Page 80 of Jameson’s Salvation

“What’s that about?” Kennedy leaned closer and asked.

“No idea,” he answered. “I’ll be right back.”

He kissed her temple and stood. Holden and Chasin followed him out the door and the three of them waited until Nixon hung up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Peyton Marshall was found dead in his holding cell.”

“What?” Holden asked the question for all of them.

“Apparent suicide.”

“Suicide? Over a breaking and entering and assault charge?” Chasin shook his head.

“Suicide if you take into account the note Peyton wrote, explaining in detail that he alone acted against Kennedy.”

“Really? And what was his reason, did he say?” Jameson inquired.

“He sure did. Said he was holding a grudge since high school, fighting the need for vengeance but he finally lost control.”

“They have problems in high school?” Chasin asked Nixon.

“Not that I know of. Peyton was always a dick. But I never knew him and Kennedy were even friends. They didn’t hang out in the same circles. But the issue is, the manner of death doesn’t add up to suicide. Peyton was stabbed five times in his neck and stomach.”

“Jesus,” Jameson muttered, even though in the darkest places of his soul he was thinking it couldn’t have happened to a better person.

Just because Jameson couldn’t injure an unarmed man didn’t mean he wasn’t pleased karma hadn’t wasted any time.

“Jonny is pissed someone was able to get to Peyton. The detention center doesn’t have the room to separate the inmates, so Peyton was in general population even though he was awaiting arraignment.”

“You know Reggie made a call to his business partner this morning. I think we need to listen to it again and find out more about Gary Earle,” Jameson suggested.

“Absolutely. As soon as Janice takes Lola home, we’ll talk,” Nixon said and nodded for the house.

Twenty minutes later, McKenna and Kennedy were putting away leftovers and Jameson and Nixon were helping the ladies to the car.

“You’ll make sure that nice young man eats when he gets home, right?” Janice asked.

“Weston is already at Lola’s waiting for you two lovely ladies to get there. And he’s already eaten dinner,” Nixon told them, and Jameson chuckled knowing it would not matter if Nix stressed Weston had eaten, they’d still force-feed him.

“Oh, good. It’s nice having a man around the house,” Lola said and winked.

“I agree,” Janice started. “If I were twenty years younger, I’d give him a run for his money.”

Good God. Poor Weston.

“Even twenty years ago, I think he could still outrun you.” Lola laughed.

“Twenty years ago he wouldn’t’ve been trying to run away.”

Janice wiggled her eyebrows and it was time to send the ladies on their way. Jameson wondered if he should call his friend and warn him the cougars were on their way home but decided it would be more fun to let Weston figure it out on his own that two old women were looking at him like he was a juicy piece of meat.

“You drive careful, Miss Janice,” Nix said and closed the driver’s side door.

The men stood in the drive and watched the women drive away.

“Those two are a trip,” Nixon muttered.