Page 75 of Deadly Revenge

Max managed a smile. “I met your mother some years ago when I was Jenna’s boss at Chattanooga PD.”

Sam bristled like Max’s childhood dog when someone tried to take his bone away. “You saying you’re here in Pearl Springs to see my niece?”

“Not exactly, although it’s been a nice bonus.”

Sam turned to Jenna. “What’s the word on Paul Nelson’s murder?”

“Nothing yet.” She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her grandmother, then poured Max one. “We’re having coffee and tea cakes. Would you like to join us?”

“Nah. It’s not long until lunch.” He turned to his mother. “I’ll see you later.” Sam stopped at the kitchen door. “Now don’t be gossiping about everyone after I leave, especially about me.”

Once the back door closed, Jenna turned to her grandmother. “Granna, why did you say not to get Sam started on Harrison Carter?”

38

Granna dropped her gaze to the hands in her lap where she rubbed gnarled fingers. Jenna hadn’t meant to upset her. “They used to be friends. What happened?” she asked gently.

“I never knew for sure, only that they had a falling-out over the dam project.” Granna raised her gaze. “You know how your uncle is.”

Unfortunately, Jenna did. Any opinion other than his was wrong.

“It seems like a lot of people were unhappy with Carter and the city council about the dam project,” Max said.

Granna nodded. “Just about the whole county.”

“Is there anyone who would still be upset, Granna?”

“You mean upset enough to kill Paul Nelson? Probably. The Slaters, not so much.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess it was in their personalities. People liked Joe in spite of some of the things he did, and of course, everyone liked Katherine. Paul got beat in the next election after the dam project went through, but Joe got reelected every four years.” Her grandmother lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Enoughnegative talk. I want us to sit here and drink our coffee and enjoy these cookies.”

“And I’m sure they’re delicious,” Max said. “Would you think about the people who were involved with the dam project and see if anyone pops in your mind who might still hold a grudge?”

“I’m not sure that I want to point a finger at anyone—they might turn it back on me since both Sam and Randall were mighty upset about losing the farm.”

“Granna, we’re not talking about you pointing the finger at anyone. I don’t know all the families involved in the dam dispute, and it would help to know who they were.”

“I suppose I could do that,” she said. “I’ll make you a list.”

“Good,” Max said. “We’ll stop by after we talk to Harrison Carter again.”

Her grandmother’s face turned stony. “I’ll tell you this about him. Don’t believe anything he tells you. You know the old saying—if his lips are moving, he’s lying—that’s Harrison.”

“Granna, what do you remember about the land where the dam and reservoir are now?”

Her grandmother frowned. “Other than the families involved, not a lot. Your grandfather wasn’t one to discuss business matters with me.” She stopped and pointed her finger at Jenna. “Don’t let that happen when you get married. I didn’t know anything about our affairs when he died, and it made his passing so much harder. If it hadn’t been for Sam and your dad ...”

“What about the land,” Max prodded gently.

“Yes, the land. Walter inherited it from his father and that’s why he didn’t want to sell. He grew up on that farm, and it’d been in his family for fifty years before he was born.” Then as if banishing bad thoughts away, she smiled and picked up a tea cake. “You still haven’t tried these.”

Jenna handed Max a cookie then picked one up and bit intoit. Butter and vanilla exploded on her taste buds. No one could make tea cakes like her grandmother.

Max sampled his and grinned. “These are so good.”

“I’m glad you like them.” The worry lines disappeared from Granna’s face. “It’s my grandmother’s recipe.”

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