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I almost laugh. Thankfully, I mange to refrain. The joke is on her and I can’t wait to get to the punchline. Residents of Jester Falls are people, people. They aren’t tech savvy. They’re relationship savvy.
“Ashley is helping Georgia Adkins and Ms. Anita get set up online.”
She nods. “I think with them on board, I can get the rest of the town behind the idea. It could really do a lot for the local economy.”
A notification flashes across my laptop screen. I agree. “It’s amazing the things you can find online.”
Ashley grins proudly, the way people do when they think they’ve won.
“You see,” Davis says, nudging her with his elbow. “I told you my sister could be nice when she wants to be.”
He glares at me, and then he places his hand on the small of Ashley’s back. “It just takes her a little time to warm up is all.”
I watch as he leads her out of the room.
Ashley turns and glances over her shoulder. Behind her back she tosses up her middle finger. I don’t even care. Chris from the internet has just messaged me back.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Ruth
It takes several hours, but Roy does finally show up. The storms left downed trees and debris strewn about, which left several residents stranded. Needless to say, when he arrives he isn’t in the best mood, but most things can be fixed, and thankfully Roy is one of them.
He leans against his cruiser, his arms folded across his chest. He waits for me to come to him, which is an interesting maneuver on his part. Roy is aware he has something I need, and he has decided he isn’t going to make it easy.
I offer a friendly wave from the porch. I will make myself small for him, because the situation calls for it, and ultimately that’s what he wants.
Roy has always reminded me, and the rest of the town, of Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith show. We used to call him that growing up, and sometimes I wonder if he actually wanted to be a police officer, or if everyone’s teasing sent him on that track. I don’t know what makes me think of those days, of taunting him on the playground. Maybe it’s seeing him here, knowing that he has the upper hand and wondering if perhaps he always did. I guess you don’t know what you don’t know. Certainly, no one is teasing him now, and no one below the age of thirty has any recollection of that show, something I think Roy is grateful for.
“You called?” he says, as I reach the edge of the drive. I stop there, with my hands on my hips like there’s an invisible line drawn in the sand. He looks at me with thinly veiled disdain. “I take it this has something to do with last night?”
I have to admit, I have a lot on my mind. It had not occurred to me that Roy would be angry with me about the situation with Cole. But he is, and the storms and downed trees have nothing on that anger.
“No,” I say. “Actually it doesn’t.”
“What can I do for you, Ruth?”
I look away. “There’s someone out there… someone who wants me dead. And I think I might know who it is.”
His expression tells me he thinks I’m being dramatic. “Who’s that?”
“I don’t want to name names. I mean… I shouldn’t. Not unless I’m sure. Right?”
“Well, the way I see it…” His gaze follows mine. “You can start naming names or you could wait until it’s too late. It’s your call.”
“I know you’re angry with me,” I say, because sometimes it’s better to call out the proverbial elephant in the room straightaway. “And you have a right to be.”
“You have terrible taste in men.”
Our eyes meet. “I’ve seen worse.”
&
nbsp; “You used to be different.”
“Maybe you just didn’t know me.”
“Impossible.”
