have a job then?”
“Look, dude. I was living in California. Me and the wife were just married. Had a three-month-old baby girl. Needed cash for food and stuff. But I learned my lesson, and I’ve worked hard for nearly eighteen months at Yeat’s Construction. I’m going to college and making good grades.” He pointed a finger at Tigo. “I have an alibi—two of them, my wife and my friend. You’re not going to blame me for something I didn’t do. My wife’s pregnant with our second kid, and the doctors are concerned she might miscarry. I need a job. But note this—I’ll flip burgers at Micky D’s before breaking the law.”
“Maybe you know who did.”
He shook his head. “Guys are upset with the layoffs. Some got hot and talked crazy. Me? I was one of them. But I wouldn’t murder for revenge. That doesn’t put a man back to work when the economy gets better.”
“Anybody mention Semtex?”
“No one talked about a bomb or how they planned to get even with Jonathan Yeat. You guys need to talk to someone else.”
“Maybe so,” Tigo said. “But don’t leave town.”
6:30 P.M. FRIDAY
Kariss didn’t know whether to admire her sister’s stubbornness or knock some sense into her. Vicki had refused to be admitted into the hospital. Instead, she insisted the tests be conducted while she was in the ER. Mom and Dad took care of Rose while Kariss arranged to have her Jag towed. She also phoned Babies”R”Us and arranged to have a new car seat delivered to the hospital via taxi. A rental car arrived at the same time Vicki was signing the discharge papers.
“Sis, you’ve got a mild concussion, and your right eye is turning purple,” Kariss said while their dad helped Vicki scoot into the backseat beside Rose. “I really wish you’d reconsider and spend the night here.”
“I’ll second that.” Dad massaged his lower back. Installing the car seat in the rental had been a chore. “I won’t sleep a wink wondering if you’re all right.”
“Dad, I’m a nurse, remember? And I’m quite capable of knowing when Rose or I need medical attention.”
“I’ve made a decision.” Mom’s brown eyes widened with a familiar threatening look. Kariss had seen that look plenty of times during her growing-up years. “I’m staying at the condo with my girls tonight.”
“Good idea,” Kariss said. “Mom’s even better at making sure you behave than I am.”
“Suffocating attention.” Vicki moaned. “Rose’s schedule will be a thing of the past.”
“That’s right. I’m going to spoil both of you.” Mom slid into the front seat. “As soon as we get to the condo, I’m putting Vicki to bed and making a pot of gumbo.”
“And I’ll get my dinner at Whataburger and load up on the fries your mother doesn’t let me have at home.” Dad double-checked the car seat. “Great to see Tigo today. He’s a good man—good enough for a son-in-law in my book.”
Kariss’s emotions were still playing havoc with her heart. “I don’t think so. Too many problems.”
“I can feel it in my bones. God’s gonna work this out.”
If Kariss didn’t ease into another subject soon, Dad would be inviting Tigo to Sunday dinner. “He teased me about chasing the driver with my handgun.”
“Too bad I didn’t see who ran my girls off the road. There wouldn’t have been anything left to bury.” He shook his head. “Excuse me, Lord, but I’m not feeling too forgiving right now.”
“I’m right there in a box seat.” Kariss allowed a single tear to drip down her cheek. Until now, she’d been too angry and concerned about Vicki and Rose to let her defenses down. “That guy thinks he got away, but God knows where he lives.” She wouldn’t rest until the jerk was arrested.
CHAPTER 17
6:45 P.M. FRIDAY
T igo and Ryan sat in Linc’s office, discussing what they knew about the Yeat bombing. Too many ragged edges had set the stage for a lengthy investigation. More questions and a deeper scrutiny
“Look, dude. I was living in California. Me and the wife were just married. Had a three-month-old baby girl. Needed cash for food and stuff. But I learned my lesson, and I’ve worked hard for nearly eighteen months at Yeat’s Construction. I’m going to college and making good grades.” He pointed a finger at Tigo. “I have an alibi—two of them, my wife and my friend. You’re not going to blame me for something I didn’t do. My wife’s pregnant with our second kid, and the doctors are concerned she might miscarry. I need a job. But note this—I’ll flip burgers at Micky D’s before breaking the law.”
“Maybe you know who did.”
He shook his head. “Guys are upset with the layoffs. Some got hot and talked crazy. Me? I was one of them. But I wouldn’t murder for revenge. That doesn’t put a man back to work when the economy gets better.”
“Anybody mention Semtex?”
“No one talked about a bomb or how they planned to get even with Jonathan Yeat. You guys need to talk to someone else.”
“Maybe so,” Tigo said. “But don’t leave town.”
6:30 P.M. FRIDAY
Kariss didn’t know whether to admire her sister’s stubbornness or knock some sense into her. Vicki had refused to be admitted into the hospital. Instead, she insisted the tests be conducted while she was in the ER. Mom and Dad took care of Rose while Kariss arranged to have her Jag towed. She also phoned Babies”R”Us and arranged to have a new car seat delivered to the hospital via taxi. A rental car arrived at the same time Vicki was signing the discharge papers.
“Sis, you’ve got a mild concussion, and your right eye is turning purple,” Kariss said while their dad helped Vicki scoot into the backseat beside Rose. “I really wish you’d reconsider and spend the night here.”
“I’ll second that.” Dad massaged his lower back. Installing the car seat in the rental had been a chore. “I won’t sleep a wink wondering if you’re all right.”
“Dad, I’m a nurse, remember? And I’m quite capable of knowing when Rose or I need medical attention.”
“I’ve made a decision.” Mom’s brown eyes widened with a familiar threatening look. Kariss had seen that look plenty of times during her growing-up years. “I’m staying at the condo with my girls tonight.”
“Good idea,” Kariss said. “Mom’s even better at making sure you behave than I am.”
“Suffocating attention.” Vicki moaned. “Rose’s schedule will be a thing of the past.”
“That’s right. I’m going to spoil both of you.” Mom slid into the front seat. “As soon as we get to the condo, I’m putting Vicki to bed and making a pot of gumbo.”
“And I’ll get my dinner at Whataburger and load up on the fries your mother doesn’t let me have at home.” Dad double-checked the car seat. “Great to see Tigo today. He’s a good man—good enough for a son-in-law in my book.”
Kariss’s emotions were still playing havoc with her heart. “I don’t think so. Too many problems.”
“I can feel it in my bones. God’s gonna work this out.”
If Kariss didn’t ease into another subject soon, Dad would be inviting Tigo to Sunday dinner. “He teased me about chasing the driver with my handgun.”
“Too bad I didn’t see who ran my girls off the road. There wouldn’t have been anything left to bury.” He shook his head. “Excuse me, Lord, but I’m not feeling too forgiving right now.”
“I’m right there in a box seat.” Kariss allowed a single tear to drip down her cheek. Until now, she’d been too angry and concerned about Vicki and Rose to let her defenses down. “That guy thinks he got away, but God knows where he lives.” She wouldn’t rest until the jerk was arrested.
CHAPTER 17
6:45 P.M. FRIDAY
T igo and Ryan sat in Linc’s office, discussing what they knew about the Yeat bombing. Too many ragged edges had set the stage for a lengthy investigation. More questions and a deeper scrutiny
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