Page 43 of Smoldering Nights
Next steps
• Pull Travis’s employment history
• Compare handwriting sample from past case
• Interview Ms.Jillie quietly
• Look for digital footprints, any online activity?
• Determine if Delilah knows more than she’s letting on
He tapped the pen against the table.Delilah.Her name stuck in his mind like a sliver.If Travis had parked near her salon recently, and if Sadie had been at work during that shift, there was a chance Travis had so much more going on than Sadie was aware of.
Izzy walked toward the kitchen, barefoot and quiet, reaching for her coffee cup.Mitch crossed over and lightly touched her elbow.
“Hey,” he said, voice low.“You okay?”
She nodded.“Yeah.I feel better now that I actually slept.”
He gave her a soft smile.“I noticed.”
She tilted her head.“What are you working on?”
“Trying to stitch this all together.”He motioned toward the table.“Travis is connected.I’m sure of it.We’ve got surveillance, the SUV, even a partial facial match.But I need one more thing to make it stick.”
Her eyes darkened.“I want to help.”
He hesitated, then gave a slight nod.“Actually… I could use your memory.Think back.Has anyone else come in asking strange questions?Anyone new around the shop the last few weeks, delivery people, maybe someone just browsing?”
Izzy leaned against the counter, thinking.“Besides the fake Clearway guy?Not that I can recall.Most of our customers are locals or regulars."Her brows pinched together, "Except…”
She swallowed.“There was a guy who came in about three weeks ago asking if we do large event arrangements.Like for fundraisers or political dinners.But when I asked what date he needed them for, he didn’t have an answer.Just said he was ‘gathering quotes.’I remember thinking he didn’t look like someone planning a fundraiser.”
“What’d he look like?”Mitch asked sharply.
“Older.Mid-forties maybe.Taller than you.Wore a ball cap and sunglasses, inside.He kept his voice low, like he didn’t want to be overheard.”
Mitch’s protective instincts flared.“You didn’t tell me about this.”
“I didn’t think it was anything.He left after a minute or two.Didn’t even take a brochure.”
Mitch scribbled another note.“That could’ve been Travis sending someone to scout.Or it was him in disguise.He’s bold enough.”
She nodded, her mouth pressing into a thin line.“What do we do next?”
He took a steadying breath.“We close this loop.Quietly.I’ll stop by the library and talk to Sadie.Discreetly.I need to know if Travis said anything about the cameras or the keys to her.”
“That will tip her off.”
“It might.Depending on her reaction, we'll confront Travis before he knows he’s cornered.”
Izzy’s shoulders stiffened.“Be careful.”
He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.“I will.I’m not taking any more chances.”
As she looked up at him, something unspoken passed between them, an understanding deeper than words.He could see it in her eyes.The fear was still there, yes, but so was the fight.
"Thank you."
