Stranger in Town

CHAPTER 15





Rage consumed me. Cade whatever-his-last-name-was, had been following me. I wanted to yell—scratch that—I wanted to scream, but when my mouth opened, all I could manage was, “You,” followed by my pointer finger swirling around in the air like a dagger while I continued to shout, “You—you—you—you—you!”

Cade released the door handle and held his hands up, surrendering to my finger dagger. “Now hold on just a minute, Sloane. Let me explain, okay?”

“No, you hold on! You think you can walk up to me in some bar pretending you’ve never seen me before in your life, and that’s okay?! Why did you ask for my name if you already knew it?”

He smoothed a bit of dirt around with the toe of his boot, like he thought moving a bit of dust would help him decide what to say next. Or not to say.

“You’ve been following me,” I said. “I want to know why.”

When he didn’t respond, Maddie walked over and stood next to me, hands on hips. She had no idea what was going on, but it didn’t matter. “Sloane asked you a question—I suggest you answer it.”

He looked at the two of us like he found the whole thing amusing. “And if I don’t?”I placed both hands on the door of his truck, slamming it shut. “You’re not going anywhere until I get some answers.”

Cade glanced at me and then at Maddie and laughed so hard I thought the toothpick in his mouth would come shooting out. He grabbed it with his hand, flinging it to the ground.

“What’s so funny?” I said.

He tossed his hat through the open window of the truck and tipped his head to the side. “You’re a lot feistier when you’re not on the dance floor. A lot more confident, too.”

Maddie and I crossed our arms in synchronized motion and remained silent.

“All right, ladies,” he said. “The name’s Cade McCoy. Satisfied?”

McCoy? The last name was familiar, but it took me a moment to place it. “As in Walter McCoy, the lead detective in Savannah Tate’s case? Are you related?”

He nodded.

“Walter is my dad.”

“Is he having you follow me?”

Maddie had a look on her face like she was the only one who hadn’t received an invitation to Cade’s coming out party. “He’s been following you?” She turned to me. “You’ve been following her? Someone tell me what’s going on.”

“Not exactly,” Cade said.

“Then what exactly?” I said.

“I’m helping my dad.”

“Don’t you need permission?”

“I got it. The chief and my dad go way back.”

“I didn’t know stalking me was part of the job description,” I said.

“Now hold on. I wasn’t trying to scare you.”

“You didn’t.”

Maddie crossed one leg over the other, uncrossed them, and crossed them back again, something she always did when she needed to use the ladies’ room.

“Go,” I said to her.

“Oh no. I’m not leaving you alone with this—”

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “But you won’t be. Now go.”

Once Maddie was out of earshot, Cade said, “I need your help. Tate won’t talk to me. My dad says he’s been actin’ weird lately, like somethin’s going on, but he can’t get anything out of him.”

“What makes you think I can help you?” I said.

“A couple days ago, you met with Tate. He handed you money.”

“What you saw was an envelope, nothing more.”

He shook his head.

“Do you really think you can bullshit me? You’re a private investigator; I know why you’re here.”

“I don’t need a license to snoop around in Wyoming,” I said. “Why are you here? This isn’t your case; why get involved?”

“My father is retiring in a few months. I’m taking over his position.”

It was a bit of a shock, but not unexpected. Although I tried not to show it, I admired Cade for what he was doing. His father needed all the help he could get. “Did you ever consider picking up the phone instead of following me around?”

“I wasn’t sure you’d talk to me. Look, solving this case means everything to my father. If there’s anything I can do to help him, I will.”

I felt like swirling my own foot around in the dirt. The conversation was headed in the direction Cade wanted to take me, but I wasn’t sure it would lead to a place I was ready to go.

“You realize I am under no obligation to tell you what I talked about with my client, right?” I said.

“You’ll have to if I bring you in.”

“Go for it.”

“Will you at least tell me why you met with him?”

I shook my head.

“So, you’re not willin’ to help me at all, then?”

“I work alone,” I said.

“And your, uh, friend?”

“Don’t let her outgoing nature and lack of a classy dress choice fool you; she’s smarter than you think.”

“Who’s smarter?” came a voice from behind.

“No one, Maddie,” I said. “Let’s go.”

I walked toward the car, stopping a moment to glance back at Cade before getting inside. “Good luck.”

“I’d like to know where you’re staying—or if you’re staying.”

“It’s none of your concern,” I said. “Stop following me.”

“You shouldn’t even be here.”

“I’m not leaving,” I said.

“Good. Neither am I.”

“Oh, and the next time you want something, don’t tail me to try and get it. I don’t go for all this sneaking around. People get shot that way.”

He nodded.

“Straight shooter, got it.”