Dearth sat back and paled slightly. Aha, so the man hid more accounts.
“Are you sure you don’t want to set things right?” Millie asked. “Your sins have to be eating at you.”
Dearth shook his head. “That’s it. Get out of my office,” he yelled at the top of his lungs, spittle flying from the corner of his mouth.
As if she’d been waiting just outside the door, Gladys swung it open. “You must leave or I’ll call security.”
“Fair enough,” Scott said cheerfully, pulling back Millie’s chair and making sure she walked in front of him, just in case Dearth grabbed a gun or did something equally ridiculous.
Something didn’t sit right here. Scott looked over his shoulder. “Where’s Julie?”
Dearth glowered. “I have no idea. Ask your mother. Those two are thick as thieves.”
Scott strolled down the hallway, then took the elevator to the lobby with Millie. They emerged into the rain outside.
She looked up at him. “You think we rattled his cage enough?”
“Oh yeah,” Scott said. “We definitely rattled his cage.” He glanced down the street to see two of the private detectives he often contracted with, waiting patiently to follow Dearth wherever he went. Brigid was on it with a computer and she would trace him electronically. “I think he’s going to screw up and soon.”
With that, Scott ushered Millie into the car and drove away quickly. He wanted to ensure she didn’t get caught in the cross fire.
Again.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
They returned to River City just after dinnertime, and the entire town hummed with excitement. The Derby started the next day and the party had spilled into the streets.
Scott dropped by the hospital on the way through town to find the chief still in a coma. The doctors had successfully removed the bullets, but their patient hadn’t awakened. A deputy was stationed at his door and he promised to call as soon as the man awoke. So far, they didn’t have any clue who had shot him.
Mae sat by his bedside, looking wan and tired.
“Come on, Auntie,” Millie said, trying to get her to leave.
“No.” Mae held the chief’s hand. “We’ve been together for years, just playing it safe. Why didn’t I tell him how I felt?” She looked up at Millie. “Visiting hours are over shortly, then I’ll head home.”
“All right,” Millie agreed reluctantly.
Scott ushered Millie out. “Are you hungry? We could grab a burger.”
“Not really.” She looked over at him. “Are you?”
He needed to get some color back into her pretty face. “No.”
“I’m worried about the chief, and I also don’t like having Angus pissed at me,” she admitted. “It reminds me of when JT gets mad. You never know what’s going to happen.”
“Oh, I know what’s going to happen,” Scott said dryly. “I’m certain Angus Force is on his way here right now.” Even an angry Angus investigated matters with an impressive focus, and another set of eyes would help.
Millie cut Scott a look beneath her lashes. “I’m not hungry and you’re not hungry. What do you say we check out Clay Baker’s cabin?”
Scott had been expecting the request. “It’s still a crime scene, isn’t it?”
She shrugged. “I’m already the defendant. Could I really get into much more trouble if we went?”
“Yes,” he said curtly. Yet he couldn’t blame her. In fact, she’d remained remarkably calm and sensible under the circumstances. He didn’t think he’d be able to hold it together to such an extent and probably already would’ve punched anybody in his way.
If she wanted to investigate, he wasn’t going to stop her. “What the hell,” he said. “We’re already in trouble on every front right now. Let’s go to Clay’s.”
They made the drive mostly in silence. Millie’s phone rang and she glanced at the face, then ignored it.
