Page 121 of Deadly Revenge

Briefly Carter’s eyes widened, then he gave her a stony glare before turning to the men. “I’ll be fine. Just wait in the hallway.”

The one who seemed to be in charge crossed his arms. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “After all, we have Russell County’s finest with us.”

Jenna forced herself not to react. Carter was used to getting his way, and when he didn’t, it wasn’t pretty. She exchanged glances with Max, and he flicked his gaze toward the ceiling. Jenna tightened her lips to keep from grinning at his version of eye-rolling.

“Just what do you want to discuss that my security team couldn’t hear?”

She turned to Carter. “Several things. Have you received any more threats?”

“Not since I hired the team outside the door.”

“Good.” Jenna picked up her notepad. “I know your time is valuable, so we’ll try to be brief. Let’s start with Joe Slater and Paul Nelson. You worked with both—do you know anyone or any reason someone would take them out?”

“I thought Slater’s death was due to the accident.”

“It’s looking more like someone tampered with his vehicle,” Jenna said.

Carter turned to Max. “Is that correct?”

Heat flushed through her chest. The man wasn’t endearing himself to her. Max’s curt nod mollified her somewhat.

Carter paled and stared into space. “Nelson’s murder doesn’t surprise me, but the Slaters’? No. Everybody liked them, especially Joe. And to kill his wife as well...”

“No one comes to mind?” Jenna asked. The man was definitely shocked by the news, or he should win an Oscar.

He shook his head.

“Do you know where Joe got the money to buy that Hummer? Or his wife’s Escalade?” Max said.

“Don’t know that either ... unless his wife inherited when her parents died.”

“Why did you say you weren’t surprised at Nelson’s death?” Max asked.

“He was a womanizer, and he was the love ’em and leave ’em type. I’m kind of surprised it didn’t happen years ago.”

Jenna doodled on her notebook. She hadn’t expected Carter to bring that up. “Do you know any of the women he dated?”

“The only women I know about are from years ago—they wouldn’t have waited this long to kill him. But, if this town is like it was when I lived here, you can ask Pete’s wife down at the diner. Ethel knows everything about everybody.”

He was spot-on there. Jenna made a note to talk to Ethel. Carter prepared to stand. “If there’s nothing—”

“I have a few more questions,” Jenna said.

A pained expression crossed his face. “What are they?”

“First, what do you know about a company by the name of TerraQuest?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Not a thing. Next question.”

“Aren’t you at all curious about why I mentioned the company?”

“No.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I have a schedule to keep, and I don’t have time to dwell on foolish questions.”

Max leaned forward. “We think it’s an important question.”

“Okay. I’ll bite. Why did you ask me about a company I know nothing about?”

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