Page 53 of Home Town Knight

I decided to keep my PJs on, because Owen was still in his sweats, but I made a quick detour to the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, and finger-comb my hair. By the time I emerged, he was off the phone and topping up his mug of coffee in the kitchen.

“I’m guessing you prefer tea?” he asked. “I have some bags in the pantry. Can’t vouch for how old they are, but they’re green. You like that, right?”

“I do.” He handed me a sealed tea bag, then put a mug of water in the microwave, since the heathen didn’t have a kettle. We shuffled around each other in his small kitchen, laughing when we almost ran into one another. He put his hand on my hip to steady me.

“Not used to having anyone else here,” he said.

“You do take up a lot of space.” I meant that literally and figuratively both. Every part of me was aware of him. How close he was. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

“No. I’ve been up for a while working. Lots of updates on the Tucker investigation.”

Good, I couldn’t wait to hear. “What about Last Refuge? Everyone’s fine?”

Owen took a sip of coffee, eyes soft over the rim of the mug. “Yes, Gen. They’re just fine. If anything urgent had happened, I would’ve woken you. But there wasn’t, so I let you sleep.”

“So chivalrous.”

“Clearly you felt safe, given how long you slept.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to the fridge. He just had to go being all perfect, as if I didn’t have to worry about anything so long as he was around. “I’ll make you breakfast. Least I can do since you’re letting me stay here and sleep in your bed.”

“I wasn’t exactly complaining.”

I found a carton of eggs and bacon, plus toast, orange juice, and apples that I could bake with butter and cinnamon. “I’ll cook, and you can update me on what’s happened with the investigation. Unless you have to make more calls?”

“I’m good for now.” He leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping coffee and handing me cookware and utensils as I needed them. “I spoke to Deputy Marsh.”

“Keira?” I asked, slicing apples.

“Yep. She updated me on our stakeout at the Alpine.We’ve been keeping tabs on Josh Ellis, the friend of the murder victim who fought with him in the bar.”

“Right. Ellis wanted the cash that Tucker was carrying, and you think he might lead us back to wherever he and Tucker discovered it.”

“Exactly. Ellis is still at the hotel. His two friends checked out and headed back to their respective homes. But Ellis hasn’t gone anywhere. Clearly sticking around for something, but hasn’t made his move yet.”

“Has he made any phone calls? Can you get a wiretap?”

Owen smiled. “Slow your horses, detective. I haven’t got near enough for a wiretap of Ellis’s phone. We’re still working on the location data for when he and Tucker were out hunting.”

I twirled my knife in the air. “All right, go on.”

“Forensics reports are coming in. Statements from other witnesses at the hotel. Results of the searches of the victim’s hotel room and vehicle. I can let you see the file later.”

“I’m getting that kind of access?”

“I told you I want you to consult. I meant it. I’ll set you up with a computer when we get to the station later. I also have a handgun Trace took off one of the intruders last night. I need to enter it into evidence. See if it’s registered.”

I put the dish of apples and a tray of bacon into the oven to cook. While I beat the eggs in a bowl, Owen told me Aiden’s idea of bringing in a bounty hunter. “Aiden texted that the guy is already on a plane out of Mexico City. He was between jobs, so the timing worked. He’ll land in Grand Junction and rent a car to make the drive to Hartley. We’re hoping he can track the intruders from last night.”

If the guy could pick up the trail after so many hours, I was impressed. I turned around, holding the bowl as I whisked the eggs. “Could he also help with figuring out where Tucker and Ellis found the money? I don’t know howtracking works, but the guy is a bounty hunter. He can find things that don’t want to be found.”

“That’s an excellent idea. I’ll discuss it with him when I meet him.” Owen got up and took the bowl of eggs from my hands.

“Hey, I’m in the middle of cooking.”

“And you’ve been doing a solid job of it. The bacon and apples smell so good my mouth is watering. But I just texted you something. I can scramble the eggs while you take a look at it.”

I had my phone in my pocket. Ignoring the all-caps messages from Pam, I pulled up Owen’s text. It was a document.

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