AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I wanted to ask about Tanner’s fender bender, but he’d already talked to Mr. Quintar—Chief Quintar,” she corrected herself.
“He wants me to call him?” McCrae was having trouble with the thought of Delta going to see Woody.
“We talked about the past . . . the barbeque . . . a lot of things.”
“What things?” He was keying in, now.
“He said that . . . a lot of things about Tanner that I already knew. His cheating. With my friends. Sounded like Woody went with him to men’s clubs, maybe. And he mentioned that Brian Timmons . . .” She heaved a sigh. “You should talk to him. I don’t want to say anything about Brian. I don’t even think it’s true.”
“What did he say?” McCrae asked patiently, even though he wanted to yell at her to stay the hell away from the investigation. It was bad enough already. He didn’t want her doing anything that anyone could misconstrue.
“He said he was a horndog. That his ‘tongue was on the ground’ looking at the teens.”
“I don’t remember that,” McCrae murmured, wondering what Woody’s angle was. “I’ll call him. But, Delta, stay away from him and anyone who has anything to do with Tanner’s homicide. Leave the investigating to us.”
“I can’t just sit around,” she said with a note of belligerence. “I feel set up, and I can’t just sit around. And I think someone was following me, and I don’t want to go home yet.”
“Following you?” he snapped.
“Maybe . . . I don’t know . . .” She backed down quickly.
McCrae slowed before he was about to turn into the station, then sped up and drove past. “You know where I live? My dad’s house.”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Meet me there. I’m on my way now.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” she asked after a weighty pause.
Hell, no. “Just be there, okay?”
“Okay,” she said.
What are you doing, buddy? What are you doing?
His phone rang. Quin. “Hey,” he greeted his boss. “You get my message about the car?”
“Yeah, what’s it about?”
McCrae tersely gave him a rundown of the vehicle and what it meant to Bailey’s case. “The Crassleys are involved. I don’t know how yet, but I will.”
“Goddamn,” Quin said soberly.
“I know. We’re getting traction on Bailey’s case, finally, but there’s something else.” He then told him about Ellie’s encounter with the Crassleys and taking Gale Crassley to the county jail.
Quin sounded flabbergasted. “I’m sorry I haven’t been available. I’ve been putting out fires on your behalf. Hurston had a whole list of reasons why he wants Delta charged with her husband’s murder, and he wants you off the case.”
“He doesn’t have any jurisdiction! This isn’t his investigation!” McCrae exploded.
“I told him that. Reminded him I was the chief. He’s got Mayor Kathy twisted around his finger, but until I’m removed from office, he can flap his arms and fly around like a headless goose, which is what he’s doing. Don’t come in. Keep doing whatever you’re doing. He’s been ready to pounce on you all day.”
“Okay.” McCrae felt a little better about meeting Delta instead of going into work.
“This is good work, McCrae,” Quin added. “And I’m sorry about Ellie. Is she okay?”
“I think so. I’ve checked in. I’ll keep making sure.”
“Those Crassleys . . . ,” he muttered coldly.
