Page 28 of Every Deadly Suspicion

It was their wedding picture. Mom and Dad had eloped to Las Vegas. Hanna almost didn’t recognize Mom because she was smiling and looked so happy. Dad was taller than Mom. His hair was long. It touched his collar, and he had a bushy mustache.

She remembered she had even smelled the page and thought,What did my father smell like?All the picture smelled of was book. She looked at the photos over and over. She even tore one out and took it home with her.

Remembering that day so many years ago still made Hanna blush. She’d held on to that photo for years. By high school, the taunts and jeers she’d endured about her father had destroyed any romantic fantasies about him. She came across the photo one dayas she cleaned her room, and in an uncharacteristic fit of rage, she tore it into pieces.

What did Joe look like now?

Hard as she tried, she could not bring herself to think of Joe as her father. None of the men her mother dated ever fit the bill either. Most especially not Marcus Marshall.

In retrospect, Hanna thought perhaps her intuition started early. Marshall was a user. He called himself a professional writer, but he was no Stephen King. He’d told her mother that his bookMurders at Beecher’s Mine Cabinwould be a national bestseller and he’d make millions. It hadn’t worked out that way.

Was he working on a book about the Buckleys? Marcus usually crowed about his work, yet he’d said nothing. Scott and Marcus were arguing about something.

The double doors whooshed open, stopping Hanna’s woolgathering, and out stepped a relieved-looking Everett Buckley and a tired, bandaged-up little boy. The only expression on Everett’s face now was calm.

“He’s gonna be okay,” Everett said. “He’s got the Buckley hard head, that’s for sure.”

“Glad to hear it.” She knelt to look into Braden’s eyes. “You be more careful when you’re hiking, you hear?”

“Yeah, thanks for coming down to get me. Where’s Pancho?”

“At home waiting for you,” Everett said before Hanna could answer. “I called Grover and asked him to get the dog from Asa.”

Standing, she shook Everett’s hand. “You two have a good night, a restful night.”

Everett cocked his head and sighed. “We sure will try, Chief. Remember, keep me informed.”

They parted ways in the parking lot. It was dark now, and when Hanna relaxed and tried to unwind, she realized she wasstarving. She’d never gotten lunch and wasn’t sure where Nathan was at this time of day. Court ended a couple of hours ago. She sat in her car, intending to text him, when she saw that her personal phone was completely dead. The department-issued phone was still charged, but Hanna never liked to use that for personal matters. She started the car, deciding she’d call Nathan from home, and made her way there.

To her surprise, Nathan’s car was in her driveway and Hanna smiled, thanking the Lord for such a thoughtful man. A bag of takeout sat on the hood of his car. Of course, they’d missed lunch. She’d forgotten, but it was so like Nathan to remember and remedy the situation.

He leaned against the front fender. She got out of her car and hurried toward him, smelling the delicious food as she got closer. “Oh my goodness. You went to Faye’s.”

He picked the bag up. “I did. We missed lunch, and I wanted dinner to make up for that. I just got here. I tried to call you...”

“My phone died.”

Holding the bag in one hand, he gave Hanna a side hug and a peck on the cheek. “I heard the boy was banged up but fine. I spoke to Asa.”

“Yeah, a broken arm was the worst of it.” She smiled and pulled out her house key. He followed her up the front steps to the door. “He’d been unconscious for so long, I feared he would have a head injury, but he didn’t.”

She turned back toward him as she pushed the door open. “How’d court go?”

“Jury has it now. You know how that goes.”

“Hmm.” She flipped on the light. “I’ll grab some plates and drinks.” They both walked to the dining table. “What would you like?”

“Sparkling water is fine.”

“You got it. I’m starved.”

“Let’s eat, my dear.” He set the bag on the table and took out the containers. When Hanna returned with plates and drinks, it only took a minute to dish out wonderful comfort food. Faye’s was a local institution in Dry Oaks. People came from all over the county to dine there. Old-fashioned comfort food. Hanna’s favorite was the pot roast, which Nathan had gotten her. He preferred meat loaf.

Over dinner they talked about their days: Nathan in court and Hanna rescuing Braden. And they discussed the Jude Carver lawsuit.

“I’m amazed he had the gall to sue. He was worthless. How many times did you find him sleeping on the job?”

She held up four fingers. “And he had four warnings. I honestly don’t believe he thinks he’ll get his job back. He just has an axe to grind with me. He was cordial when we were peers, even professional. As soon as I was sworn in as chief, everything changed.”

---