4
Florence reached her front door and opened the wooden speakeasy door to look out, and was shocked to see that it was Frank Everest, Lacy’s grandfather.She was still on the phone with Dan and said, “It’s just Lacy’s grandfather.We’re good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I worked with him in the FBI.”
“All right.If you have any trouble, just let me know.”
“I will.Thanks.”Mrs.Fitz closed the speakeasy window and opened the door.“Come in, and I’ll make us some cocoa.Lacy’s sleeping upstairs.Do you have a place to stay?”
“I’m staying at the motel in Yuma Town.I’m good, but cocoa sounds great.”
She hadn’t seen Frank in twenty years, but he looked so distinguished with his silver hair, blue eyes, and his kindly features.He gave her a warm smile, though their relationship while working together on cases in the FBI had often been contentious.They both had their own way of doing things and never agreed.But somehow, they always solved their cases.
He removed his hat, scarf, and coat, then joined her in the kitchen.
He smelled of snow and fresh air, and she recognized his cougar’s scent right away.
“Has Lacy’s ex been spotted in town?”
“Not yet.I was afraid you might have been him.”Florence pulled her gun out of her pocket and put it on the kitchen counter.
He chuckled.“That’s the Florence I remember.”
“Yeah, I’m always prepared.”She poured the cocoa into snowman mugs, topped them with whipped cream and peppermint pieces, and then handed one to Frank.
They moved into the living room to get comfortable.
“Okay, so the situation is that the sheriff’s department found tracking devices on Lacy’s car and bag, and they arranged to have them taken to Denver, and left the trackers in a truck heading out of state.”
“Well, hell, no wonder he kept locating her.Did she tell you why we were estranged?”
“Yeah.I think I convinced her that you really had no choice with regard to your wife, her grandmother’s death.”
“Thanks.I couldn’t seem to get through to her about it.”
“I think she was just in denial that you could have done more for your wife.”
“I agree.”
“In any case, I’m sorry to hear that she died.If you hadn’t guessed, Yuma Town is cougar run.We take care of our own.So everyone in town has been alerted about her ex-boyfriend and is on the lookout for him.”
“That’s a relief,” Frank said.“I smelled a man had been at the house.”
“Oh, Rory Baker.He’s a ranch hand at Hal Haverton’s horse ranch.Hal’s also a part-time deputy sheriff.Rory took Lacy out to dinner tonight.He’s a good guy.You don’t have to worry about him being like her ex-boyfriend.”
“Good.How are you doing?”
“Wonderfully.I retired and ended up in Yuma Town, started my coffee shop, and love it here.You?”
“Like you, I retired, lost my wife to hunters, and lost Lacy over that.But when she began having issues with the ex-boyfriend, I had tried to protect her, but she wasn’t having anything to do with it.You can’t know how worried I have been about her safety.I had looked into Timothy and discovered he’d done the same thing with two previous girlfriends until he ended up with another girlfriend.”
“And you couldn’t have him arrested if he hurt Lacy because he’s a shifter.”
“Exactly.”
“How long do you plan to stay?”
