Page 142 of It Runs in the Family

“Deanna might have his number.”

“That’s a risk. If she figures out that we knew Rebecca was dead when we talked to her, she’s not going to tell us anything. Not to mention she might tell a sheriff’s deputy.”

I frowned. “Yeah, you’re right.”

We ate for a few more minutes in silence before Boone said, “How pissed off will Garrett be when he finds out you were lookin’ into Rebecca Threadgill?”

“Hopefully, he won’t find out.”

“But if he does…”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. He’s never been really mad at me before.”

A sad smile lifted his lips. “Because you’re the second most responsible cousin after him.”

My face flushed. “You remember that?”

“I remember everything you’ve told me, Iris.” The look on his face changed into something I had a hard time naming. Not yearning, but maybe something close to wishful.

“When you finish this assignment, do you go back to Dallas?”

He hesitated, then said, “I don’t know.”

“But you won’t have any reason to hang around Chaffney.” I let out a soft laugh. “I mean, no one sticks around Chaffney.”

Disappointment filled his eyes. “No, probably not.”

I gave a short nod.

“Have you ever thought about leaving Mesquite County?” he asked softly.

I paused, unsure how to answer. Granny had been trying to get me to leave, and now I didn’t even have a job to hold me back…

But I couldn’t imagine going somewhere like Austin or Dallas, all on my own. I struggled to consider leaving Garrett and Mary Ellen and Ava, and even the rest of my crazy cousins. Especially Granny. If Aunt Millie and Uncle Dale really were after her farm, I owed it to her to stick around and protect her, although she’d insist she was the last person who needed protecting. She might be right, but I still couldn’t leave her.

“My life is here,” I said, surprised by how hard it was to push the words past the lump in my throat.

“You could build a life somewhere else.” He leaned over the table, holding my gaze. “You’re not stuck here, Iris. There’s a whole world out there, just waitin’ for you.”

He wasn’t suggesting I move closer to him, which would be flat-out crazy. We barely knew each other. And yet… there was no denying there was something between us. I knew he felt it too.

I wrapped up my half-eaten burger and stuffed it into the bag. “I’m gonna try callin’ Selena again. I haven’t tried in a couple of days. Maybe after Rebecca, she’ll answer.”

His lips pursed, but he nodded. “Yeah. Good idea. I’m gonna go through this spreadsheet again and see if I can find a pattern.”

“Sounds good. But I’m gonna step outside to call her.”

“If you want privacy, I can go outside,” he said, looking concerned.

“I need some air.” I gave a short laugh. “Trust me, the last thing I want is to be snatched by Dario Voss’s henchmen.”

“Yeah, okay. Stay in front of the window.”

I didn’t respond, just slipped out the door and sat in a metal chair in front of the window. I hadn’t been lying about needing some air. Sitting in the motel with Boone was a reminder of what I didn’t have—a thoughtful boyfriend, an actual career, a life outside of my family. And while part of me yearned for all three, the last two felt impossible.

Especially if I was going to be murdered soon. How could I forget that?

After a few moments, I pulled out my phone and placed a call to Selena. It went straight to voicemail, but I left a message on the off chance she was screening her calls.