Lucy sat up straighter, realizing I was serious. “Hmm. Well, I can certainly try to run some tests to get DNA evidence, but the plastic bag or the room temperature may have degraded it. Although, it’s only been a couple weeks and it’s been relatively cool, so anything’s possible.”
“Sweet!” I could feel energy returning to my limbs as a plan came together. “Lenora, can you turn back into a car for hire and drive the woman back to the airport? I want to see if you can get a real name out of her. Credit card, app user name, maybe a name on her luggage tag?” Lenora used to be the only Uber driver in our little town, a job she retired from when she and Jayden opened up the Hardware Store.
Lenora grinned. “Heck, yes! This’ll be fun.”
Finnie hopped up on her knees where she sat on the floor. “I can infiltrate the guys’ circle and find out what’s going on with Titus. Charlie is all about the feelings, so I’ll get him to spill on what Titus has told them. Just need a jar of moonshine and the right lingerie to get him talking.”
The girls whooped and hollered. I would have joined them if things were better with Titus. As it was, I barely kept my emotions together long enough to formulate a two-prong plan: take down the mayor and whatever twisted circle of friends he kept, and save my relationship with Titus.
“I want a job too! Assign me something, Amelia.” Hazel had enthusiasm written all over her face.
I wracked my brain, knowing I’d hurt her feelings if I didn’t trust her with some part of my plan. Then it hit me.
“Come shopping with me, Hazel. I need a killer outfit if I’m going to slay Titus. My apology will be well thought out and epic, but it never hurts for a girl to be looking her best.”
Another idea hit my brain. “Oh, and I’m even going to involve my dad. Remind me to call him and fill him in on his role. I want to put our plan in action by Monday at the latest, okay?” I couldn’t handle another week without Titus. And I sure hope he felt the same way.
The girls crowded in and we all put our hands in the middle of the circle.
Lucy led the cheer. “Ametus on three. One, two, three!”
“Ametus!”
25
Titus
Monday morning came faster than it had any right to. My head still throbbed from the week-plus of excessive drinking, my ass was on fire from the tattoo that was healing there, and my heart still felt cleaved in two.
But I had a plan and that was enough to get me up, dressed, and over to Coffee to indulge in liquid courage made from a meager coffee bean. I was going to build my house as a gift to Amelia, exactly as I’d planned before we broke up. If I couldn’t live there with Amelia, what was the point in even having it? It had been hers from the beginning and it would always be hers. With me by her side or not. And it was sure looking like not.
“Titus.” A meaty hand slapped down on my shoulder, startling me as I waited for my order, staring at the far wall like a man possessed.
I swiveled my head to find Chief Waldo next to me, his uniform looking freshly laundered. Clearly, he hadn’t had his donut and coffee yet.
“Morning, Chief.” I tried out a smile.
He grimaced at me and then waved me over to a nearby table. “Sit.”
When the town chief of police, or your ex-girlfriend’s dad, tells you to sit, you do it. The hard wood seats felt like spikes digging into my new tattoo. My leg jumped up and down under the table as I waited for him to lecture me. I didn’t know if Amelia had told him of our breakup, but given the extra wrinkle between his brows, I was pretty sure he knew. Best to beat him to the punch.
“I’d prefer it be quick. No strangulation. That takes too long. Same with drowning or a stabbing.”
Waldo’s bushy eyebrows did a dance right there on his face. “What in God’s name are you talking about, boy?”
I folded my hands together on the tabletop to keep them from shaking. I honestly wasn’t scared of Chief Waldo any longer. I was facing something far worse than his wrath. I was facing a life sentence without Amelia. Death by ex-future-father-in-law sounded better.
“If you’re gonna kill me, could you make it quick?”
“Listen here, young man.” Waldo’s beefy finger was pointed at my face. “I’m not here to kill you, dumbass. I’m here to tell you to make things right with Amelia.”
I couldn’t have heard correctly. Did he just call me a dumbass? “What?”
His hand slammed down on the table and I could feel heads turning in our direction. “Whatever happened between you two can be fixed. I’ve never seen Amelia so subdued. Even when our family dog died—God rest that lab’s soul—she was back to smiling and laughing by the afternoon. We’re going on ten days of mopey Amelia and I can’t take it anymore. She’s been coming over for dinner every night and spreading her black cloud. What’s the use in moving out if they keep coming back every single day? You two are clearly meant to be together, so fix it already!”
I shook my head, hating to hear that Amelia was upset, but there wasn’t really anything I could do this time to fix things for her. That had been my job over the years: keep Amelia happy. And I’d done a damn good job of it. Until now. It
