Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 36

36

For the life of her, Jenna didn’t understand how Harrison Carter had made it as far in politics as he had. Evidently he showed the voters a different personality than he was showing to them.

“You might want to be careful who you call backwoods hillbillies,” she said, keeping her voice even. “They do vote, you know, and it would be a shame if you didn’t carry your home county.”

Color rose in Carter’s face. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes, but those people almost cost us the dam.”

“Would that have been such a terrible thing?” She fisted her hands on her hips. “I sure don’t see that it’s served the purpose you said the community needed it for—we have no new industry.”

“That’s about to change. It’s the whole purpose of having this political rally at the Founders Day picnic. That’s when I’ll announce a new industry locating in Pearl Springs that will provide two hundred new jobs. But please keep it under your hat. The deal won’t be finalized until sometime later this week. I’d hate for something to mess up the deal.”

She’d heard Carter planned to make some kind of announcement at the picnic, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this. It took the starch out of her sails, as Granna would say. “I hope it pans out,” she said stiffly.

“It will. Now, if there’s nothing else, I really need to get on the road.”

“I’ll call you if we run into any more questions that need answering,” Max said. “Or I can hold them until the funeral.”

Carter nodded his agreement. He turned and strode to his car, stopping to use a handkerchief to wipe the tops of his shoes off before he got in the back seat.

“He’ll probably be our next senator,” Max muttered.

“Not by my vote.” She folded her arms across her chest. “He doesn’t respect the voters.”

“At least he gave us one lead. Do you know where we can find Milton Bledsoe?”

Jenna nodded. “Pearl Springs cemetery.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish. But maybe Junior can give us some insight.” Jenna’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. “My grandmother. Let me make sure nothing is wrong.” She answered the phone. “Granna, is everything okay?”

“No.”

Her heart leaped in her throat. “What’s wrong? Is it your heart?”

“My heart’s fine, it’s my feelings that are hurt.”

“What?”

Her grandmother chuckled. “I heard Max Anderson was in town and he hasn’t been by to see me.”

“Oh.” She glanced over at Max and grinned. “I think we can remedy that.” Jenna checked the time. Ten thirty. “Are you up for us dropping by for a few minutes?”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t have any tea cakes baked, but it serves him right.”

“See you in about fifteen minutes.” Jenna disconnected and grinned again when he questioned her with his eyes. “Granna’s feelings are hurt you haven’t been to see her. I hope it’s okay that I told her we’d come by there.”

“Maybe she can fill us in on Harrison Carter and the dam project.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” she said. “And there’s no need to drive both vehicles. We’ll go right by the sheriff’s office and can leave one of them in the parking lot.”

They agreed to leave hers, and he picked her up a few minutes later.

“Where does she live?”

“About a mile past my house.” As they approached her house, she said, “Do you mind stopping by my place so I can make sure no one’s been there so far this morning?”

“That’s a good idea.”

They made a quick stop, and Jenna stared at the front window just as the sun ducked behind a cloud. There wasn’t even a shadow reflected today.

Her palms sweated as she approached the front door with Max beside her. It was still deadbolted, and she relaxed a little. Inside everything looked normal, and the tape on the plate hadn’t been disturbed.

“Thanks for humoring me.”

“No problem.”

A few minutes later, she glanced toward the window again as Max backed out of the drive. The sun popped out, and rays reflected off the window, creating a lifelike shadow. While it didn’t resemble the man she saw late yesterday, once again she wondered if it was possible her mind had been playing tricks on her.