Page 18 of You Can Leave Your Hat On

“Uh, yeah, no. Not doing that.”

He let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Then you’re one of the few women in town who aren’t. I’m not all that, and you would think I was BradPitt or something.”

Maisey laughed. “It’s the accent!”

“Oh, yeah. That’s probably it.” They were still laughing and chatting when they carried their wastepaper to the bin and tossed it. Morgan held the door for her, and once it closed, he smiled. “Thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable lunch, Maisey.”

“You too. It was very nice. See you soon.”

“Yes. Just bring that hat on over anytime.”

“Will do. Thanks again! Bye.” Maisey slid into her little sedan and watched as Morgan did the same with his Range Rover. The guy had no idea how gorgeous he was, and to Maisey, that made him even more attractive.

The little car stopped in the parking spot of the lot outside her office, and Maisey climbed out. Just as she reached into the back seat to grab her messenger bag, a tone sounded on her phone, and she pulled it from her purse to check it. It was a direct message, and she felt a measure of hope when she saw it.

Hey, I saw your post on the community site. I think I have your hat. Is this it?

There was a picture and, sure enough, Maisey was pretty sure it was hers.

Yes! I think that’s my hat! How can we swap? Where are you?

Dots wiggled on her screen and then the message popped up.

I’m in Somerset.

At least it wasn’t too far away. Maisey thought for a minute before she messaged back.

Can we meet to swap?

She waited for the reply to pop up.

Don’t see why not. Public place. Maybe the courthouse parking lot?

Maisey typed as fast as she could.

Sure. Sounds great. When?

The reply only took a few seconds.

Tomorrow?

Maisey pulled up her calendar and checked it.

I’m free after 10:00 in the morning, and it takes me about an hour to get there from Corbin.

In no time, she got the reply.

Great! I’ll be there at 11:15 standing in front of the entry doors. Don’t want to go through the metal detector if I don’t have to.

That made Maisey chuckle as she replied.

That makes two of us! See you then.

“Shit! I haven’t gotten the hat to Morgan yet!” A quick look at her schedule and she decided she had time to grab it and run it over to him if she went right then, so she took off for home without even going in the office. He’d pull trace evidence from it and it could be returned to its rightful owner.

But that would be the end of wearing it. She had to think of something so the owner wouldn’t want it back. And she would. After all she had all evening. And she had Aaron. He’d help her figure something out.

One way or another, she’d get a chance to ask the owner what they knew about the hat, and maybe they’d be one step closer to getting an answer for Hazel.

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