Chapter 6
Austin
As soon as my ass hit the dark gray leather seat in my boring black sedan, I locked the doors and took out my phone.
The ninety-minute drive to Dallas was too long to wait to figure out why Nina seemed so familiar.
The wet shirt was uncomfortable, so I changed into a spare T-shirt from my gym bag. Then I pulled on a plain black baseball cap. Glancing at my still damp pants, I predicted an uncomfortable drive home.
After looking around, I unlocked my phone and pulled up Grannie’s accounts. Investigating via social media was fast, easy, and always legal.
I stopped scrolling every few seconds to scan the streets, not wanting to get caught by a departing partygoer.
You could drive to a nearby coffee shop.
I laughed at the irony as the scent of coffee filled my car.
Movement caught my eye.
Nina.
The reason I was camped out in my car looked both ways before crossing the street.
I sank down in my seat and watched.
Nina looked left and right, then spun around as if searching for someone.
When she started walking again, her feet moved faster.
Good instincts.
When she disappeared around the building, I tossed on my sunglasses, pulled my cap low, and got out of the car.
Not that the disguise would do me any good if anyone spotted me; the stains on my pants would give me away. Still, I didn’t want anyone else to see my face.
The parking lot across from Grannie’s had two points of egress, so if I wanted Nina’s license plate, following her into the lot was my only option.
Her license plate would give me her last name and address. Armed with that information, there was nothing I couldn’t find out.
I ducked behind an SUV as a small red two door hatchback drove past me. I can’t remember the last time I saw one of those. I typed the license plate number into my notes app and waited for Nina to be out of sight before standing back up.
As I stood, I glanced in the window of the SUV and saw an SSI ball cap on the passenger seat.
It belonged to a Sheppard, or one of their employees. I didn’t let the accompanying guilt of spying on one of Mary’s employees last long.
Staring at my reflection, I pulled off the cap and ran my hand through my hair, a liberal sprinkling of gray scattered amongst the black. I’m too young for the salt and pepper look to be flattering.
Back in my car, I pulled up the DMV records for the plate.