Page 37 of Homicide in Water Creek

King’s bark of laughter could be heard down the main street as they headed down the stairs. It made her heart so happy she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Since they’d made love last night, that seemed to be the theme. For the first time in her life, she was truly happy, because no matter what they faced, they’d face it together. They loved each other, and while they had to keep it under wraps for now, it was doing her heart a world of good to know she was no longer alone in this world. That she didn’t have to face the hard stuff without a hand to hold. Climbing into the SUV with him, Jacks sighed with what could only be contentment. She’d never experienced that before, but she liked it. Something told her she’d like it even better once Wade Owens and Vonita King were out of their lives.

“Where should we start?” King asked, heading down the road toward the business district.

“Not much to choose from, King,” she said. “We’ve got the farm store and the thrift shop.”

“Did you get a close enough look at the clothes to tell if they were new or used?”

“Oh, they’re new,” she said with a snicker. “The jeans are so stiff that he can barely bend his knees or sit down.”

“Thrift store is out, then,” he said, wearing a grin as he pictured it. “Has to be the farm store.”

“What’s the plan of attack?” she asked when they pulled in. “If you walk in there flashing your badge, it will be all over town in minutes.”

Groaning, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I hadn’t thought of that. Guess you’re up, passenger princess. Damn, I want to kiss you so badly right now.”

“Not here,” Jacks said, leaning against the window. “Imagine if the store cameras caught that.”

He hoped the smile on his lips and the lust in his eyes told her he didn’t care, even if she was right. To keep his hands off her, he gripped the wheel. “If we weren’t in the middle of a murder investigation, I wouldn’t give a damn, but since we want people to help us, we can’t distract them. We need a plan.”

Unbuckling her seatbelt, she grabbed her phone and shook it. “Have you questioned anyone here about Vonita’s murder?”

“Why would I? She wasn’t killed in town.”

Her eye roll got plenty of lift when she hit him with it. “Some sheriff you are. Wouldn’t you always ask about strangers in town when there’s been a murder? Seems prudent to me.”

“I would, but you see, someone in town runs a rodeo school, so there are always strangers around.”

“Due diligence and all that,” Jacks said. “You go in and ask your questions, and then I’ll tag on mine about Chinos. They won’t suspect a thing.”

“You can’t just ask them if he bought clothes here,” he said, jumping out of the SUV to follow her into the store.

“Give me a little credit, King. Subterfuge is my superpower.”

When she sashayed off, King bit back his laughter, but never took his eyes off her sweet behind. The sweet behind that was now his for eternity. The settling in his belly told him everything he needed to know. Spinning on his heel, he walked to the checkout desk with the authority of a lawman. Without knowing what Jacks was going to do, he’d have to punt until she arrived.

“Good morning, Darla,” he said, addressing the woman behind the register. There was only one register, so he hoped she was working when Chinos came in.

“Heya, Sheriff,” she answered, a bright smile on her face. Darla was young, single, and always angling for a ride in his squad. He’d managed to dodge her flirtations, so he was glad he’d soon be able to say he was off the market. “What can I get the finest lawman around?”

King had to work hard to stay professional. If there were a medal for buttering someone up, Darla would win it every time. “Information,” he said instead. “Wondering if you noticed any strangers around here before Halloween.”

“You mean someone who might have murdered your mother?” she asked, and he shrugged as if to say ‘sure.’ “Only cowboys and ranch hands come in here. There are plenty of cowboys since the rodeo school got its new batch, but otherwise, no one I’ve seen.”

At that moment, Jacks walked up and smiled at Darla. “I hope the rodeo cowboys are being respectful.”

“Of course,” Darla agreed, her smile dimming at the sight of Jacks at his side. King fought to keep his arm from going around Jacks’s shoulder in a sign of possessiveness. “Did you need something for the ranch?”

“Just this,” Jacks said, holding up a flannel shirt. “Jackson tore his favorite, so since I was in town, I thought I’d pick him one up.”

“That was nice of you,” Darla said, finishing the transaction after Jacks tapped her card. “Have a good day.”

Grabbing the bag, Jacks headed straight out the front doors without a backward glance. She hadn’t asked Darla a single thing about Chinos.

Fighting the urge to chase after her, he turned back to Darla. “If you think of anything, give me a ring.”

“Absolutely, Sheriff,” she said, her tone far less flirty. “I’m sure you’d love to solve your mother’s murder.”

The stress Darla put on the word mother told him she was peeved. So peeved, she would probably tell anyone who would listen today that he and Jacks were an item. He wasn’t ashamed of that, but it could complicate matters. Nothing he could do about it now.