“Right.”
“Did Murphy come over?”
“He did not.”
“So why did Charlie suspect him of theft?”
“I asked her that,” Jackson said.
“And?”
He moistened his lips, hesitating.“She said maybe Charlie wanted to check me out, because they’ve been looking for a third, and Murphy wasn’t cooperating.”
Wade couldn’t help but laugh at Jackson’s uncomfortable grimace.Clearly, he wasn’t interested in getting frisky with the Franklins, and he didn’t find the situation humorous.“Do you think she was serious?”
“I don’t know.I got flustered and ended the interview.”
Wade patted Jackson on the shoulder.“It happens.”
“Oh, really?Have you been invited to bang a chick in front of her husband?”
“Well, no.But I’ve fielded some pretty weird come-ons.”
“How do you handle it?”
“You decline the offer, try not to let it rattle you, and move on.”
Jackson adjusted his Stetson.“I’m supposed to follow up with Charlie.”
“Do you want company?”
“Sure,” Jackson said.“Let’s do it.”
They drove the short distance to the Franklin residence in Lakeside.Wade noted that the place appeared tidy and well-maintained.Any tornado debris had been cleared, and the yard was freshly mowed.
Charlie Franklin answered at Jackson’s knock.He was a grizzled-looking man of about fifty.Elvira couldn’t be more than thirty, so there was a significant age difference between them.Charlie crossed his arms over his chest.“You find my pistol?”
“No, sir,” Jackson replied.“Your neighbor says he doesn’t have it.”
Charlie grunted with displeasure.“Maybe I need to go over and get it myself.”
“He claims he’s never been inside your residence.”
“He’s a damned liar.”
“Your wife corroborated his statements.”
Charlie went as still as a statue.“You talked to Elvie?”
“She said she invited him over for a drink, and he declined.”
“That doesn’t mean he didn’t steal my .38!”Charlie blustered.“Search his cabin!”
Jackson kept his voice cool and calm.“We don’t have cause to search him.If he was here with your wife, he was a guest, not an intruder.”
“Cocky son of a bitch thinks he can break in and help himself.”
“Was there any sign of a break-in?”
