Page 88 of Lost Hours
“Admit it,” he said. “If we polled everyone here but Mina, they would agree. Being a sheriff isn’t the easiest job in the world and can be filled with more politics than policing.”
“I wish I could say you’re wrong, but you’re not.” Abby looked at Nolan. “I’ll head out right after we finish this update. I can stay with a friend of mine in Portland tonight.”
“Would that be Lauren?” Jude asked.
“It would.” Abby grilled Jude with a gaze that Mina thought many a suspect had been treated to. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
“Hah!” Gabe said. “He’s had a thing for her ever since he worked with her at the Bureau but was too chicken to ask her out. Why do you think it didn’t work out with Becca?”
“Dude,” Hayden said. “Lauren’s way out of your league.”
“I know.” Jude honestly looked heartbroken.
Mina felt bad for the teasing, and she could help by redirecting them back to the investigation. “We do have other things outstanding.”
“I ruled out the mayor having to pay for his medical treatments himself,” Reece said, twirling her fork in her spaghetti.
“How did you manage that?” Gabe asked.
Reece put her fingers to her ear and mouth as if on the phone. “Hello, this is Betty Lou from plan services, and I surely hope you can help me today. We received a complaint about outstanding invoices and would like to confirm they’ve been paid.”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Good old Betty Lou rises to live another day.”
The group laughed, and Mina assumed this was a character Reece used often.
She was all for lightening the tension, but maybe they needed tension to get them moving in the right direction. “We still don’t know what the mayor’s will contains. It’s possible that it all goes to Becca, and his brother-in-law Wade, a sketchy guy, didn’t think that was right. He was seen arguing with the mayor frequently. Could be about that.”
“And could be motive for murder,” Reece said.
“Would also explain abducting Becca,” Nolan said. “If she was set to inherit everything, he couldn’t let her live.”
“I sure don’t like that option,” Reece said. “Because that means she’s likely dead, and we have to keep hoping she’s alive. If you need some help, I’d be happy to find the guy tonight and talk to him.”
“Thanks,” Nolan said. “Dylan’s running background on Wade, so let me check in with him first to see if he located anything suspicious.”
“Hold up,” Hayden called out. “You might want to hang around here. I should be able to access the shop’s financial records soon. We could get us a list of customers’ names and narrow it down to who paid for the tuxedo.”
“Good.” Nolan smiled at his teammate. “In that case we’ll wait here for Hayden’s list, and Wade is all yours, Reece.”
“I’m on it.” She shoved her empty plate away.
Abby stacked her plate with Reece’s. “You still want me to head to the tux shop?”
Nolan nodded. “It’ll take several hours to get there, so it would be good if you were there first thing in the morning to question the owner in case we don’t locate the information we need.”
Abby stood and glanced at Jude. “Want to ride shotgun with me?”
Jude blushed. “If you seriously think you need someone with you, then yes. If you’re just harassing me about coming to stay with Lauren, then no.”
She ruffled his hair. “Sorry, I got this. Just making fun.”
He stared up at her. “Do not mention anything about me to her when you get to Portland.”
“Since you served together, she’s bound to ask how you’re doing.”
“You can tell her I’m great, but keep it at that.”
