Page 107 of Head Room
Jay Haus coming around the corner from the direction of the sheriff’s department.Blowing past me like he didn’t see me.
Reminding me of something...something to do with Sergeant Jardos.
Got it.
I heard Connie’s voice in my head.
Why I thought something was bothering him was his expression when he walked right by me.Must have been Monday.That was the day I was at the courthouse to file papers for Burrell Roads.I was nearly to my truck in the parking lot.He’d come from the side street, and had actually passed me...
****
I pivoted andhurried back to the law office on the side street, swinging open the door, and surprising the young receptionist.
I disarmed her with “I’ll just—”
And bypassed her, still at full speed, to knock once on James’ door and go in.
“James, what did Frank Jardos come here to see you about early last week?”
“I can’t—”
“He’s dead—”
“Not officially.”
He was right.That didn’t mean I had to fold.“I’ll tell Shelton.”
He stared at me a moment, then we both laughed at the I’ll-tell-Mom echo.
“But, seriously, Iwilltell him,” I said.“Jardos can’t be a client of yours, not with you being the mediator, facilitator, whatever you want to call it, between the vets and the museum — unless it’s an entirely different matter.”
“As a matter of fact, he asked for detailed information on how registered agents work.”
I stifled thewhat?that wanted to arise and replaced it with, “And whatarethe details of how they work?”
Even as I asked the question, another bell went off in my head.I’d read something...Something connected with...cocktails?
That didn’t seem right, but—
“Elizabeth, I’ll tell you exactly what I told him.I know little about that and I am not comfortable beyond saying that you should look at the official Wyoming state website for your information.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Did I tryto get more than that from him?
Of course.
Didn’t succeed.As I said, James is a good lawyer.
But at least I got something.
Even if it was the tiniest fragment of a thread to follow up on regarding Frank Jardos’ last days— No.I should not slip into a groove of assumption.
The last days before his cabin burned down and a dead body was found there.
****
This time Imade it all the way to inside my SUV, still parked behind the courthouse.
