That Reckless Night

“A few. Miranda’s chasing down a lead right now.”

Stuart grunted in approval. “Keep me updated.”

Jeremiah nodded and realized Stuart had just dismissed him. As Jeremiah climbed into his car he sat for a long moment and considered everything that had just happened. Somehow by the grace of God, he had saved his own job. In the process he’d caught a small glimpse into the personal life of his superior. He could only hope that Stuart could change his old-fashioned ways in order to keep his wife happy. If not the man was going to end up divorced and bitter during what was supposed to be the golden years of his life.

Jeremiah put the car into Drive and headed back to the office. He couldn’t wait to tell Miranda what had happened as well as hear how her trip to Vivid Adventures had fared.

He’d love to solve this poaching case...not only for the department but to put a much-deserved feather in Miranda’s cap.

She needed this resolution and he aimed to help her get it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MIRANDA NEEDED A GLASS of wine to settle her nerves. Why wouldn’t Rhett tell her that he’d already had some altercations with Vee Walker? He could’ve easily shared that information with her privately before she’d left his place yesterday. It didn’t sit well at all that it appeared Rhett had left out some crucial information. At one time Rhett had been her father’s best friend. He’d been a staple around their dinner table, teasing her mother about marrying Zed instead of him. It’d been good-natured fun, of course, and Rhett had always treated Zed’s kids as if they were his own since he’d never had any children. In fact, when Simone had died, he’d personally put up the reward money for information leading to her killer.

That money remained in an untouched account, waiting for someone to come forward.

Rhett would never lie to her, she thought with an agonized groan when the questions wouldn’t stop.

Rhett had assured her that his business was fine—that money wasn’t an issue, but Miranda knew that he had notoriously expensive tastes and that kind of lifestyle required a constant influx of cash to maintain. If Rhett’s Big Game Trophy income was being cut into, where was Rhett making up the shortfall? She frowned unhappily when her instincts were at war with her heart. Her cell rang and she picked it up anxiously when she saw it was Jeremiah.

“Well?” she asked, nervous. “What happened?”

“Everything is fine. I still have a job,” he said.

“You lied?”

“No, I answered Stuart’s questions truthfully. It’s not my fault Stuart didn’t ask the right questions.”

Miranda’s immediate relief was followed by a gasp of admiration. “Oh, thank God, you crafty man. I was so worried you were going to go down for this for no good reason. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for integrity, but come on—you have to draw the line somewhere, right?”

“Glad to have your approval.” Jeremiah chuckled wearily. “I didn’t like the feeling that I was trying to hide something, though. It goes against everything I believe in.”

“I know. I’m sorry. We have to be more careful.”

“We dodged a bullet, but we shouldn’t tempt fate. We know all the reasons why a relationship between us wouldn’t work. I don’t know why we kept ignoring the simple facts.”

Miranda’s elation deflated. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” What else was he supposed to say? He’d just narrowly missed losing his livelihood over her. She couldn’t expect him to invite her to run away for the weekend. She rubbed at her nose unhappily but tried to remember what was important. “I’m glad you were able to keep your job,” she said. “I think it would’ve been a mistake on Stuart’s part if he’d let you go.”

“Thank you.” Jeremiah paused, then added, “Do you know anything about Stuart and his wife?”

“Gloria? She’s a teacher, I think. I remember years ago Isaac saying something about his mom going back to school to become a first-grade teacher. Why?”

“Just curious. Stuart shared with me that he was struggling with his wife’s newfound desire to have a career.”

“Ugh. He’s such a male chauvinist. I don’t know how Gloria put up with him all those years.”

“How do you know so much about Stuart and his wife?”

“I had a brief encounter with their son Isaac and he shared a few details. Plus, I’ve enjoyed a few conversations with Gloria at department functions. She’s a cool lady. Her only lapse in judgment was marrying that fool.”