Page 16 of Deadly Revenge

“I guess that’s better than nothing. We’ll have to work with what we have.” She tapped her pen on the tablet. “How long will you be in town?”

“Until after Saturday.”

She nodded and checked her watch, then slid her tablet in a backpack and stood.

“I have to leave. Thanks for filling me in. If I learn anything I think will help you with your case, I’ll pass it along.”

“I’d appreciate it,” he said. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Okay, it was now or never. “Jenna,” he said when she reached the door.

She stopped and looked back at him.

“Be okay if I call you later tonight? That is, if I hear anything from my logistics team?”

For the first time she gave him a familiar smile.

“Sorry. I’m going coon hunting with my dad.”

9

Jenna stopped at Wayne’s desk on her way out. “Thanks for doing the report.”

He looked up and grinned, deepening the wrinkles in his face. “Thank you for not making me stay out in that heat. And good job on finding that pin.”

She took a satisfying breath, expanding her lungs. “It feels good to be right for once.”

“I know what you mean.”

He stood, and she caught a whiff of his cologne. It was similar to whatever Max wore. Not that she’d noticed.

“What’s the name of your cologne?” The scent was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. “My dad’s birthday is coming up, and I hate the harsh stuff he’s using now.”

Wayne shrugged. “You’ll have to ask my wife—she always gives it to me at Christmas. You on your way out?”

She nodded.

“Me too—Sylvia wants me home early tonight. I’ll walk out with you.”

She waited while he grabbed a briefcase. “More paperwork?”

“Research. Alex pretty well let me know I’d be on the platformwith Carter Saturday, so I pulled a few articles about him I found on the internet.”

Wayne was thorough, for sure. “Pass along anything you think I need to know for this case.”

“Will do. What do you think of our TBI agent?”

Jenna hesitated a half beat then said, “Max is a good investigator.”

“But?”

“No buts. Any negative feelings I have toward him has nothing to do with how he does his job.”

“So, you two were an item—bad breakup.”

“No.” How could she explain? Jenna rubbed the back of her neck.

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