Page 72 of Deadly Revenge

“Junior,” Carter muttered. “Who names their son that? But yeah, you have the right family. Milton wanted to build his son a garage so he’d stay in Pearl Springs.”

“Did he? Build the shop?”

“Sure. Neither I nor anyone else on the city council had a problem with it. The problem was with Milton and that son. They got it in their heads that the city was going to pass an ordinance to keep them from building, and the son made a big deal about it.”

Max jotted the name down. “How about the dam—any problems with getting it built?”

Carter tapped his head with his palm. “I can’t believe that wasn’t the first thing that popped into my mind. The people who lived in the valley where the reservoir was built are a bunch of backwoods hillbillies.”

Beside him, Jenna stiffened. Her expression reminded him of a cornered mama bear.

36

For the life of her, Jenna didn’t understand how Harrison Carter had made it as far in politics as he had. Evidently he showed the voters a different personality than he was showing to them.

“You might want to be careful who you call backwoods hillbillies,” she said, keeping her voice even. “They do vote, you know, and it would be a shame if you didn’t carry your home county.”

Color rose in Carter’s face. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes, but those people almost cost us the dam.”

“Would that have been such a terrible thing?” She fisted her hands on her hips. “I sure don’t see that it’s served the purpose you said the community needed it for—we have no new industry.”

“That’s about to change. It’s the whole purpose of having this political rally at the Founders Day picnic. That’s when I’ll announce a new industry locating in Pearl Springs that will provide two hundred new jobs. But please keep it under your hat. The deal won’t be finalized until sometime later this week. I’d hate for something to mess up the deal.”

She’d heard Carter planned to make some kind of announcement at the picnic, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this. Ittook the starch out of her sails, as Granna would say. “I hope it pans out,” she said stiffly.

“It will. Now, if there’s nothing else, I really need to get on the road.”

“I’ll call you if we run into any more questions that need answering,” Max said. “Or I can hold them until the funeral.”

Carter nodded his agreement. He turned and strode to his car, stopping to use a handkerchief to wipe the tops of his shoes off before he got in the back seat.

“He’ll probably be our next senator,” Max muttered.

“Not by my vote.” She folded her arms across her chest. “He doesn’t respect the voters.”

“At least he gave us one lead. Do you know where we can find Milton Bledsoe?”

Jenna nodded. “Pearl Springs cemetery.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish. But maybe Junior can give us some insight.” Jenna’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. “My grandmother. Let me make sure nothing is wrong.” She answered the phone. “Granna, is everything okay?”

“No.”

Her heart leaped in her throat. “What’s wrong? Is it your heart?”

“My heart’s fine, it’s my feelings that are hurt.”

“What?”

Her grandmother chuckled. “I heard Max Anderson was in town and he hasn’t been by to see me.”

“Oh.” She glanced over at Max and grinned. “I think we can remedy that.” Jenna checked the time. Ten thirty. “Are you up for us dropping by for a few minutes?”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

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