Page 105 of First Date: Divorce
“She did a number on Eric’s character, morals, and manners.”
“We expected that.”She released her clenched hands.
“Uh-huh.”His drawl didn’t buy it for a second.“Still, not fun to hear about somebody you—” He looked at her over the top of his sunglasses.“—like.”
“Part of the drill.”
He gave a short nod, either accepting that it didn’t bother her or that she wasn’t going to talk about it.
“I take it the accusations were all drawn from counseling sessions?”he asked.
She frowned.“No.And I need to talk to Cully about that right away.There were a couple things she said … About Eric treating me like the little housewife — that wasn’t said in counseling.Neither was the part about him saying Gigi’s name in his sleep.”
“Oh?”
“Nope.I think I know who Ms.Bledsoe is getting her Marriage-Save targets from.If we can get with Cully, we can wrap this up.”
There was nothing she wanted to do more.End this investigation, and take the next step in her life.
*
K.D.and Tal met Cully well off a main road in the Big Horn Mountains, trimming chances they’d be spotted to nearly zero.
“I know who the mole is,” she said without preamble.“From things Bledsoe said, things I only said to one person.It’s Ms.Smiley — Lily.She works at the front desk and coordinates activities for guests.She’s kept in the loop by the counselors because of that.She knows financials and counseling status.”
After they filled the sheriff in on details of today’s meeting, Cully made a few calls — figured he’d picked a spot with phone reception — to set the wheels in motion.
“You want to come back and make your statement at my office?”Cully Grainger asked her.
If she went to Bardville, would she see Eric?Could she resist?
“My vehicle’s down in the basin.”She gestured vaguely toward the west.“Where Tal and I met for the drive to Bledsoe’s office.I’ll write my statement and get it to you tonight.”
He nodded.“Okay.But I have another question for you.Do you like this area enough to stick around permanent?”
“Here?”She looked out at the Alpine vegetation and knobby tops of the Big Horn Mountains around them.
Why was he asking if she liked this area?
True, Tal Bennett offered her a job with his PI agency, which Cully knew about.And she’d said she’d think about it, but Tal was based on the western side of the Big Horns and the job would involve a lot of spur-of-the-moment travel.Besides, she liked law enforcement.Especially after this taste of investigating.
“Well, not here.Shakespeare County.”
“Shakespeare County.”She sounded like an idiot repeating whatever Cully said, but she needed the delay to process.“But…”
Shakespeare County.Where Eric lived.
Not a commuting relationship.Not long distance.
Long distance?That’s hard enough, but—
Stranger things have worked.
At last, she followed up her long-dangling “but…” with “We’d have to see what happens.”
“Whatcouldhappen is you join the Shakespeare County Sheriff’s Department.I’ve got the funds to add a deputy.Had in mind starting a couple deputies into training to share my investigative load.One could be you.”
If she showed up working for Shakespeare County would Eric think…?
