Page 23 of The One I Love

Lynn shook her head and held out her hand. “Give it to me. Cereal goes in this cabinet.”

Gary hoped to divert her attention from Dennis, but once the cereal was in the cupboard, her gaze grew thoughtful.

“Did you not want to sell the Impala to him because the one time you did let him drive it, he hit a deer? I remember you telling me the story. How you had to do body work because he didn’t have the money to get the damaged front end fixed, and you didn’t want to file an insurance claim for the accident.”

“I couldn’t file a claim.” Keeping his face averted, Gary continued to put away groceries. “I didn’t know when I let Dennis use the car that weekend that his license had been suspended. You can’t let an unlicensed person drive your vehicle. Insurance won’t—”

Gary realized he was rambling when he felt Lynn place a comforting hand on his arm. She understood some, but not all. Selling a vehicle he’d purchased with his own money the summer he’d turned eighteen had been brutal. But it had to be done.

“Enough about Dennis and the car.” Gary forced a smile. “Tell me your dream list now that we have extra cash.”

A softness filled her blue depths. “You’re so good to me.”

“I’d do anything for you and the kids.” Gary’s fervent tone had a smile of pleasure lifting her lips. “Let’s get the rest of these groceries put away.”

The words had barely left his mouth when his phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at the screen.

June Parker.

Silencing the phone, he slipped it back into his pocket.

* * *

JR frowned. “What reason is Gary giving you?”

June and Cameron had joined the rest of the Driskill clan in the family’s skybox to watch the Grizzlies play their first game of the new season.

Seven long days had passed without any reports from Gary.

“He says he’s been busy filling in for other officers who are on vacation, which is what his wife told me when I stopped by, hoping to catch him at home.” June shook her head. “The thing that I find confusing is that he’s also been slow, really slow, to return my calls and texts.”

“It’s almost as if he doesn’t want you to have the information.” Though Cameron’s words were directed to June, his gaze remained on his brother.

“Sounds like that to me,” JR agreed. “Why would that be?”

“I don’t know.” June picked up a carrot stick from her plate and bit it in half, chewing thoughtfully. “I contacted the DMV to see if I could have a report run, but I can’t. Some sort of privacy thing.”

“Could you contact the officer who originally investigated your sister’s death and tell him or her what you’ve learned?” JR asked.

“Cameron and I discussed doing that,” June told JR. “But, well…”

“Gary has been so helpful in the past that June doesn’t want to go around him,” Cameron explained. “Still, if he’s as busy with his own work as it seems, he might appreciate the end around.”

“End around?” June’s tone turned teasing.

“Weareat a football game,” Cameron reminded her.

“You’re right.” June looped her arm through his. “So why are we talking about this now?”

A roar could be heard through the glass as the team entered the field.

Cameron leaned over and kissed her temple. “For now, we’ll enjoy the game, but I think JR’s suggestion is a good one.”

“I agree it’s time to move ahead,” June told Cameron. “But I’m going to start with the PI. With Leon’s contacts, he should be able to get me that report quickly, and Gary will have it off his plate.”

* * *

After Eve’s television interview, Miles headed home, and Britt had the driver drop her off at a restaurant where she was meeting a client. Britt’s PR business, primarily catering to athletes, continued to grow.

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