“Speaking of Grady, are you going to talk to him again today?”
“Why, because our last chat went so well? No, I’m probably not going to brace him again until I have something a little more substantial to say.”
As I dried my hair, I asked, “Do you think you’ll find something on him?”
“You can bet that if it’s there, I’ll find it,” he said.
“I know you will. Not that I’m not flattered, but shouldn’t you be going to work now?”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No way. I just don’t want to keep you from your investigation.”
“It will wait a little bit.”
There was a knock at the door, and I asked my husband, “Were you expecting someone?”
“I called room service while you were in the shower,” he said with a grin. “I thought we could have a quick bite together before you go. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a great idea. Give me a second and I’ll join you.”
I got dressed quickly, and then met Zach out in the living room of the suite. Dining in front of that spectacular view was quickly becoming a habit for me, and I knew I’d miss it once we were back in Parson’s Valley.
“Wow, this is really nice.”
“Hey, nothing but the best for my wife,” Zach said.
“Especially when we’re not footing the bill. I hate to admit it, but I feel a little guilty about all of this.”
As we started to eat, Zach shrugged. “I never could have accepted any of this if I was still on the force, but as a consultant, I don’t have any problem with it.”
That surprised me. “You honestly don’t mind?”
“Savannah, this man lost someone he cared about. It’s helping him knowing that he’s making my life easier so I can focus on finding the killer. If it’s a good thing for him, and it doesn’t cost me anything, why shouldn’t I accept his generous offer?”
“It sounds good to me. Do you have any new leads for today?”
“I’ve got a couple of angles I want to check out,” he said.
“Go on, I’m listening.”
“You know I can’t talk about my thought process,” he said.
“I was just wondering if that changed, too.”
“Not a chance.”
I smiled at him. “Just checking.”
He took a bite of toast, and then said, “Davis wants a progress report first thing this morning, but I don’t know what I’m going to tell him. Maybe I need to pop in on Grady after all and see if I can catch him off guard. I don’t know; I’m not sure what I’m going to do just yet.”
I pushed my plate away, too full to finish the omelet my husband had ordered for me. “That was great. Are you ready to go?”
“Are you rushing me?”
“No, stay as long as you like, but I need to get on the road.”
He pushed away from his plate. “Hang on a second, I’m almost ready.”
As we left the suite and rode down in the elevator, I said, “I still can’t believe we’re here.”
“In the Belmont?”
“Sure, but mostly just being back in Charlotte. I wasn’t sure that it was that great of an idea coming back, but as much as I’m enjoying it, I can’t wait to get home.”
“I know just what you mean.”
When we got to the lobby, there was a uniformed officer standing beside a large plant. He was trying his best to look inconspicuous in his uniform, but he was failing epically.
“Where’s Steve?” I asked Zach. “I thought he was your ride.”
“He’s taking a personal day,” my husband explained.
“I could always drop you off at the station on my way out of town.”
“It’s out of your way, and you know it. This will be fine.” He gave me a quick peck, and then added, “Have a safe drive, and don’t forget to call me when you get there.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”
After my husband was gone, I headed for the parking garage and collected our car. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard when I got in and saw that if I didn’t hit too much traffic, I should be at Uncle Thomas’s a little after nine. I was excited to see him, but I also had a sense of dread about what he was about to tell me.
There was only one way to find out, though.
Chapter 11
AS SOON AS I GOT A LITTLE WAYS UP 1-77 AND OUT OF THE main part of town, I dialed Lorna’s number.
“Hey, there. You just caught me. I was getting ready to leave the house,” she said.
“I’m glad I called, then. Something’s come up, so I’m going to have to cancel on you this morning.”
“Really? I could make it later, if that would be more convenient for you.” The disappointment was clear in her voice. “I’ve really missed chatting with you, Savannah.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” I said, “but I’m on my way to Hickory, and I’m not sure when I’m going to be back.”
“What on earth are you going to do up there?”
“I’m visiting family,” I said.
“I know what that’s like,” she said. “Could we do it tomorrow?”
“I don’t see why not, if nothing else comes up.”
“Wow, I feel so special,” she said with a laugh.
“I didn’t mean anything by that. It’s just that with Zach’s job, I’m not sure what’s going to happen the next hour, let alone the next day.”
“That’s fine. I was just teasing. Tell you what. Let’s plan on tomorrow, but if something comes up, just give me a call.”
“Will do,” I said, and hung up. I’d always liked Lorna, but the changes in her had made her even nicer to be around.
As I drove toward Hickory, I found myself enjoying the scenery. The interstate going to Statesville cut through a corner of Lake Norman, and I saw a cluster of sailboats docked by a complex situated right on the water, and a few Jet Skis were already out enjoying the day. It must be nice to be able to spend time on the lake every day, though Zach and I could never have afforded property anywhere near the water. When I glanced through my rearview mirror back toward the lake, I saw a black car with heavily tinted windows two vehicles behind mine, but I didn’t think much of it.
At Statesville, I switched from I-77 North and took I-40 West. It was the same direction I would have driven if I was going home, but I wasn’t making that trip, at least not today.
Out of habit from Zach’s many lectures on personal safety, I looked back, and sure enough, the black car was still there. I tried to tell myself that it was a coincidence. After all, anyone leaving Charlotte when I had who headed to Hickory a little above the speed limit would be close to me all the way there. But it still left me a little uneasy. I thought about speeding up a little to see if they’d still follow me, but Zach wouldn’t be happy if I got a speeding ticket. I decided to ignore it and go on my way.
Half an hour later, I took the exit for Uncle Thomas’s house, and ten minutes after that, I was at his place. The black car had taken my exit, and I’d felt my stomach tighten, but whoever it was had pulled into a convenience store to get gas, and I had laughed a little self-consciously at myself.
Uncle Thomas was half a mile from Lake Hickory, really just a wide stretch of the Catawba River. While I’d never seen a sailboat there, there were usually plenty of fishing boats, ski boats, and Jet Skis on the water. Uncle Thomas had a kayak, and he always put it in the water at Geitner Park on a small creek that led out onto the lake. The two of us had gone kayaking every summer whenever my folks and I would visit him, and I’d loved that quiet time we spent together on the calm water. There was always something to see, from herons taking off to turtles sunning themselves on floating logs.
I found my uncle in the front yard of his house, tending a raised-bed garden that was about the size of a sheet of plywood. Though his hair had whitened over the years, it was still full, and there was no brilliance lost in his smile. Looking at him again, I felt the comfort and safety of my childhood sweep over me. Whenever Uncle Thomas was around, I knew in my heart that nothing could ever be wrong.