Page 63 of Jameson’s Salvation

“That’s gross,” Kennedy announced.

“You’re telling me.” Chasin mock shuttered.

Chasin was still working the drama edge. But Jameson didn’t care. He was too busy enjoying the smile on Kennedy’s face.

“Talked to Jonny,” Chasin announced. “He’s officially inviting us into the investigation. He needs all of us at the station tomorrow to be temporarily deputized. After that he’ll share everything they have so far. He did mention he had a tip, but wouldn’t go into details over the phone or until we were official.”

Jameson wanted to kick his friend. It was good news the sheriff’s department was going to share what they had. So far it had only been a one-way street of them passing along what they’d found but that’s where the flow of information stopped. Jonny couldn’t reciprocate. But as welcomed as the news was, Kennedy was no longer smiling.

“I’ve been thinking. It’s pretty hard for someone to hide in a town as small as this,” Kennedy started. “And after my mom told us the rumors about Peyton being Reggie’s biological son and you guys found that Peyton owns part of Reggie’s business, what if Reggie’s hiding Peyton on one of his properties? If Reggie’s delivering provisions, Peyton wouldn’t have to leave.”

“Smart woman,” Chasin praised.

“We’ll start running down any property he’s purchased that still has the electric turned on,” Jameson instructed.

“And starting tomorrow, I’ll tail him. If he is making deliveries to Peyton he’ll take me right to him,” Chasin said.

“Hey! We’re home!” Nixon’s voice boomed up the stairs.

“You wanna go down or we can eat up here?” Jameson asked.

“Go down.”

Chasin left the room and Jameson got Kennedy sorted. She wasn’t pleased when he carried her down the stairs and set her on the couch, but being Jameson was twice her size, there wasn’t much she could do except complain.

They’d filled Nixon and McKenna in on Kennedy’s suspicions and both had agreed she was on to something.

With her cheesesteak on a plate in her lap, Kennedy announced, “I want to help.”

Before the three men in the room could protest, McKenna answered, “That’d be great.”

“McKenna,” Nixon warned.

“What? She can help me narrow down Reggie’s properties. I could use the help.”

McKenna did not need the help. As a matter of fact, Kennedy would slow her down. McKenna was their resident computer genius. She could easily hack into any computer system and get them any intel they needed.

“We’ve been digging into Reggie, but we’ve been going soft sticking to legal parameters. I think it’s time to—”

“No, McKenna. We need to build a case. We can’t do that if the information is obtained illegally. And tomorrow you’ll be deputized, you cannot break the law,” Nixon told her.

“No one will know,” McKenna huffed. “Besides, we don’t have to use what I find, but it will point us in the right direction. I could hack his cellphone in two point five seconds and you know it. I could have his camera and mic on and we could listen. And if I do it tonight before I’m deputized, then Jonny won’t be on the hook if I am caught.”

“But you’ll be on the hook,” Jameson reminded McKenna.

Fire lit in the woman’s eyes before she narrowed them on Jameson. “So? Do you think I care? Reggie Coleman is behind Kennedy getting hurt. I want him nailed down, now, before he tries something else. And all ye with little faith in my skills are assuming I’d get caught. Which you all know I won’t.”

“I don’t want you to get into trouble, McKenna,” Kennedy spoke up. “Actually I don’t want anyone in trouble or hurt. Maybe—”

“Don’t go there, Kennedy,” Jameson started. “We are all in this with you. And McKenna’s right. We’ve been playing by the rules and it’s got us nowhere. We need to tap his phone, but I’m going to do it.”

“You don’t know how,” McKenna snorted.

“You’re right. But you can stand beside me and tell me what to do.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“No. That’s me being culpable and you keepin’ your nose clean.”