Page 25 of Deadly Revenge

“I got it.” Max took the folded tripod with two lamps attached and followed the others. He thought he was in good shape, but tramping through brush was a lot different than running on a treadmill.

By the time they reached the crime scene, his heart was doing a hundred plus when he set the lamps down, but he wasn’t certain that could be blamed on the hike. More likely because Jenna’s hand had closed over his when she grabbed the lamp pole.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Nashville.”

At least she sounded more curious than angry to see him. He grinned. “Couldn’t stay away, not with all this excitement.”

She shook her head and helped Dylan set up the lamps. An hour later, he removed the last branch covering the body.

“It’s Paul Nelson,” Alex said.

Max was glad he’d returned. Harrison Carter’s case just moved up from a four to a ten because, dollars to donuts, Joe Slater’s accident hadn’t been an accident at all.

He figured Carter was next.

14

Tuesday morning, Jenna poured a cup of black sludge that passed for coffee at the sheriff’s office and took a sip. Her eyes widened and she shuddered at the bitter taste. If that didn’t wake her up, nothing would.

She hadn’t gotten into bed until four, but she should be more awake than this after going by the barn and feeding Ace and then turning him out. Jenna had even tracked Kirk down and arranged for him to feed and water her horse until this case was solved and the political rally was over. But she’d had trouble getting to sleep, and all too soon the alarm she’d set for eight had gone off.

“Is that as strong as it looks?”

Max’s voice sent electricity charging through her. That was one way to wake up, but not exactly what she had in mind, especially since he was one reason she hadn’t slept well. “Afraid so,” she said without turning around.

“Good.” He stepped past her, grabbed the carafe, and filled a Styrofoam cup.

His musky cologne sent another charge through her, triggering the memory of that one kiss. She’d definitely spent too much timethinking about Max before she fell off to sleep. Why else would she be having this response to him this morning?

Jenna turned around just as he took one sip and shuddered. It looked as though he’d skipped shaving, and he had the day-old beard going on. She swallowed hard. Max looked way too good for this time of the morning.

“This is stronger than what passes for coffee at the TBI.” He took another sip. “Good job on finding the body last night.”

Jenna held up her finger. She needed more octane before she dealt with the handsome TBI agent this morning. She took a bigger sip and then another, and the caffeine hit her system.Yes!Once Jenna finished the cup, she refilled it and then turned to Max. “Actually the dogs found it. I just happened to be nearby. Sorry you got dragged out of bed.”

Heat set her face on fire. Jenna did not need that image in her brain. She quickly checked her watch. “Oops. Alex’s briefing starts in thirty seconds, and she doesn’t like for us to be late—I’m assuming that’s why you’re here?”

“She called me at seven and said I might want to come.”

Jenna nodded, avoiding his gaze—she’d always been a sucker for dark brown eyes, and if she looked up, she’d get lost in his.

“That means she’s had less sleep than I have.” Then what he’d said sank in. Why had Alex called him at all? He wasn’t investigating Russell County’s crimes.

What if he planned to take over her case? No, Alex wouldn’t do that to her. She pointed her cup down the hall. “We’re meeting in the conference room where we were yesterday.”

They were the last ones to arrive, and there were only two empty chairs in the back row. Wayne stood to let them in, and they barely were seated before Alex stepped up to the podium.

“Good morning.” Alex’s gaze rested on each deputy briefly as she scanned the room. “Preliminary results indicate Paul Nelson was killed with a bullet to the heart—caliber not determinedyet. No tattooing, so the gun wasn’t against his chest. He wasn’t killed where he was found, and no report of trace evidence on the body, but it’s early.”

Jenna raised her hand. “How about Joe Slater and his wife? Has the report on the castle nut come in?”

“Not yet.” Alex shifted her attention to Max.

“I turned it in late yesterday, and the tech said she would expedite it,” he said.

“Good,” Alex said. “At any rate, we’re treating the accident as a possible homicide now.”

“How about anyone else who served on the city council with Slater and Nelson?” Wayne asked.

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