DINNER WAS…NICE, ACTUALLY. Not that Royal had expected it to bebad, just maybe a little awkward. But Brooke and Franny seemed to have endless topics to discuss. It made it easy to relax a little, and he figured it was good for Franny to get out. Feel normal, even for a few hours.
She could go have a meal with her cousins, but he had a feeling she hadn’t asked for that because she knew they would just worry and hound. Dinner out here was like pretending nothing was wrong.
Royal was just biding his time, waiting for a chance to talk to Zeke alone. When Franny asked Brooke about some flower and they got up to go peruse Brooke’s gardens, Royal hung back with Zeke. At some point, Brooke took Franny inside to show her something, so Royal finally had the privacy to discuss what he’d come there to discuss with Zeke.
“I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“What kind of favor?”
“A former secret agent who still keeps in contact with all those other former secret agents favor.”
“I’m retired.” Zeke leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “And I don’t help cops.”
“Since when?”
Zeke looked him up and down. “Sinceyoubecame one.”
Royal snorted in spite of himself. He and Zeke had found a lot of even ground, what with both wanting the best for Brooke, but part of that even ground was giving each other a hard time.
“Will this favor help your…friend?” He jerked a chin toward the door Franny and Brooke had gone in.
“She’s not a friend. She’s awitnessI’m protecting.” Which felt like a lie. “But yeah, it’s to help her.”
“All right. Shoot.”
Royal filled Zeke in on the suspicious woman in Hope Town—and a few of Royal’s theories. “If she’s not a Fed, I want her identity. Especially if she started that fire.”
“Dahlia was pretty upset about it.”
Reminding Royal that everything in Bent County was connected. Because Zeke’s siblings were both married to Hudsons—and Dahlia the librarian was married to a Hudson.
“Email me the picture, and your bodycam footage if you can. I should be able to get a look at Dahlia’s description myself, but it wouldn’t hurt to send it my way if you get a sketch. I’ll look into it. If I can’t figure it out, I’ll send it up the former secret agent chain. We should be able to ID her.”
“Thanks.” It eased a little of the tension inside of him, though it would no doubt wind back up again if this took too long.
“Just a warning. Brooke’s matchmaking.”
“Matchmaking what?”
“You and your friend, I meanwitness. She heard you were bringing a woman, and she immediately started picking out wedding decorations.”
Royal scoffed. “Surely she’s not that delusional.”
“Romantic bliss will do that to you.”
“Bliss with you? My ass,” Royal grumbled. “Let me know when you figure out who the picture is. I’ve got to take mywitnesshome.” He pushed out of his chair at the same time the door opened.
“Royal, I think you better take Franny home,” Brooke said, worry written all over her face.
“I’ll be fine, really,” Franny said, sounding…weird. Kind of squeaky. “I just have to take a shower, an antihistamine, and I’ll be—” She sneezed. Twice. “—back to normal.”
“You soundhorrible.”
She looked over at him, and he thought maybe she was trying to glare, but…
“And your eye is…swollen or something.”
She sneezed again. Her eyes were watering and the swollen one looked like it was…pulsing.
