“Garrett Moseby is a creep who likes to tell your sister what to do, and with her big sister back in town, she’s got a good example of strong womanhood. You’re a threat to him and that’s why he’s acting like a jerk. He doesn’t believe any of this nonsense about the case or you faking things. He doesn’t want to lose Mindy to some sense and good advice. As for Abigail, I hope she comes around. I’d hate for her to lose out on you for stupid pride. Tell my handsome husband I said hello and I’m making him stroganoff for dinner, please.”

“Will do.”

They walked back to her building. “You didn’t have to walk me back here, you know,” Caroline said to Anne.

“We started out on a bad note, but I like you. Not just as my friend’s girlfriend, but on your own you’re pretty cool. I’m just keeping an eye on you.”

“And what about you?”

“No one’s trying to kill me. Probably because I’m nicer.” Anne winked and Caroline scoffed. “Go on back inside. I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for lunch and don’t forget to tell Edward about stroganoff!”

“Are you kidding me?” Caroline asked her investigator.

“I have three decent enough leads. I followed each one. One person might have some journals about that time in his shed. He lived catty corner from your parents, and he said he always kept detailed notes about the day’s events. He offered them to the police at the time but they weren’t interested. The other was a bust and the last one.”

He passed out a sheet of paper.

“Her name is Joyce Marie Petitbone, and she’s eighty-seven years old and quite honestly the sharpest person over fifty I’ve ever met. She talked to me on the phone today for a few minutes. She lives in Riverton in a back house at her daughter’s home. She saw the television spot you did and wrote down the information and then forgot about it until day before yesterday. She lived here in Petal sixteen years ago, and she’s got something I think might be pretty major. But I want you to hear it and she only told me a tiny bit. I think she’d like the company, and she’s agreed to see you and one other person tomorrow at nine in the morning. She doesn’t truck with lateness, clothing that shows your lady business like a floozy or bad manners. She wanted me to underline all that.” He grinned. “She also wanted me to tell you she was partial to old-fashioned doughnuts.”

“Okay we’ll go meet her. But you can’t just not say what it is she knows.” Caroline might have to jump over this table and punch him in the face if he didn’t. She wisely kept that to herself though. For the moment.

“She may have seen the murderer clean up.” Ron, her investigator, leaned in close. “Caroline, she’s old and she likes attention but she’s sharp and her memory is strong. She has a story to tell and my gut tells me you need to listen.”

There was a ruckus then because everyone started talking and asking questions at the same time.

Ron held his hand up. “I’ve told you pretty much all I know. She’s a little cagey because she wants to tell you herself. She lived in Petal until a year after the murder and then went to live in Riverton in the small house on her daughter’s property. She says she called the police about it, but they told her over the phone not to worry because they’d caught the killer.” He raised a shoulder and looked to Shane, who groaned.

Edward patted his son’s shoulder. “You’ve made it better. That’s all you can do at this point.”

“Why don’t I go over there? I’m pretty good with elderly women.” Shane had that voice people in charge used when they were trying to get the women out of the way.

Ron shook his head. “She’s not going to talk to you, Shane. She wants to talk to Caroline. I did a records search on her. She’s exactly who she says she is. Her daughter and son-in-law have owned the house for nineteen years. He manages a flooring business, you know sells carpet and laminate stuff. Wife is an administrator at the school district. Joyce Marie was a lunch lady at the cafeteria at Petal Middle School for twenty years. She’s going to like Caroline. She’s going to talk to Caroline. She’ll let you flatter her, but she’s not going to give you that story.”

“I’ll go. I want to hear what she has to say.” Caroline refused to get her hopes up. She’d had her heart broken enough times with horrible disappointment that she’d learned to not get invested. She’d treat whatever it was like a very unlikely-maybe thing until she learned for sure.

“I’m coming too.” Royal gave her a look, daring her to argue.

But she didn’t have to.

Shane interrupted. “I’ll go with Caroline. Royal, I appreciate that you want to be with her and it’s probably not even a problem. But I’m a cop and you’re not. Hell, I’d rather none of you be involved in this. But after Caroline literally dodged a bullet yesterday, I have a feeling she’s quite capable of hitting the deck and letting me handle any funny business if it comes up.”

“You can be assured that I would definitely hit the floor first and ask questions later at any sound resembling a gunshot.”

Royal’s mouth was set. She knew he was pissed that he wasn’t going. But Caroline also knew he understood the reasons for it. In the end she was safer with Shane and that’s what mattered.

Caroline thanked Ron and promised to keep him updated, and Shane made arrangements to pick her up at eight fifteen. He promised to stop and get doughnuts for Mrs. Petitbone. She wrapped her day up, turning off her computer and getting her bag and some work she’d do at home.