Page 62 of The Honorable Texan
She didn’t say anything.She gave him an odd look.
He shrugged.“I told you you’d want me locked up.”
“Do they like tuna?”
He shook his head.“Salmon.They’re crazy for it.”
“I know where we can get some fresh salmon,” she murmured dryly.
He pursed his lips thoughtfully.“It might just work.”
“Let’s see!”
“First thing after lunch,” he promised, putting her in the car.
* * *
Chief Grier wasin Barbara’s Café when they got there, sitting with a somber Leo Hart.They both looked up when Kemp walked in.Grier motioned to him.He left Violet in line to keep his place and paused by their booth.
“Something’s going on, I gather?”he asked.
“Something big,” Grier agreed.“Leo’s brother Simon got some news about Julie Merrill.Remember the drug lord who tried to set up shop here before I came to work on the force?”
“I do,” Blake replied.“He was bad news.”
“Well, a female drug lord has replaced him, and we think Julie Merrill is her lieutenant.I’ve been watching a house out of town on the Victoria road where drug smugglers had a hideout that the DEA busted.There’s some new activity.I think Julie’s involved, along with some prominent local politicians.”
Kemp whistled.“Got her in custody?”
“Chance would be a fine thing,” Grier replied.“She made bail and got out, but a couple of days later, she made bush bond.”In other words, Blake translated, she skipped town.
“If you need help tracking her down, I know a good P.I.”
Grier grinned.“Thanks.But I think my contacts are even better than yours.What I’d like to know from you is something that may be painful,” he added, and the smile faded.
“You want to know about Shannon Culbertson,” Blake said perceptibly.“Julie put something in her drink and she died.But I could never prove it.I tried, believe me!”
“If you have any notes on the case, I’d appreciatea look at them, if it isn’t a confidentiality matter,” he added.
“Not at this late date,” Blake replied solemnly.“Drop by my office in the morning and I’ll have them for you.I’d love nothing better than to see Julie Merrill in stripes.”
“That makes two of us,” Grier agreed.He glanced at Violet, who was looking at Blake with wide, soft, loving eyes.He grinned.“You’ve got good taste in women, I might say,” he told the other man.
“I do, don’t I?”Blake said complacently, smiling at Violet, who blushed.
“I hear she’s taking prenatal vitamins,” Grier murmured wickedly.
Blake didn’t fire from the hip.He actually laughed.“Abundantly,” he agreed, “or she goes to sleep in her plate.”He glanced from Grier to Leo Hart, who was also grinning.“You can both come to the wedding, if you’d like.We decided on the Methodist church.We’re announcing it in the paper.No time for invitations.Mrs.Hardy has loaded her shotgun and made significant threats.”
“As if that would matter to you,” Leo chuckled.
Blake smiled.“I never thought I’d get married, much less be a parent.But it all seems to be falling into place naturally.”He eyed Grier.“I hear you’re already taking Tippy’s brother fishing with you.”
“He’s quite a boy, Rory is,” Grier agreed.“I like having him around.I like having her around, too.”
“So?”Blake prompted.
Grier just shrugged.“We’re waiting for a major complication to resolve itself.”
