When he finished reading Hammy’s criminal history, he closed the file, leaving the contents of the background checks folder displayed on the screen. Two others had come in the prior day. Jessica had told him that Priscilla had loved to get her in trouble. Judging from what he’d read, she hadn’t needed any help.
Getting hauled in hadn’t seemed to shake her in the slightest. In the arrest photos, her eyes shone with rebellion, and the lift of her chin radiated stubborn pride, as if each picture had been snapped just after a defiant toss of her head.
She’d had only one arrest as an adult, down in Miami, a few months after her eighteenth birthday. Apparently, she’d helped hold up a convenience store and had driven the getaway car. That booking photo was different from the others. Her dark eyes were wide and infused with fear. It was as if she’d just realized she was an adult, and all the ramifications that went with that new status. Justice looked a little scarier from the other side of that all-important birthday. Life wasn’t a game anymore. At least she’d made a wise choice. She’d taken a plea bargain and agreed to testify against the two guys in exchange for her charges being dropped.
One more background check waited in the folder, much briefer than even Spike’s. The criminal history portion simply said No record found. Branch was clean.
He powered down the computer and rose from the chair. The couch beckoned. He’d had a rough night last night, at least the last part of it. He’d slept well until three a.m. Then the nightmares had started.
He’d thought he was beginning to move past them. Over the past couple of years, they’d grown less frequent. Last night, they’d returned with a vengeance. The only things he could attribute their return to were Priscilla Parker’s murder and the threats against Jess.
He sat on the couch and tipped his head back. He wouldn’t sleep. He’d just rest his eyes. If he was going to have breakfast tomorrow, he needed to pick up eggs and milk. He was running low on a few other items, too. His eyelids drifted shut.
He awoke with a start and looked at his watch. It was 5:40. He’d been asleep for thirty minutes. He pushed himself up from the couch and picked up his keys. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he walked past his Jeep and headed toward the sidewalk. From his temporary home, all of downtown was within easy walking distance. Harmony Produce and Meats was a short distance past BethAnn’s, on the left. It didn’t have the selection of one of the chain grocery stores, but it offered everything he needed without having to drive to Winter Haven fifteen minutes away.
The past few days, he’d spent a lot of time hanging out downtown, keeping his eyes and ears open. Yesterday, he’d had lunch at the Hometown Cafe. The night before, he’d gone to Pappy’s Pizzeria. It was a great spot for people watching. Even on a Sunday night, the place had been packed. He’d picked up bits and pieces of gossip, but nothing of value. Maybe he’d go back tonight.
When he reached the corner, he took a right on Main and headed into the setting sun. In another forty-minutes, daylight would fade to dusk, then night. He’d be home by then, at least until he left for Pappy’s. So would Jess.
She’d walked to work that morning. He’d seen her leave the house dressed in a scoop-necked tee and designer jeans tucked into those ever-present platform boots. The whole ensemble was so much more Jess than last week’s skirt and blazer had been.
He lifted a hand against the sun’s glare. When he reached BethAnn’s Fabrics and Crafts, he couldn’t resist a glance through the plate glass window. BethAnn stood at the cash register speaking with a customer, and Jess walked briskly toward one of the aisles carrying three bolts of fabric. He stopped walking to watch her. In profile, her hair appeared almost black against skin that had lost most of its summertime tan. The dark ends framed her face and curled gently away from her long neck.
Over the years, she’d probably captivated more than one unsuspecting man. It wouldn’t have been her fault, though. She didn’t flirt or use her feminine wiles to get what she wanted. She had the strength and confidence to go after whatever she needed without help from anyone else and a bluntness he found refreshing. There was no pretense with Jess.
Once she had the bolts stuffed into their proper slots, she turned to make her way back to the front of the store. Her gaze met his through the window, and a smile climbed up her cheeks. According to the sign on the door, it was almost closing time. Maybe he could convince her to go to Pappy’s with him. It was the best way he knew to keep her out of trouble, at least for a couple of hours. And it helped stave off some of the loneliness.
He swung open the front door and stepped inside. “Hey, you.”
BethAnn waved an enthusiastic greeting while Jess met him at the door. “What are you up to?”
“Picking up some groceries, then maybe having dinner at Pappy’s.”
“Again? You’re not tired of pizza yet?”
“Or maybe the cafe next door. Wherever I go, I was hoping a certain neighbor of mine would be willing to keep me company.”
Before she had an opportunity to respond, the bell on the door sounded, and an older woman marched in wearing one of those big hairdos from the 1960s. Her eager eyes roved the store then settled on him.
“I’ve seen you around but haven’t had a chance to properly introduce myself.”
