“Yeah, yeah.” I shifted my thoughts to visiting the bar and what the bartender had told me. While I’d tried to find anything pertinent about the lighter or even anything that happened during that spring break, I was completely unsuccessful. I’d simply frustrated myself.
“What’s wrong?” Darlene asked, leaning in.
“Nothing.”
“Come on. Confess. Are you still angry with me?”
“Terribly,” I mused then squeezed her arm. “Life is too short to stay angry. No, just trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together regarding my parents’ murders.”
“You can’t keep driving yourself nuts. You know that.”
“What I know is that the fire is connected to the one at the sporting goods store. I’m positive. I just need to find a connection. I finally have a clue.”
She gave me one of her ugly frowns as I liked to call them. “What did you do?”
“It’s what I found.”
Her entire body stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
I debated telling her anything because I knew how she’d get, but maybe in her capacity as an attorney, she could help. “You owe me a favor. Unless you want me to stay mad at you forever.”
“You just told me you weren’t.”
“I lied,” I deadpanned.
“Fine. You drive a hard bargain. Talk or I’ll put you on a witness stand.”
Leaning over, I reached into my purse, finding the lighter. “Someone has been following me. I thought I saw them on my property, so I ran after them.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Stop. I know what I’m doing. I found this lying on a rock near where the fire scorched a two-foot pathway.”
“A lighter.” She turned it over. “Interesting.”
“I thought so, which is why I went to visit the bar.”
“You did not.”
“You bet I did. While I didn’t learn much, maybe you can find out more. Sam, the bartender was helpful enough, including tossing out the arsonist isn’t finished.”
Darlene appeared skeptical. “Well, isn’tthatinteresting.”
“I thought so. Remember, you owe me.”
She snatched the lighter. “Tell me everything and I do mean everything.”
So I did.
After I was finished, she glanced away briefly. “Fine. I’ll see what I find out. Maybe I’ll check on this Sam guy. And here I was hoping your hands were all scuffed up for a kinky reason.”
“You wench.” I tossed them a look, noticing someone was pushing their way through the crowd in an effort to get to the bar.
“Is he?” Maggie pressed.
Was that Landen?
When I ignored the question, Darlene pushed my arm again. “Are you paying attention?”
