Just ask him a few questions. Toby ignored Mark when he stopped beside him. “Morning, Mr. Mitchell.”

“The only people who call me that want money.”

“I don’t want your money. Just information.”

“Sorry, fresh out, Dep-u-ty.”

“You don’t know what I was going to ask.”

“You’re the law. Judging by the buzz that Dani Bennett is back in town, I figure you think I had something to do with her parents’ murders.” He looked up, his dark eyes hard.

“Did you?”

He snorted. “Like I’d tell you if I did.”

“How about this—do you know who committed the murders?”

A shadow flashed across his face, then was gone. “Same answer.”

“Where were you last Sunday, and the rest of the week, for that matter.”

“Sunday I was out flying my plane, then I came in and grilled filet mignon, medium rare, and went to bed—after spending an hour in my jacuzzi. As for the rest of the week, it’s none of your business unless you’re ready to read me my rights.”

Mark took a card from his wallet and handed it to Toby. “Whoever killed the Bennetts plays for keeps, and if you know anything, I can promise you’re expendable. Give me a call if you decide to cooperate.”

Not that he thought Toby would. Mark hurried out of the store, almost running into Morgan. “Sorry!”

She held up her hand. “Probably my fault.”

He smiled. “How’s the job-hunting coming along?”

“It’s promising.” She nodded toward the store. “Especially if I can work up a story to take to one of the news stations.”

“What? Are you doing a story on Mr. Peterson?”

“Mr. Peterson?” She frowned. “No. After we moved to Texas, every time my dad drank too much, he started talking about the Bennett murders, and Toby’s name always came up. I always wanted to know what happened. When I saw Toby at Pete’s Diner,I followed him, thinking he might talk to me. Then he went in the grocery store, and I’ve been waiting out here for him to come out so I can interview him.”

“You may be in for a long wait—he’s working for Mr. Peterson today putting up stock.”

“I’m patient.” She rubbed her jaw, then raised her eyebrows. “Maybe he’ll talk to me while he’s working.”

“Good luck on that,” Mark said.

“Luck will have nothing to do with it,” Morgan said. “And I plan to ask Alex if she’ll share the case files, but I wanted to talk to Toby first.”

Morgan had what all good investigative reporters had—confidence and determination. “I hope you’ll share any information you get out of him.”

She opened the door to the grocery. “Why not? Especially if it’s a two-way street.”

Before he could warn her that Alex might not share, she slipped inside the store.

34

---