Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
As Doug rolled to a stop outside the restaurant Katy volunteered to run inside and pick up their meals.
“It will be easier,” she exclaimed. “Otherwise you’ll have to park and the nearest spot isn’t exactly nearby.”
“Good point. Here’s my credit card,” he said, lifting his wallet from his pocket.
“But—”
“Take it,” he ordered. “Seriously, no arguments.”
“Okay, okay, don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s something my grandma used to say,” she replied with a giggle then picking up her hot chocolate, she added. “I’ll take this with me in case I have to wait.”
“It will be cold by now.”
“Probably, but it’s still delicious.”
Climbing from the truck she hurried to the door, but as she stepped inside she stopped and stared. A woman who looked like Jim’s wife was seated at the bar having a drink with a dark-haired man, and they appeared to be very close. Seeing only the woman’s back and a little of her profile she couldn’t be sure, and continued to glance at them while she walked towards the hostess. When the man abruptly shifted in his seat she darted her eyes away. Though she only caught a glimpse of his face it was enough to see he was strikingly handsome.
“Can I help you?” the hostess asked as she approached.
“I’m picking up an order for Doug Anderson, and I’d like a quick word with the manager if he’s available. I have a friend staying in a cabin I booked and I want him to know he’s there.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be right back.”
As the hostess walked away Katy casually turned back to look at the couple…and caught her breath.
The woman was indeed, Beth Green.
Jim’s wife.
* * *
Listening to his favorite country station, Doug was idly tapping his thumb on the steering wheel when the passenger door opened. Reaching across he took the large plastic bag from Katy’s hands and set it on the center console. But as she climbed in the look on her face told him something was wrong.
“You won’t believe this,” she declared before he could ask. “I just saw Beth, Jim’s wife, sitting at the bar with a guy. A younger, really good-looking guy.”
“Are you sure it was her?”
“Definitely.”
“You’re kiddin’ me. What the hell?”
“Exactly. Maybe we should contact Sheriff Cooper.”
“We can’t, we promised Jim we wouldn’t. But I wonder what she’s doin’ here.”
“She and the guy were, uh, pretty cozy,” Katy replied solemnly. “I think the answer’s obvious. What should we do?”
“Good question. I guess nothin’ for the moment,” Doug said thoughtfully. “At least we know Jim won’t leave that cabin so we don’t have to worry about him bein’ spotted.”
“What if he decides to take a walk tomorrow?”
“The poor guy’s exhausted. I doubt he’ll be goin’ anywhere, but we should call him in the mornin’ and tell him he should stay put for a couple of days.”
“Do we tell him why?”
“We’ll have to think about that, though probably not,” Doug muttered. “But I think it’s strange she’s here. Or am I over- thinkin’ this? Danville isn’t exactly next door, so she probably thinks it’s a safe place to be with that guy…whoever he is.”
“She didn’t appear to be worried about being seen, and she certainly didn’t seem concerned that her husband is missing.”
“Damn. You know, Katy, I don’t like this one bit. What if…” he began, but not wanting to voice his suspicions his voice trailed off.
“I know what you were going to say,” Katy said with a deep frown. “What if the two of them have been working together and were trying to poison that poor man to get rid of him.”
“I hate to say it, but you’re right, that’s exactly what was goin’ through my mind. Jim probably has life insurance, and there’s the house and whatever else they’ve built up over the years.”
“We have to do something! Jim’s safe in that cabin, but we can’t let them just disappear into the sunset. He may be okay now, but what about later?”
“I agree. We have to find out exactly why they’ve come to Smoky Hill, though I find it hard to believe they know Jim’s here. He’s been missin’ for a month. But we can’t take anything for granted. I wish we could go in and sit beside them so we could listen to their conversation, but Beth knows you from the pastry shop and everyone in Danville knows who I am.”
“Hey, they’re coming out,” Katy suddenly exclaimed.
As she ducked down in her seat, Doug lowered his cowboy hat over his forehead and turned his head away. But he could still see them, and quickly realized they were too busy with each other to pay attention to anything or anyone around them. Katy had been right. The man was built like an athlete and younger than Beth. The night air was chilly, but he seemed comfortable in just a sweater and jeans, while Beth was wearing a coat.
“You can sit up now,” Doug said as the unlikely couple disappeared down the driveway. “I have an idea. Let’s go in and have a drink. I’ll let Billy know we’ve been held up.”
“Do you think the bartender will tell us anything? Aren’t they like priests?”
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with bartenders over the years, and they’re all different. Some are tight-lipped, others love to gossip. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”