Page 9 of For the Birds

“I’m not havin’ a spat with Skeeter Malcolm,” I protested, my voice rising a little. I took a breath to settle down. “This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Scooter. Joe thinks someone snatchedhim.”

Bruce Wayne didn’t respond, but his eyes hardened and he gave a sharpnod.

“What do you think?” I asked. “Was he prone to runningoff?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“When was the last time you sawhim?”

Thatgot his attention.

“Are you investigatin’?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“What?” I asked in surprise. “I’m just askin’.”

He gave me a sharplook.

“Why would I be investigatin’ Scooter Malcolm’s disappearance? I don’t even know him, and James Malcolm and I are no longer friends or associates.”

“Huh.”

“What’s thatmean?”

He shook his head and gave me an ornery grin. “It’s in your blood, Rose Gardner. You can’t help yourself. Neely Kate wants to investigate something, and you dig in your heels and pretend you’re not interested, and before you know it, you’re takin’ over thecase.”

“I donot.”

He tilted his head. “Whichpart?”

Dang it. “Well, I’m not investigatin’ Scooter Malcolm’s disappearance. Sounds like a dangerous venture. Besides, I’m sure James Malcolm will manage just fine without my help. There can’t be too many suspects.”

While Joe had claimed James had more enemies than he could count, the truth was that most were too afraid of the judgment they’d face should their coup attempt fail. As far as I knew, there were only two men who had the guts, and they’d both sworn to me that they wouldn’t try to take over James’ kingdom. Still, words were cheap to some people—Wagner and Reynolds would be the first place I’d start.

IfI was looking for Scooter . . . and I definitely wasn’t.

“Just call me curious,” I found myself saying. “When was the last time you talked tohim?”

“A few weeks ago. At the pool hall.” James’ pool hall. “We got together to shoot some pool and catch up. He had a new girlfriend, and he wanted me and Anna to meether.”

“Scooter had a new girlfriend? Who was she?” Funny, I’d never heard anything about Scooter dating anyone—James still seemed to think of him as a kid—but he was in his thirties, so it stood to reason he’d have a significant other.

“A woman he met at Walmart. He’s working there now.” Bruce Wayne cracked a hint of a grin. “In the lawn and garden department. He jokes that he’s our direct competition.”

“Did he or his girlfriend have any connection to Rayna Dyer? She worked in housewares.” Poor Rayna had been caught up in the necklace mess. Her ex had hidden the stolen necklace in with the rest of her jewelry, and her father-in-law had killed her while looking forit.

Bruce Wayne seemed caught off guard. “I don’t know.” He paused. “You think this might have something to do with that missing necklace?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t know. I don’t see how it could, but it is a coincidence.”

“True.” Then he gave a little shake. “Jeanne. Jeanne Putnam is his girlfriend.” He turned serious. “So you areinvestigatin’?”

“No. I guess I just can’t help askin’ questions. I think I’ll leave it to the big boys to duke this out.” James would have the same short list of suspects as I did, afterall.

It was definitely time to change the subject. “If you want to talk or anything . . . just let me know. I know he and David were the only ones to stick with you during your arrest and trial.”

He nodded, but his face was a blank slate. He hated any mention of his arrest for murder. He’d lost his family over it, even after I’d helped prove he was innocent, and the whole incident had hurt him deeply. He was part of my makeshift family now. The group I’d inadvertently cobbled together over the last year orso.

“I’ve got to get back to work,” he said. “I’ll try to make it to Violet’s party as close to one as I can makeit.”

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