Page 5 of Vanishing Point
Thomas liked Copeland well enough, though he was a bit…unpredictable. There was definitely what Thomas could only describe as big-city energy pumping off the guy. He wanted action. He wanted results.
Thomas didn’t have the first clue how he’d wound up in Bent County, but Copeland wasn’t one to spill about his private life, unless it was about his superficial, social one.
Thomas wasn’t sure how Copeland and Laurel would get along. But that was a problem for later.
For now, he dealt with Copeland just fine, and he had indeed been staring too long at an empty search screen.
“Did you get the coroner report yet?” Thomas asked, ignoring Copeland’s question.
“No.”
Damn it. “Regardless of if the report is ready or not, let’s see if Gracie will take a meeting with us tomorrow.”
“I can give her office a call right now.”
Thomas waved him away. “She’s Laurel’s cousin. I’ll do it.”
“Is Laurel related to everyone?”
Thomas might have found the disgust in Copeland’s tone funny if he could find any humor in this case. Before he could pull out his phone to call Gracie, Vicky, currently working the desk, poked her head into their office.
“Rosalie Young here to see you, Hart. Want to see her or have her come back some other time?”
It wasn’t unusual for a private investigator to want to talk to him. He’d had meetings with Rosalie over the years since she’d been working for Fools Gold Investigations out of Wilde, and any other PIs who worked there. Usually Rosalie scheduled them in advance, but answering questions for a PI sounded a hell of a lot better than dealing with his current predicament. “You can send her in.”
Vicky nodded and left.
“I’ll call Gracie. If it needs the Bent native touch, I’ll let you know.” Then Copeland followed Vicky out. Not five seconds later, Rosalie entered.
And seeing Rosalie Young in person made it all click. Maybe it was the red hair, maybe it was just bound to be a memory that popped back eventually.
The Young family were those cousins of Vi’s who lived in the area. Rosalie and Vi hadn’t been close. They weren’t the same age. Heknewthey hadn’t been close because he’d known Vi’s life in and out, back then.
But Rosalie had an older sister. Thomas couldn’t remember her name for the life of him. He still didn’t think Vi had been close with her either, but it was possible he didn’t remembereverythingfrom fifteen years ago.
Besides, Rosalie did indeed live out by Sunrise, on a ranch with her sister. Which sounded a lot like what Vi had said the other night.
“Vi mentioned she ran into you the other night,” Rosalie said, making herself at home in his office as she so often did. Quinn Peterson, the head of Fools Gold, tended to hire women like her. Brash, unafraid, and tough as nails.
“I didn’t realize…” He didn’t often find himself completely speechless these days. He’d been through a hell of a lot. But he really had no idea how to deal with this situation. “I guess I forgot there was a connection.”
Rosalie smiled thinly, but she didn’t say anything to that, which wasn’t like her. Usually she said whatever the hell she wanted.
“We’ve got a little issue out at the ranch. Vi’s…a little uncomfortable with cops. I’ve been trying to get her to let us bring in some help, but I didn’t know you two…knew each other. Until she mentioned it. I think she’d trust you. Anyway, can you come out to the ranch tonight? I know it’s a drive, but…”
“Somebody in trouble?”
“Ithink so.”
“Vi?”
Rosalie popped right back to her feet. She never did sit still long. “Just come on out, huh? Audra will make a cake or some cookies or something. She’s a hell of a baker.”
Right.Audrawas the older sister’s name. He didn’t think Vi and Audra had been close, but maybe he just didn’t remember. Didn’t really matter. “If someone’s in trouble, you don’t have to bribe me with cake, Rosalie. I’m an officer of the law.”
She studied him for a second, then smiled a little. But she definitely wasn’t herself. “You’re a good guy, Hart. We’re gonna need one of those.”
VI FELT ALMOSThuman again. Magnolia’s congestion was finally starting to clear up and she was sleeping better, so Vi was too. She’d even gotten a shower with Magnolia down for the night. And now that she was clean and Mags was sleeping, Vi could actually go downstairs and eat dinner with everyone.
