Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 37

37

Max didn’t miss the doubt in Jenna’s face as she stared at her house.

While it was still possible that she’d fainted when she returned for her phone, he was rethinking that after what happened to him near the river yesterday. Maybe someone had been there yesterday morning and returned in the late afternoon and then slipped out of the house before they reached it. But how?

While he hadn’t tried to pick her locks, Max knew it was possible. On the other hand, if there’d been no one in the window, would Max be feeding her paranoia by providing a plausible scenario?

What if he’d misinterpreted her expression, and she was thinking about something else altogether?

“Which side of the road is your grandmother on?” he asked instead.

“The left.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing her again.”

“Hold on to that thought,” Jenna said wryly.

A few minutes later he pulled in front of a Craftsman-style brick house with purple rhododendron in full bloom across the front. “This looks like the kind of place Eva would have,” he said.

“I’ll tell her you said so.”

Jenna’s grandmother met them at the door. She leaned on a cane decorated with more bling than a teenager would use.

“It’s about time you came to see me,” she said, her voice sounding like someone much younger than the eighty he knew her to be. She hugged him, reminding Max of his grandmother who gave really strong hugs.

“You look good,” he said. The house smelled of nutmeg and vanilla. “You could pass for Jamie Lee Curtis’s twin.”

She chuckled. “Maybe in those Halloween movies.”

“No, I saw her in an interview on TV—her hair is cut short like yours.”

Eva hugged Jenna. “He’s a keeper, even if he does lie.”

Max turned to Jenna. “Don’t you agree?”

Jenna tilted her head. “I never noticed it before, but you’re right. Granna, you do favor the actress.”

“Now he’s got you doing it.” Eva shooed them into the living room. “Find a place to sit. I have tea cakes and a pot of hot coffee. Interested?”

“I thought you said you didn’t have any made,” Jenna said.

“No, I said I didn’t have any tea cakes baked . I made some as soon as I heard Max was in town and put the dough in the icebox.”

“Is that what you used to send me when Jenna came home for the weekend?”

“You remembered.”

“There’s no way I could forget them—they reminded me of the ones my grandmother made.”

He’d been watching his carbs, but carbs or no carbs, there was no way he could hurt her feelings. Their questions might go down easier if they were sharing food. He chose the leather recliner to sit in.

“You and Max visit,” Jenna said. “I’ll get the refreshments.”

“You know where everything is.”

Eva’s gaze followed Jenna as she disappeared into the kitchen. “I’m so glad to have that girl back home.”

She settled across from Max on a blue and white floral love seat. A basket of yarn sat on the floor, and it looked as though she’d been knitting when they arrived. “What brings a TBI agent to Pearl Springs?”

That was one thing he’d always liked about Eva. She was direct. “Harrison Carter is having a political rally at the Founders Day picnic, and I’m checking out the security.”

Eva Hart looked as though she’d bitten into a sour pickle. “Since when do our taxpayer dollars go to protect crooked politicians?” she muttered.

He’d struck a nerve. “So, you won’t be voting for him?”

“Hardly.”

Jenna came from the kitchen carrying a tray. “Here we go.”

She set the tray on the coffee table and glanced at her grandmother. “Why don’t you like him?”

“Mostly because everything bad in this town started while Carter was mayor.”

Jenna frowned. “No one has ever mentioned this to me before.”

Eva ran her hand over the rhinestones on the cane. “Maybe it’s time someone did.”

Max sat back. He certainly hadn’t expected this. Before he could ask Eva to explain, a door scraped open.

“That’s probably Sam,” Eva said. “And don’t get him started on Harrison Carter.”

The kitchen door swung open again, and a man about Max’s six-one entered the room. “Hey, Ma. Jenna.” He turned to Max and held out his hand. “You must be the TBI agent.”

“My uncle, Sam Hart,” Jenna said to Max as the two men shook hands.

Sam had the look of someone who liked the outdoors. Max could see the resemblance to Jenna with his coal-black hair, albeit Sam’s was sprinkled with gray.

Sam hooked his thumb in the fancy leather belt looped through his Wranglers and leaned back, eyeing Max. “What are you doing here?”

Suspicion laced the older man’s voice. Max hadn’t been wrong in thinking Sam had seen them pull into Eva’s drive and came to investigate.

“Visiting Granna.” Jenna sounded irritated.

Max managed a smile. “I met your mother some years ago when I was Jenna’s boss at Chattanooga PD.”

Sam bristled like Max’s childhood dog when someone tried to take his bone away. “You saying you’re here in Pearl Springs to see my niece?”

“Not exactly, although it’s been a nice bonus.”

Sam turned to Jenna. “What’s the word on Paul Nelson’s murder?”

“Nothing yet.” She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her grandmother, then poured Max one. “We’re having coffee and tea cakes. Would you like to join us?”

“Nah. It’s not long until lunch.” He turned to his mother. “I’ll see you later.” Sam stopped at the kitchen door. “Now don’t be gossiping about everyone after I leave, especially about me.”

Once the back door closed, Jenna turned to her grandmother. “Granna, why did you say not to get Sam started on Harrison Carter?”