“Edgar?” I couldn’t believe it. “He was injured in the blast. He’s the victim.”
“Or is he,” Reese countered. “It’s awfully convenient he just happened to be present at the street fair incident and the Cove Community Church bombing,” she added. “I don’t think so.”
Ezra swore. “Get an APB out on the man. Let’s track him down.”
“He’s here,” I informed them. “I saw him walking past Carol earlier when she was interviewing Mr. Lems.”
“Which way was he heading?” Ezra asked.
I pointed east. “That way.”
Reese’s hand went to the radio on her belt. “Toward the courthouse.”
“The mayor’s address will be starting soon,” Ezra said. “Call in the team. We need everyone down there now to find Edgar Jones.”
“What do you think he’s planning to do?” The mayor had just arranged to speak to the press and the memory had been planted before Edgar would’ve known it was happening. This wasn’t right, I thought. Nothing about this felt right.
ChapterFifteen
“Come on,” I urged Jeanna, feeling a twinge of impatience. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Aww, but I’m the best babysitter in town,” she quipped, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just ask Levi.”
“Har har,” her partner muttered, flexing the fingers on his bandaged hand with a grimace.
“Fine,” I conceded. “But if I have to sit around, I’m going to need caffeine.” The few sips of coffee I’d had early that morning were wearing thin. “We can at least go to the coffee shop, right?”
My reluctant agreement earned a nod, and soon enough, we were making our way to Moo-La-Lattes. Before we went inside, Jeanna cautioned me, “I know your friends are in there, but no talking about Jones. Not until we have him in custody, okay?”
“No talking about Edgar.” I crossed my heart but didn’t hope to die.
This wasn’t that kind of promise. The more I thought about it, the more Edgar made sense, but I didn’t see any connection to him and any of the prior cases I had worked for the Garden Cove PD. He was certainly the right age, sex, and race to be the culprit, but I needed the why of it to understand. I only hoped they caught him before he did anything destructive.
When we strolled into Moo-La-Lattes, the scents of coffee, chai, caramel, chocolate, and vanilla clung to the air like a dessert paradise. The aromas always brought on a deluge of memories, but luckily, I rarely saw the same memories twice.
“Nora!” Pippa waved at me from a table near the back, her smile broad and welcoming. Tippi sat next to her, JJ was in a booster seat, and JP was happily bouncing in his bouncy chair at her feet. She gestured to the seat across from her. “Everything wrapped up at the shop?”
“Yep,” I told her. “We can get back in there now, but let’s leave it until tomorrow.” I didn’t have the heart to work today, not with everything going on. “Hey, on the bright side, I’ve grown two extra heads,” I replied, using my thumbs to indicate Jeanna and Levi.
“We can push two tables together,” Jordy suggested, his voice warm and inviting. “So, you all can sit together.”
I flashed him a grateful look. “Thanks, Jordy. You’re the best.”
He laughed. “I won’t tell Easy you said so.” Today, his long hair was pulled back in a Viking-style braid, and he wore a tight black t-shirt with a line drawing of a French cow sporting a beret and the words “Moo-La-Lattes” in a speech bubble. He noticed me looking. “Do you like it?”
“It’s adorable,” I said with a grin. “Where’s mine?”
He grinned back, nodding toward Pippa’s table. “Talk to my marketing manager.”
“Are you moonlighting on me?” I teased her, raising an eyebrow.
“Not hardly,” she scoffed, a playful glint in her eyes. “That creation is all Tippi.”
Her younger sister grinned, her face awash with pleasure. “It was just for fun. I used to love art in high school, so I decided to take a graphic art class for my art requirement. I really enjoyed doing it.”
“And art is great therapy,” Pippa added, a note of pride in her voice. “Tippi’s going to be a great counselor.”
I saw a fleeting wistful look cross Tippi’s face, her smile faltering for just a moment.
