Page 117 of Call Back

Whatever magic had been going on between Colt and me was gone, yet I knew it was still simmering beneath the surface. I wasn’t sure what was developing between us, but my instinct told me to trust Colt. And not just with the gold.

Oh, crap. How could I have forgotten?

“I thought you were going to Chattanooga this morning,” I said.

He lifted his shoulder into a half-shrug. “Some things came up.”

What could be more important than the gold? Especially to Colt who wanted the gold before it became a matter of life or death for me. “Are you still going?”

“As soon as we finish breakfast.”

I leaned back in my seat, prepared for a fight. “I’m coming with you.”

His brow lifted. “I thought you were working at Alvin’s this afternoon.”

“I’m going to call in sick.”

His eyes narrowed. “You don’t trust me?”

“It has absolutely nothing to do with trusting you and everything to do with evading a serial killer.”

He bolted upright and leaned his forearm on the table. “What happened last night?”

“Nothing as exciting as you seem to be thinking.”

“What happened, Magnolia?”

I leaned closer and said in a quiet voice, “I think I know who the . . . is.” I grimaced, not wanting to use the word killer again in such a public place.

“Who?”

Should I just blurt it out? But it wasn’t like Bill was famous. No one would connect any dots. Still, I kept my voice low enough for only Colt to hear. “Bill James. Daddy’s partner.”

His face remained expressionless. “Did you hear this from Bennett?”

“No. I was the one who told him about my suspicions.”

“How did you come by this information?” Then his eyes widened with understanding. “Ah . . . now I get why Belinda’s pissed at you.”

I looked down. “Yeah.”

Colt grabbed my hand and squeezed. “It will be okay. She’ll get over it.”

“You really think so?”

Indecision wavered in his eyes.

“She’s the only friend I have here,” I said, sounding like a pathetic high school girl.

He squeezed my hand again. “That’s not true. You have me, Mags,” he said softly, then shifted his hand around until his fingers laced with mine. “I’m here.”

I searched his eyes for a hint of teasing, preparing myself for him to say, “Ha! Fooled you!” but I only saw a man who looked like he was really seeing me for the first time. Or maybe felt comfortable showing me for the first time.

“I stayed with Belinda last night,” I said.

Relief filled his eyes, but he quickly covered it. “You said you were staying at your place, so I stopped by around ten last night to check on you. When you weren’t there . . .”

“You thought I stayed at Brady’s.”

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