Damn. Ian could only sit there and stare at this fascinating woman who stood proudly in front of him telling him how things were going to be. He wasn’t sure how to take it.
People didn’t gainsay Ian Buckley. If Ian said he’d handle a problem, people let him, expected it, were grateful for it. He was the problem solver, the man who got things done. It was who he was and people relied on him. Women in particular liked him to take charge. They always wanted him in charge. Always. Until Jada.
He wasn’t positive how to handle this novel situation. Did he argue? Let her have her way? Try to reach a compromise?
The bottom line was, could he turn over the reins of this investigation to Jada like she wanted? He was no follower. He was the commander, in the past, now and forever. Might as well try to break the habit of breathing as try to stop leading.
A thought tapped for attention at the back of his brain. Jada said she had her own suspects her own ideas about who was behind the fake marriage licenses. This meant she wasn’t totally on board with Ian’s own conviction that everything had been orchestrated by CGTV.
Since that was the case, it wouldn’t be hard to step back and let Jada follow the trail of evidence all the way to its end, where she would discover that she was wrong and Ian had been right all along.
He turned the idea over in his head, checking all sides to make sure everything lined up. Yes, he could hang back and let her take the lead as long as he knew exactly where they’d end up. And he believed he definitely knew that.
He smiled and stood. “I accept your conditions. So what’s the plan?”
She returned his smile and maybe it was wishful thinking, but Ian thought he saw a glimmer of relief pass over her features, which could only mean she didn’t truly want to leave him.
“I need to get to Springers Glen as soon as possible to question the clerks in the courthouse records department. I think I’ll get better results if I speak to them in person,” Jada said.
“Good idea. Car or helicopter?”
Jada looked thoughtful. “How long will it take the helicopter to get here?”
The game was afoot.