Page 137 of Long Gone

I knew I should give more thought to what that might imply, but my mouth was watering. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had fried chicken. I savored every bite, surprised when I ate everything on the plate.

“I’m gonna need another nap after that,” I said as I put my napkin on the plate and pushed it away. “And I’m gonna need to find a way to get on Malcolm’s payroll.”

Misti laughed. “I thought you were working for your daddy’s law firm.”

The thought of my father sobered me. “Maybe not for long.”

“You plannin’ to do P.I. work full time?”

“I’m considering it.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and cringed when I saw it was my father again. I ended the call and set my phone on the counter, then read his voicemail once it posted.

Harper, I really need to talk to you. It’s important. Call me back.

While I agreed it was important that he’d lied to the sheriff’s department, I didn’t agree it was urgent for us to talk about it before I was ready. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight, I wanted to focus on how to bust Brett Colter. We needed to come up with a plan, but first I needed to know where Malcolm planned to meet him.

Malcolm was busy at the opposite end of the bar, and I couldn’t seem to get his attention. I considered going down to his end to ask him but discussing it in the open seemed like a bad idea.

My phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Detective Jones.

I have something important to discuss with you. Can you meet me somewhere as soon as you’re available?

Several things in the text caught my attention. One, that he didn’t want to meet in the station. Two, that he wouldn’t discuss it over the phone. And three, that he seemed to think it was urgent.

Sure. Where?

Malcolm would likely disapprove of this, but I couldn’t imagine the detective would talk if Malcolm was there. And Jones had said it was important.

I’m in Jackson Creek so I can come to you. Where are you?

There was no way I was having him come here, and I wasn’t sure my door had been fixed yet. And after the strange vibe I’d gotten from him after our last phone call, meeting in a public place seemed like a good idea.

I’m headed to Jackson Creek. How about Betty’s Café downtown? I can be there in about twenty minutes.

That was sure to make him suspicious, but at least he already knew I was working a case.

Good. See you then.

The whole thing felt off, but if he knew something, I wasn’t not going to find out what it was. But how would I explain leaving?

I wouldn’t.

“I’m going to head to the back,” I said to Misti. “Tell Malcolm I’ll wait for him there.”

A frown creased her forehead. “Okay. Are you feeling okay?”

“Just a slight headache,” I said. “No big deal, but it’s quieter in the office.”

“Okay.”

I went to his office and found a piece of paper and wrote him a quick note.

Detective Jones has some important information that he wants to tell me about right away. I’m meeting him at Betty’s Café. I’ll let you know what I find.

Not bothering to sign the note, since he’d immediately know it was from me, I set it on the blanket on the sofa. Then I headed out the back door and drove out of the parking lot.

But the closer I got to Jackson Creek, the more concerned I became about the whole setup. Why hadn’t Detective Jones called me to set up the meeting? What if he was tied up in this mess somehow? I knew I was being paranoid, but being framed by some faction in the Little Rock Police Department had made me suspicious of everything.

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