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“If you’re about to tell me it’s been burned to a cinder or otherwise completely destroyed, I’m going to need a minute first.”
“Oh, no. Your car looks fine. Not a scratch that I can tell. I didn’t have your keys to see if it would start, but nothing is missing from your engine.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. In fact, that’s the good news.”
“Okay, then what’s the bad news.” She reached out for Victoria’s hand spontaneously. Her new friend enclosed both her palms securely around her fingers. Duke stared at their clasped hands for a few seconds before speaking.
“Unfortunately, it looks like pretty much everything that used to be inside of your car—especially all of your clothing—is now strewn about outside of your vehicle.”
Jessica frowned. Why was that bad? It would be a mess to clean up but, not the end of the world. “That’s not so bad, is it? I’ll pick it all up, spend some quality time at the local laundromat…” She trailed off and stopped talking when the other three people in the room looked dubious.
Duke continued, “I don’t know if you know this about Montana, but it’s one of the top ten windiest states in the country.” He’d taken his hat off when he entered the store. He now spun it in his hands as if to keep his fingers busy while he gave her all of the bad news.
“So all my clothing and things…” she trailed off, picturing a circular debris pattern covering two states.
“…have likely blown halfway to South Dakota by now,” he said with a nod, finishing the sentence for her. “I’m sorry, Jessica.”
She looked at Victoria, who squeezed her hand between hers and said, “Look on the bright side. There’s going to be a big shopping extravaganza in your future. I’ll go with you and help you pick out new stuff. It’ll be fun.”
Jessica nodded. “I’m okay. Really. I was more worried about my car. Can I go get it and chase my remaining clothing around the area?”
“Sure. I can drive you out there. I’ve got a deputy guarding it for now, doing his best to grab up whatever possessions that he could, but he’s off duty in about ten minutes, heading to an appointment.”
His expression clouded. He glanced at his watch. “The thing is, once I get you out there, then I’ll have to head in the opposite direction from Enclave for a meeting across the border in Holt county about as soon as I get you there. I won’t be able to help chase clothing or lead you back to Enclave when you’re done.”
“I can go with you, Jessica. I’ll help chase garments, and get you safely back to Enclave,” Victoria said. She glanced at Lilianna, who nodded immediately, and said, “I can close up the candy shop if you’re not back in time, Victoria.”
“What if your car won’t start?” Duke asked.
Victoria answered, “If her car won’t start, you can call or radio Dylan at Enclave Auto before you go to Holt County.”
He twirled his hat in his fingers one more time. “Okay,” he said, nodding. “Are you both ready to go?”
Victoria dropped her hand, reached behind the end of the counter, and grabbed her small purse. Slinging it over one shoulder, she said, “I’m ready.”
Jessica said, “Yes. But I need to tell Gray where I’m going. I told him this morning that my pending stolen car retrieval might come up this week unexpectedly. By the way, did you ever find out where that guy in the rental car went?”
“No. He left my jurisdiction. I had to call my deputy back to the station. But everyone on my staff has the details of the vehicle and both drivers. If either of them pops a head up in town, we’ll find them and invite them to the sheriff’s office for a chat. Pronto.” His gaze was on Victoria as he spoke and also after he finished speaking. Victoria drilled him an equally bold stare. Sparks fairly burst in the space between them.
Jessica waited for full silent count of thirty before disrupting the lust-filled staring, saying quietly, “Thanks, Duke,”
He broke the stare first, and nodded at her once. “No problem. I’m parked in the employee parking lot behind the saloon. We’ll have to pass by your office on the way to my cruiser anyway.
