Page 76 of Building What's Meant to Be

“Do you really think I can do it?”

“Tinsley, I bee-lieve in you.”

With her head resting in the nook between my shoulder and chest, I feel her smile lift her cheeks.

“No one has ever said that to me either.”

“Then you’ve been hanging around with the wrong people.”

“You got that right. You seem to really love your family.”

“That I do.”

“And this town.”

I nod then glance down before tipping up her chin so I can see her big brown eyes. “And you,” I add.

“You love me?”

“Mmmhmm.” When she doesn’t say it back, my heart sinks a little, but perhaps this is the first time she’s hearing it too. I have a feeling it has to do with her family, and I don’t want to press. But I do want to hold her in my arms for as long as she’ll let me.

Later that evening, I drop Tinsley over at Bubba’s family compound where she’ll meet his grandmother and learn about beekeeping. Meanwhile, I’m in my office, reviewing the latest bit of intel confirming a shell corporation linking the Kravens to Hydro-pro, an environmental organization that donated to Governor Pickering’s last campaign, and an offshore bank account under the name Cindy Clawford.

The dots are starting to connect, but I still cannot figure out exactly why the cat is involved only that she is or how she connects to Stoll. I followed my instincts and I was right, this bank account confirms it. But how? Why?

It’s been over a week since we’ve seen our good mayor. More like a grifter, but that’s beside the point. “Where are you, Stoll?” I whisper.

While Tinsley and I were sitting on the bench outside the birthing center, the vision of my life spread clearly before me like I was watching a movie. I’d like to finish the house, get married, and maybe work out a way to have a family. I’d retire from the agency and become mayor of Butterbury. I’d take care of my home, my family, and this town. That’ll be my legacy.

Thinking about it now sends a thrill through me.

I open an interdepartmental email from Harrison. He tells me Silas Fallon clocked out, code that the guy is dead. I lean back in my chair, hammocking my head.

Having dealt with the Kravens in the past, I know all too well that when people start disappearing and dying, they’re getting closer to closing whatever nefarious deal they have in the works.It also means that it’s only a matter of time before they find their way here, butwhyis still a question I can’t answer.

Over the next few days, I research Gatlin Stoll, which was where I should’ve started because I learn there are no long-term records for anyone by that name. He appeared a few years ago out of thin air. There are no traces of him prior to him running for mayor despite his grand claims of being a lifelong Georgia resident and a graduate of Georgia Tech along with a roster of achievements including being in the army reserves and helping to rebuild homes after flooding along the coast. However, none of those places have records of his attendance or participation.

Not only is the guy a grifter, but he’s also a swindler.

And I’m stupid for not researching his background, to begin with. Because he was elected mayor, I took him at his word, that he was who he said he was.

Interestingly, I repeatedly tie him to Gannon Barnes, Louella Belle’s lousy brother. He was arrested not long ago but before that, he was running scams in Las Vegas. Turns out, he was released from jail roughly the same time Stoll went to Atlanta.

I try to link Gannon and the Kravens, but they keep the identities of their lackeys locked up pretty tight. I have a dead-end feeling, but that’s not right. I’m overlooking something and it’s probably right under my nose.

The door to the bookstore downstairs jingles at the same time the cat arches her back, hisses, and runs under my desk. I peek down there and she cowers in the corner.

“You okay, Cindy?” I ask.

She looks at me with wide eyes.

I go to the window and see a black sedan pull out of the parking spot and then hurdle down the street. Locking up, I go downstairs to find Aggie snarling and muttering under her breath.

“Hey, Aggie. Everything okay?”

“Just a couple of thugs came in here looking for Stoll. Said he has bills to pay.”

My eyebrow spontaneously arches.

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