Page 109 of Fortune's Control
“Yes, about that.” She cleared her throat. “I thought about our last phone call, and I realized the man I spoke to may not have been a police officer.”
“No shit,” I blurted out. Evelyn laughed. “I think you spoke to the man who tried to kill me. Shane, can you show her?”
He pulled up the screenshot and invited Sarah Jane closer so she could see. Sarah Jane leaned forward, studying the stranger’s face.
“I remember the goatee and thinking he should get rid of it. It could be him. Plenty of young men confuse facial hair with an interesting personality. Mostly, I recall his voice. He had the sweetest way of talking. A gentle lilt and polite. He wore a sports jacket and a blue tie, with his hair combed. This man is a slob who doesn’t recognize basic grooming. He showed me a badge, if that matters.”
“Do you remember his name or badge number?”
“He told me, but I didn’t pay attention.” I translated that to mean she was more interested in flirting than anything else.
“It’s enough for now,” I decided.
“What’s next?” Shane asked me.
“I want to call Mr. McCormick, and then we’ll eat.”
Evelyn put an arm over her daughter’s shoulders. “The rest of your friends are in the kitchen. Why don’t we start on dinner while you two take a minute?”
Sarah Jane shot me a questioning look. I wavered, afraid of another outburst or a painful question, and then my stomach growled. “That’s perfect. Sophie has much of it ready, so this should be quick. Whoever makes the margaritas will be my newpersonal hero.”
“You handled that well,” Shane said once we were alone.
“I did it for myself more than her.”
“If it matters, your mother spent a couple of hours with Evelyn, just the two of them. It wasn’t only my threats that brought her here.”
“Do you know what about?”
“You’d need to ask them. I already had plans.”
“You think you had a fun day, but I showed people spreadsheets.” I gave him a cheeky grin, which Shane stole with a kiss. “One phone call, and we eat.”
“Call away.”
“Lawyers should communicate via text. Way more convenient for me,” I said as the phone dialed.
“McCormick and Associates. Can I take a message?”
I groaned. “Can you tell Mr. McCormick that Delilah Mayberry needs to speak with him? He’ll know why.”
*****
Dinner was a more subdued affair than planned, but no one seemed to care. Sophie bragged about her fighting skills while Jack listened in awe. Evelyn and Lainey shared the latest book club news. My mother spoke little, choosing to listen and take it all in. It was strange behavior from a woman who usually commanded the center of attention.
“Why don’t you three go to the living room?” Shane suggested after dinner ended. “I’ll clean the kitchen and make your tea when it’s done.”
My eyes grew because he meant that living room—our second favorite room, after the one with the bed in it.
“Well, this room is art.” Sarah Jane gazed up at the tongue and groove ceiling with appreciation.
“We spend a lot of time here.”
“I’ll bet.”
I frowned at her tone, unable to identify it. “What do you plan to do tomorrow?”
It was Sarah Jane’s turn to frown over the unexpected question. “Truth be told, I’d prefer to go home to Atlanta. I don’t enjoy this town, and the sooner it’s in my rearview mirror, the better. Having said that, you’re still my daughter. If you need me, I’ll stay as long as you want me, and if you kick me out, I’ll leave.”
