Page 32 of Laura's Truth
“Aw, come on,” Ross said. “I can’t imagine Ruth serving you anything but the best.”
“Not much goes wrong,” Cochran admitted. “But when it does, it goes really wrong.”
Confident, Ross took a big bite and was rewarded with a sweet blend of cinnamon and spice. “Good,” he mumbled with a nod of encouragement.
His phone rang, and he swallowed in a hurry to answer the call from Eva’s office number. “Any word?”
“Two actually.”
“So spit it out.”
He heard the hesitation. “You should come see me right away.” She sounded upset, which was rare for Eva.
“Eva,” he warned. “What two words?” He dusted the crumbs from his fingers and reached for his cup of coffee.
“Double homicide.”
Ross forgot the coffee. “Garner?” He pushed back from the table and stood up, sending the sheriff an apologetic look.
“No,” Eva replied. “Talbot.”
His knees buckled and he landed hard in the metal chair. “She’s d— a victim?” he corrected quickly, remembering the public setting.
“The report I have says she’s wanted for questioning. Get in here and I’ll tell you everything.”
Eva ended the call before Ross could reply. He pocketed the phone.
“Trouble?” Cochran asked, speculation evident in his gaze.
“Yes. No one you know,” Ross added. “Not even here in town.” And none of this would touch Haleswood if he had anything to say about it. “I have to get to the office.”
“Jurisdiction doesn’t apply to friendship.”
Ross stopped, grateful for the words. “I’ll bring you up to speed when I have all the facts.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Give Ruth my best.” He clapped the sheriff on the back and then he all but ran for his truck. If Garner had set up Talbot, Ross would see her vindicated. She’d told him they were safe, that Garner was indeed alive, but not in the area to hassle him or his team. Then she’d gone silent.
He didn’t like it.
Parking on the street in front of the courthouse, Ross stormed up the stairs, his imagination in overdrive. “Tell me,” he ordered as he entered her office.
“Close the door.” Eva pointed to the monitor she used as a television. “It’s breaking news. Two men were found dead by bullet in a hotel room in Summerville.” She hit mute. “The room’s registered to your friend Laura Talbot.”
“Did they arrest her? Was it self-defense?”
“Not so far and I don’t know. They haven’t found her to ask. They’re using her driver’s license as the search photo.”
Ross swore. This would cause all kinds of havoc with her military career. “A struggle? A break-in?” Had she been attacked after confronting Garner?
“No details on that yet. What I do know feels worse. The gun found at the scene is confirmed as recently fired, sports the same caliber bullets as the shells found at the scene, and it’s registered to Laura.”
“How the hell did this happen? Where is Garner?”
“Your ghost?” She shrugged. “I have no idea, but I can’t find any indication that he was there.”
“There’s something.” A small positive detail Ross would cling to. “We—you—just have to find it.”