Page 79 of Building What's Meant to Be

“With Bubba’s mother, learning the art of beekeeping.”

My sister’s eyebrows lift with surprise but not as if she wants Tinsley to get stung. Perhaps Tinsley’s new hobby gives her some respect in my sister’s eyes.

Moving on, I ask, “So what can you tell me about Stoll? Anything, everything. I’m missing something and I can’t figure out what it is.”

“I know that Gatlin Stoll has a tab at the diner a mile long,” Louella Belle says.

Cassian scowls likely because Rhondy is too generous to force Stoll to pay it.

“He left a receipt for a Hawaiian shirt at the inn,” Camellia says.

“What was he doing there?”

“He stayed with us the night before he left or went missing or whatever.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Camellia shrugs. “Because I didn’t know you were investigating him.”

“I didn’t think to mention it.” Nash flinches.

“Why would he stay at Butterbury Bed & Breakfast?”

“Have you been to his house?” Taylor asks.

“Only to retrieve Cindy Clawford.”

“Who?” Camellia asks.

“The famous model is involved too?” Christina asks, confused.

“I think he saidClawford.” Louella Belle scratches the air like a cat but with her fingers.

“Yes. Gatlin called the cat Twinky, but her collar saysCindy Clawfordalong with the series of numbers on the back.” I explain the stitching.

“Sounds like it could be the code to a safe. My mother has one in her dressing room for her jewels.” Christina rolls her eyes.

“We searched his office from top to bottom. Didn’t see one there,” Buck says.

Thinking, I bite the inside of my cheek then lift my first two fingers and thumb. “As I see it, we have three choices. One, I’lldo my job, figure out where he went in Atlanta, and where he is now. That’s the most logical. Two, smoke Stoll out by making this public—all his past misdeeds, his mistreatment of the cat, and destroy his credibility. That’s a last resort. Or—”

“The first two options sound complicated, tedious, and expensive,” Nash says.

“Or three, cut holes in the toes of Stoll’s socks, run his underwear up the flagpole, and declare this town ours.”

Taylor punches the air. “I like it.”

My sisters both shake their heads at me.

“What do you say we move this party to Gatlin Stoll’s house?” I ask.

“Taylor and I are going home becausebaby, but we’d like a full report,” Mae says, getting to her feet.

Nash and Camellia bow out because they have to head back to the inn. That leaves Louella Belle, Bo, Christina, and Nash to accompany me on a search without a warrant.

“We’ll consider it a friendly, neighborly house call to check on the mayor,” Louella Belle says.

I like the way she thinks, but what will Tinsley think when she finds out about my real job and involvement in the case?

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