Melissa’s eyes widened. She looked from Bree to Avery and back to Bree, her eyes narrowing. “What the hell?”
“That’s what I said when I arrived today and learned someone else had been acting in my stead.” She nodded toward Bree.
Melissa shook her head. “But you got here three days ago.” She stared at Bree, then back at Avery. “My God, you two look like mirror images.”
The sheriff’s thick eyebrows formed a V over his nose. “Which one of you is the real Agent Hart?”
Bree Lansing’s lips quirked.
Avery answered, “I am.” She pointed to Bree and said, “She’s been here the last few days, pretending to be me.”
“Can we take this discussion inside?” Bree said. “I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Melissa and Sheriff Taylor stood still, as if they didn’t know who or what to believe.
For a moment, Avery thought they’d accuse her of lying about being the real FBI agent. Bree Lansing had made a convincing show of being her.
Grant stepped forward, gripped Bree’s arm and said, “We’re going inside. I want to hear what she has to say.”
Avery followed Grant and Bree. Agent Bradley and the sheriff trailed behind her.
The evening dinner crowd had gone home, leaving only the patrons interested in drinking and watching sports on the televisions mounted strategically over the bar and in the corners.
Grant marched Bree to a table on the far side of the bar and grill.
The woman pulled out a seat and sank onto it.
Avery sat across the table from her, Grant sat to Avery’s right, between the two women.
Melissa sat on Avery’s other side, and the sheriff took the seat on the other side of Bree.
“Somebody show me some credentials,” Melissa demanded, her eyes steely. “Now.”
Bree glanced across the table at Avery, cocking an eyebrow.
Avery’s cheeks reddened. “I can’t,” she said.
“What do you mean you can’t?” Melissa shook her head and faced Bree. “If you’re the real Agent Hart, you can show me your FBI credentials.”
Bree shrugged. “I’m not the real Agent Hart. I’m not working for the FBI, and I don’t have credentials, as I’ve never worked for the FBI.” She pointed toward Avery. “She’s the FBI agent. I just filled in since everyone assumed I was her.”
Melissa sat back in her seat, her eyes wide. “You realize impersonating a federal officer is?—”
“A felony,” Bree nodded. “I know, but your agent didn’t show, you thought I was the agent and you had a murder to solve.”
Melissa pushed a hand through her hair and then pointed at Avery. “Agent Hart?”
Avery nodded.
“If you only got here today, where have you been?”
Avery shot a glance toward Grant. “I was in an accident. I didn’t wake up until yesterday. They released me from the hospital in Waco this morning. I came straight to Shadow Valley.”
“Sweet Jesus, why didn’t you call and let someone know?”
“My car was swept away in a flash flood with my phone, credentials and my wallet. All I could remember was that I needed to get to Shadow Valley.” She glanced toward Grant. “And let me be completely transparent…”
Melissa waved a hand. “Please.”
