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“Jackson?” That was only about an hour away from here. “What the hell is she doing there?” Jackson was also only ten minutes away from Sutter Creek, where Kent Bing was murdered.
Imogen had taken off to San Diego the day after Kent was killed, but that was all I had ever known about her. I, of course, could have searched the internet for more information about her, but I always figured that if she wanted to be found, she knew how to get in touch with me. Sure, I had moved from Sutter Creek, but my phone number hadn’t changed in the fifteen years since that day.
“It looks like she has lived there for the past ten years. She went to college in Cypress and then moved to Sutter Creek,” Rayna sighed. “Beyond that, there isn’t much.”
I grabbed the piece of paper, and my eyes scanned over the flowy handwriting. “What did she go to college for?” I asked.
“We couldn’t find that. We had to pay to see the graduates' names and what their majors were. We’re both too cheap for that. We figure you can ask her what she went to college for when you go talk to her.”
“I’m not going to talk to her.” I tossed the paper back to Mitzy. “I’m not dragging her into this.”
“What?” Rayna squawked. “Aren’t you in this mess because you helped her?”
“Imogen didn’t force me to do anything, Mitzy. I could have walked away without helping her just as easily as I had helped her. She has been through enough.” I would find my own way out of this or take the fall. Those were the only options I was giving myself.
“I’m sure she has been through a lot, Mace, but do you really think she would like to find out that you went to prison for something you didn’t do?” Rayna asked.
“I haven’t heard from her in fifteen years, so I really doubt she would find out about anything going on now. She moved on, and she deserves to.”
“That doesn’t mean you deserve to go down in flames, Mace. Hell, man. Just go and talk to her,” Mitzy suggested.
“And what happens when I talk to her, and she gets fucked up again because I bring up the past.” I wanted the past to stay right where it was.
“So your solution to this is to do nothing when you have a possible solution right in front of you.” Mitzy grabbed the paper and held it up. “I’ll just talk to her since you won’t do it.”
“Oh, good idea.” Rayna jumped up and rocked Willem in her arms. “Barracuda can watch Willem.”
Oh, hell no.
“Do you think we sho–.”
I snatched the paper out of Mitzy’s hand and shoved it into my pocket. “Neither of you is getting within ten miles of Imogen.”
“Do you think we don’t have the address and phone number memorized?” Mitzy drawled.
Rayna blew out a raspberry. “I also have it written down at home.”
“Don’t give a shit,” I grunted. “Neither of you is going to talk to Imogen.”
“Maybe we already have.” Rayna shrugged and stepped toward the door.
“What?” I growled. I closed my eyes and silently counted to ten. I always got a kick out of the ol’ ladies running all over the other guys, but I was not into them doing it to me.
“Stop,” Mitzy whispered. She cleared her throat, and I opened my eyes. “We haven’t tried to talk to Imogen.”
“Yet,” Rayna added. “We haven’t tried to talk to her yet, but we will if you don’t either pick up the phone or get your butt to Jackson,” Rayna threatened. “Surely you can talk to her and ease your way into talking to her about Kent Bing.”
“We can go with you,” Mitzy offered. “Hell, all of the girls can come with you. It might make Imogen feel more comfortable having us there.”
“She hasn’t ever met you, so I doubt being surrounded by a bunch of strangers and I will make her comfortable.”
Jesus Christ.
I had enough shit going on and didn’t need to add the ol’ ladies trying to steamroll over me on top.
“The worst that could happen is she slams the door in your face.” Rayna shrugged. “And if she does that, just kick it down.”
“You’re pretty aggressive,” Mitzy laughed. “Normally, that’s me.”
