Page 26 of Deadly Revenge

“We’re looking at their early years on the council, and the other two men who served with them were older and died of natural causes.”

Max held his hand up, and Alex acknowledged him. “Was there a note of any kind on Nelson’s body?”

“I’m getting to that.” Alex shifted her notes. “When Dylan examined Nelson’s clothes, he discovered the pockets in his slacks had been cut out, probably with a knife. While it’s not a note saying he’d lined his last pocket like Harrison Carter received, removing the pockets indicates the same message, linking the cases.”

“Is there anything in the Slater case that links it to Nelson’s murder?” Jenna asked.

“Not yet,” Alex said. “We may find something at Slater’s house. Judge Cornelius signed off on a search warrant, and Dylan and Taylor are currently on their way to the house. Jenna, I’d like you to join them once we finish here.”

Max looked up from the notes he’d been writing. “Joe’s sister wouldn’t let you in?”

“Just dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s for when the case goes to court.” Alex smiled at him. “And I’d appreciate it if you would help out as well—we can use your expertise.”

A band squeezed Jenna’s chest. Alex was about to let Max highjack her case. “Russell County deputies are perfectly capable of looking for evidence at the Slaters’. We don’t need TBI’s help.”

Alex stiffened, and the room seemed to hold a collective breath.

Wayne nudged her. “Jenna...”

Don’t contradict your commanding officer in public.If Jenna could hit the rewind button, she would. “I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I spoke out of turn.”

She probably didn’t sound very sorry, but confound it, Dylan and Taylor were good, and she was no slouch when it came to finding evidence, either.

Alex fingered her notes. “I wasn’t saying Russell County deputies couldn’t handle it, but if these two deaths are related to Harrison Carter and the rally Saturday, we’re short on time and need all the help we can get.”

Jenna released the breath she was holding.

“In fact,” the chief deputy continued, “I want you to work closely with Max on this, which includes planning and implementing security for the political rally Saturday.”

Workcloselywith Max? This time Jenna managed to close her mouth on the protest bursting to get out.

The chief deputy shifted her attention to the other deputies. “Moving on. I want the rest of you scouring the county for any information you can find on Paul Nelson.”

Jenna barely heard the rest of Alex’s assignments. She was trying to figure out how she was going to work with Max and stay immune to him.

The man in question leaned toward Jenna. “Want to ride with me to the Slaters’?”

She frowned at him. “No. But you’re welcome to ride with me if you don’t care how long you have to stay.”

Why did she say that? Because he wouldn’t accept, that’s why.

“Not a problem.” He chuckled softly. “While we drive there,we can go over some of the security measures for the Founders Day rally.”

As usual, the man had an answer for everything. She turned toward Alex as she approached.

“I have one more job for you,” her boss said. “It’s too coincidental that all three of these men were involved in Pearl Springs politics at the same time. I talked to my grandfather, and he said to check the newspaper archives for the years they served together and see if you can find a motive for someone wanting to exact revenge on them.”

“I’ll do that as soon as we finish at the Slaters’.” Jenna added the request to her list and drew a star beside it. The conversation last night among the coon hunters had crossed her mind a couple of times since finding Paul Nelson’s body. Did she want to bring up the dam project just yet? Or wait and present it with a list of any other controversial projects the mayor and city council pushed through?

Jenna picked up her folder and turned to Max. “You sure you want to ride with me? You might get stuck at Slater’s house or the newspaper office and be late getting away from here.”

“I’m good. I’m set up at the hotel across from the hospital for the rest of the week, so I don’t have to worry about driving back to Nashville.”

That was just peachy.

“Jenna,” someone called out to her. She turned as Alex’s administrative assistant and sometimes dispatcher, Marge, bore down on her. “Your dad has been trying to reach you.”

Jenna felt her pocket for her phone and groaned. It wasn’t there—she must’ve left it at home. “Tell him I forgot my phone and I’ll call him back as soon as I’m able.”

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