Page 22 of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Once I got mine lowered, I turned the slats so we could get sunlight but block the view into the office. I’d just finished when there was an insistent knock at the door, and the crazy fan’s voice called out, “Summer! Do you have a client? Can I come in and watch you work?”

Belinda lifted a worried gaze to me, but Magnolia looked disgusted. “I knew this was a terrible idea.”

Luke grimaced as he finished lowering his shade. “I’ll take care of her.”

“Are you sure?” I asked in surprise. It was bound to get ugly, and he hated any attention that was heaped on him because of the show. This definitely qualified.

He flashed a tight smile, then walked over and whispered into my ear, “You owe me big. I’ll collect later.”

A shiver ran through me at the thought of what he might have in mind.

He stood straighter. “We still on for lunch?”

I cast a glance toward the two women. Belinda appeared to be questioning her decision to make the appointment, and Magnolia looked like she was about to run out the door. Though the fan still pounding on the glass was probably thwarting her plan. Still, I had no idea how long this might take, so I said, “I’ll let you know.”

He nodded, sucking in a breath and squaring his shoulders as though he were about to face a firing squad, then walked out the door.

The fan squealed. “Sheriff Luke!”

Luke shut the door behind him, and their voices grew fainter, presumably because he was leading her away.

After I relocked the door, I dragged Dixie’s chair from behind her desk and slid it in front of Belinda and Magnolia. Sitting down, I gave them a friendly smile. I’d already scared them. I needed to project warmth and competency. “Sorry about that. I ran into an overzealous fan at the coffee shop down the street a few minutes ago. I didn’t want her to see Magnolia.”

“Why?” Magnolia scoffed, quirking a brow. “You don’t want people to think I’m your client?” There was no mistaking the venom in her voice.

I was beginning to think it was Belinda’s idea to book an appointment—it had been made online under her name, although I hadn’t made the connection until now—and that Magnolia wanted no part of it. And while part of me was irritated to be dealing with a hostile potential client, mostly I was curious. From what little I knew about Magnolia’s ordeal last spring, she’d been investigating her own father and the serial killer. She was the one who brought the killer and her father’s misdeeds to light.

So why were they here in my office? Finding out why her mother had left town was far simpler than tracking down a murderer.

I relied on my acting skills to project a soft, confident, and compassionate tone as I said, “No, of course not. It’s more like I’m trying to keep paparazzi from swarming into town. You’re big news, and if they link us together, it could become beyond ridiculous.”

Her face paled, and she seemed to shrink a bit. Belinda reached over and grabbed her hand, and squeezed.

I sat back in my chair and crossed my legs, studying Magnolia for a moment. She seemed to be genuinely shaken up over the idea of paparazzi showing up, perhaps for good reason. She’d made headlines last spring and had been all over the news. According to the new sources, she’d been tortured by the serial killer before her boyfriend and father found her. And then her father had shot her boyfriend, tried to kidnap her and her brother, and she’d shot and killed her father. That was bound to mess a person up. “First, I’d like to apologize for what just happened, but Luke will make sure they don’t come back.”

“You’re friends with the sheriff?” Belinda asked.

It was obvious she’d never seenDarling Investigations. I found myself equally grateful and irritated. Why were they here if she’d never seen the show? There was another investigator in town with more experience. Then again, I was definitely cheaper.

“Actually,” I said with a smile. “He’s the chief of police, and he’s my boyfriend.”

Belinda gave me an appreciative nod, but Magnolia’s gaze was on the county map on the wall behind me.

“You said you wanted me to find out why Magnolia’s mother left town?” I asked Belinda, since not only was she was the one who booked the appointment, but she seemed more inclined to talk.

“We can find out on our own,” Magnolia said in a tight voice. “We don’t need help.”

“Yes,” Belinda said, turning toward her. “Wedo. We only have a couple of days and you know someone local will likely get more answers than we can.”

Magnolia pinched her lips together but didn’t say anything.

Belinda seemed to be the one in charge, so I focused my warm smile on her. “I can definitely ask around and see if anyone remembers anything, but I’ll need more details.”

“You don’t remember anything about her?” Belinda asked.

“Well,” I said with a laugh, “given that I’m about the same age as Magnolia, I wasn’t even born when her mother would have left town, so I didn’t know her.”

Magnolia looked unimpressed.

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