Page 44 of Cursed Fox

"Are you sure he's even our guy?"

I ran my hand down my face in frustration. "As sure as we can be. Nancy read all the letters and she's confident it's him. I can't think of any reason someone else would single Jimmy out. I mean, I understand irate fans, but he wasn't the only reason the Pioneers didn't make it to the playoffs. Football is a team sport."

"True, but social media hyped him up as the player who would change everything for the team. That's a lot of pressure to put on one person. Especially a rookie."

Nolen wasn't wrong. But …

"My gut is telling me it's Thomas, and that thing is never wrong. Besides, if he really did lose his house and his job, he has more reason to hate Nancy for being successful."

"Unbelievable if you ask me. Who wishes their ex and children to a life of poverty?" I had a feeling it was a rhetorical question, but I answered anyway.

"A narcissist, that's who."

"How's Nancy holding up?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "As good as can be expected, I guess. Same as me—she knows something is about to happen, but not sure what."

"Like she's waiting for the other shoe to drop," Nolen correctly surmised.

"Exactly. Jimmy isn't leaving his apartment anytime soon. He understands the danger. Besides, his leg leaves him pretty immobile, so it actually works in our favor."

"And what about Nancy's other child? Jessie, right?"

"Nancy spoke to her this morning. She's interning at a doctor's office and taking summer classes. We made her aware of the threats, but not that Thomas is most likely behind them."

I hadn't necessarily agreed with that decision, but it wasn't my call to make.

"You don't think he'll go after her?"

"Nancy thinks he’ll continue to focus on her or Jimmy."

Nolen sighed. "I didn't ask what Nancy thought. I asked what you thought?"

I gave myself time to think about it, but I was no clearer on my answer. "I'm not sure. My gut agrees with Nancy. Something is going to go down, but I can't figure out what that something is. Nothing points to Jessie. All the letters were mailed to either Jimmy or Nancy. The only threat made was to Nancy. In all honesty, he’s so focused on Jimmy, I don't even know if the man remembers he has a daughter.”

It was an awful thing to say, but it was the truth. Everything led back to Jimmy and Nancy.

"That might be a good thing for Jessie, then."

I played with my beard. "Yeah, I guess. Did Maverick find anything out from Bee?"

When Nolen came up empty, Nancy gave Maverick permission to question Bee and a few of the other gossiping ladies in Willow Creek to find out what they knew.

"Other than to say she couldn't stand the man for what he did to Nancy?" He huffed. "No, not a thing. I guess it was one of those ‘good riddance’ things. No one gave Thomas much thought after he left town. They were just glad he took his negative attitude with him. Apparently he liked to show up during council meetings just to complain about every little thing. Bee said he was a nuisance to the town."

"I thought everyone in town wanted her to marry him?" I could’ve sworn she’d said something along those lines.

"Yeah, well, they must've changed their minds real quick, because not a single person had a nice thing to say about him."

I could understand why. I’d read the letters. The man was vile. If he was that way when Nancy was married to him, I don't know how she lasted as long as she did.

He isolated her, that's how.

"Keep me posted if you learn anything new."

"Will do. And I promise I'm looking. I won't stop until every stone is turned over."

"Thanks, Nolen. I appreciate it."

---