Page 38 of Homicide in Water Creek

He tapped the counter. “Appreciate it.”

With a tip of his hat, he walked out, noticing Jacks lounging against his squad. He beeped it open, and they climbed in. “Why didn’t you ask her about Chinos?” he demanded as he started the car.

“There wasn’t any point. I looked at the men’s clothing, and none of it matched what Chinos has been wearing. I only bought the shirt so it wouldn’t look obvious that I was snooping.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “I have to hand it to you. I didn’t even think of that. It does leave us in a bind, though. There’s nowhere else in town to get clothing. Do you think he had it delivered?”

“Or went out of town to get it,” Jacks said with a shrug.

“But they don’t have vehicles, so how would he get there?”

Jacks chewed on her bottom lip, something she did when she was thinking, but today, it ramped him up as he remembered what those lips could do to him. “He could have taken the ranch truck to pick up supplies and grabbed them at the same time.”

“You don’t get your supplies from here?” King motioned toward the store.

“Most, but not all.” She snapped her fingers. “The farm and tractor store in Wellspring! We get a couple of things for the horses there, but we can’t have them delivered, so we have to pick them up.”

Wellspring lay to the west of them, but thankfully, the farm store was on the outskirts of town. “Won’t take us long to get there. I say we do it. Until we know who he really is, we can’t even try to tie him to Vonita.”

Jacks settled in as he headed toward Wellspring. “Something about the guy doesn’t work, right?”

Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he noticed she was lost in thought. “I know. That’s why we’re doing this.”

She waved her hand as though he should pay attention. “No, I mean in general. Nothing about the guy works. Just stop and think about it.”

All the interactions he’d had with Chinos ran through his mind. “He’s a cop.”

Jacks shot him a finger gun. “Or a security guard. He’s too good at subterfuge and going unnoticed.”

“If he’s a cop, he’s not here officially. I would have been notified if any officer or agent were going undercover in my town.”

“Why? Wouldn’t it be better if you didn't know? Someone in the department could blow their cover.”

“It depends on the situation, but for the most part, it’s to avoid blue-on-blue. That means we don’t step into a conflict thinking we’re on the right side of the law only to injure or kill one of our own undercover agents.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” she said. “Not to mention, there’s no reason for him to be undercover on my ranch. We have nothing to hide, and we’re not doing anything illegal.”

Both lost in thought, he swung the SUV into the parking lot at the Wellspring feed store and glanced at her. “Are you going to check the clothes again?”

“Nope. Since we’re out of town, I’m going to flash his picture around and see if anyone remembers him. I’ll claim I’m trying to figure out who picked up our supplies and why I don’t have them.”

“Good. I’ll let you take the lead and hang back, but I want to hear what they say if they remember the guy.”

Once inside, he noticed there were two staffed registers, which meant they might have to make several trips to speak with every employee. If no one remembered Chinos, they’d take a minute to check the clothing. If Jacks recognized it, they’d come back a few times and try to reach everyone.

“Jacks!” a woman called from the customer service counter. “It’s been forever, girl!”

Jacks brightened as she walked toward the counter. He noticed she was dragging her foot a bit more, a sign she was getting tired. She was so damn stubborn and refused to use a crutch, even when it would keep her from getting sore. He’d try to figure out how to convince her of that on a day when he didn’t have a murder and a saboteur to clear off his desk.

“Hi, Eve,” Jacks said as she hugged the woman. “Granddaddy’s been sending the cowboys in to pick up the supplies, which is why I haven’t been around. Those supplies are actually the reason I’m here.”

King smiled. Jacks was laying the groundwork well, so he hung back because he hadn’t been noticed.

“Is there a problem?” Eve asked as she walked behind the counter.

“Maybe not. Do you recognize this guy?” Jacks asked, holding out her phone with a picture of Chinos on the screen.

“Hmm, no,” Eve said. “Joella! Nora! Come here real quick.”