Unsure what to do for transportation, I decided to check Merilee’s for my purse since that was the last place I remembered having it. And if I couldn’t find it there, I’d call a locksmith to get new keys for the truck. After that, I was looking for Bruce Wayne.

Even if it meant driving out to Weston’s Garage alone.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Thankfully the waitress at Merilee’s had found my purse and put it behind the counter even though she didn’t look too happy to see me. My cell phone was in it, but I hadn’t put a charger in my new truck yet.

I drove to the Piggly Wiggly first. I hadn’t expected to find David there, so I was pleasantly surprised to see him stacking cans on a shelf. He, on the other hand, looked surprised, but not so pleasantly.

“Bruce Wayne’s in trouble.”

David hung his head, rolling it from side to side. “What’s that boy gone and done now?”

“Actually,” I squatted next to him. “He hasn’t done anything. It’s one of those wrong time and place situations.”

He pressed his lips together. “He seems to get into a lot of those pickles.”

“Have you seen him?”

“Nope, not since he left for that preacher’s house this morning.”

“Do you know if Bruce Wayne had any dealings with Weston’s Garage?”

David’s shoulders slumped. “Don’t tell me he’s mixed up with those guys again.”

My heart sunk. Again. So he had a history with them. “He left Merilee’s with a couple of them this morning.”

He shook his head. “I told him to stay away from those guys.”

“What did he do for them?”

“Little jobs, mostly errands. He was in training to rise in the ranks.”

“What does that mean?”

Sighing, he held out his palm. “Look, you can’t just join one of those places. You have to work your way up, prove you’re worthy. I’m surprised your boyfriend didn’t tell you about it. He knows the drill. Why don’t you ask him?”

“Because he’s not here, and I need information now. When was the last time Bruce Wayne associated with them?”

“About the time he was arrested for murder. When he got out, Crocker had been arrested.”

“Do you think he’s working for them again?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. He was really trying to go down the straight and narrow, but it hasn’t been working out too well.”

I stood, brushing my hair from my face as I tried to figure out what to do next. “If you see him, will you ask him to call me? Tell him that I’m worried sick about him, and I want to help.”

David’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, I noticed that. Why do you want to help him so bad? What’s in it for you?”

“Maybe I want to help him because I like him.”

A knowing grin spread across David’s face.

“As a friend!” I added. “I’ve got more man troubles than I can handle. I sure as hades don’t need any more.” I looked around the store. “Do y’all sell cell phone charger cords? I lost mine.”

“So you can take Bruce Wayne’s call? We sure do…”

What in tarnation was up with people linking me to men in whom I had no interest? I rolled my eyes. “Where are they?”

He tilted his head to the left. “Aisle four.”

“Thank you.” I hurried over two aisles, trying to process what David had told me. The fact that Bruce Wayne had dealt with Weston’s Garage in the past was a good sign. He might have actually gone with them willingly.

The menagerie of cords hanging in front of me was driving me crazy. I pulled my cell phone out of my purse, trying to match it to the cord ends on the chargers. Why did there have to be so many?

“We’re in deep trouble.” I heard Jonah Pruitt say. My eyes widened as I looked around to find him. When he spoke again, I realized he was one aisle over.

I grabbed the cord that seemed to fit my phone and followed his voice as it moved down the aisle.

“The police were at my door this morning accusing me of murder. I thought this was under control.” He was silent for several seconds, and I couldn’t be sure if he’d stopped or was still moving. Finally he spoke again, several feet ahead of me. “Well, that doesn’t help… I had her right there within my reach before I got interrupted. When I finished with the detective nonsense, she was gone.”

Was he talking about me? I was desperate to hear more, but he was at the end of the row and headed my way. I spun around to run the other way, but Jonah rounded the corner and spotted me before I could make good on my escape. He cast his gaze down and mumbled, “I’ve got to go.” Then he stuffed his phone into his pants pocket. He’d changed out of his shorts and T-shirt into a polo and khakis. “Rose? What on earth are you doin’ here? Aren’t you supposed to be working on my yard?”

“Well…” I stalled. “We never came up with an approved estimate, so I put Bruce Wayne on another job today.” The lies were rolling off my tongue today like butter off hot corn on the cob.

“I was disappointed that you were already gone when I finished my interview with Detective Taylor.”

“Sorry, I had another job to bid.” I shifted my weight. “What did Detective Taylor want?”

He waved his hand as though my question was nonsense and he was batting it away. “Nothin’. They just wanted to know if I noticed any suspicious behavior when I was at poor Gina’s house. I guess I have another funeral to officiate.”