Page 359 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

He smiled, the effect much dimmer than before. “I don’t know much about what you’re doing here, but I do know there are several open cases that seem to be connected.”

“I don’t get the feeling you guys are just stumped and can’t figure it out.”

His expression lost a fraction of its tightness. Hank hadn’t been this expressive before. He needed to figure out how not to give away his thoughts so much if it was real. She’d crafted a blank expression a long time ago. For when people insisted on asking her questions, she never in a million years wanted to answer.

It had served her well when she worked cases that involved individuals who performed reprehensible acts until she was burned out and unable to filter her reactions.

That thought made her think this was for sure a punishment. Had someone read the report so quickly they’d seen what happened to her—and why—and sent her here to deal with putting the past to rest finally?

“That doesn’t look good.” Hank settled on the edge of the desk. “But enough about work. You wanna tell me about that over dinner with me?”

Was he asking her out?

Before Addie could think if that was a good idea or not, he continued, “Have you seen Jake yet?”

Word hadn’t gotten around about Jake and the hit-and-run yesterday.

Addie pushed the hair back from her face. She needed to find her hair tie and make a ponytail, or she’d look like she’d been dragged backward through a hedge before lunch.

“You have.”

She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Just the best hug she’d had in years. Addie let out a long sigh.

“Girl, you been back in town like five minutes. There’s already a Jake thing?”

Addie rolled her eyes. There wouldalwaysbe a Jake thing, no matter if it had been five minutes or five thousand years. “IfI’ve got cases coming, then I should do a daily Bible reading on the app now, or I’m not going to survive being back here.”

She might not have gone to church much the last fifteen years, but she knew where the help came from.

He tipped his head back and laughed.

Addie shoved his shoulder. “It’s not funny. You don’t know faith is serious business?” She made a face and shoved him off his seat. “That desk is my space. Don’t get your jeans all over it.”

Hank didn’t quit laughing.

She shoved him to the door and opened it for him. Tried to figure out how to hit him in the butt with it and not break the glass.

A man stood on the other side. Hank jumped back and to the side. “Mr. Mayor.”

Hank nodded and as soon as the suited man entered, he slipped out. One glance back and he mouthed,Good luck.

Addie frowned and closed the door. The mayor wasn’t someone she recognized, but she hadn’t cared who sat in what chair in town as a teen. Just that she wore that homecoming crown. These days she’d rather garner zero notice.

The mayor crossed the room. His leather shoes clipped against the tile floor. Hands in his pockets. Silk tie that probably cost as much as her rent.

He pulled out one hand, and they shook. “Simeon Olivette.”

“Addie Franklin, Sir.”Ugh.She was going to have to break her lease. Live with a Benson address again. Her lifesucked.And why that was finally hitting her now, she had no idea.

“Russ has a lot of good things to say about you.” He wore a mustache over thin lips. Gray temples made her think of the men’s hair dye that left some gray, so it didn’t look like you were overcompensating.

“I’ll have to thank him.”

“We have a problem, Special Agent Franklin.”

Somehow, she didn’t think it was exactlyherproblem. Just that she was here so he could make it her problem.

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