“Seems to me it’s just what he does when he’s around you that matters. That part we can take care of.”
Alice was clearly determined to make CJ a pet project. “Where is he living?”
Tracy told them the little she knew. “With somebody named Edward Statler. I checked. He’s the president and CEO of a business called Creative Development and Investment. Ever heard of him?”
Alice pressed her lips together, and the lines between her eyes deepened in concentration. “The name…” She shrugged.
“I don’t exactly run in CEO circles,” Wanda said. “Kenny could check them both out, only he’s not around that much right now.”
“I guess we should look into it, at least a little,” Tracy agreed reluctantly. “CJ said Statler was going to help him develop Happiness Key, so why didn’t he come to me when I moved in and suggest I sell the land to him?”
Wanda sniffed. “Maybe he’s a CEO without C.A.S.H.”
Tracy checked out the men once more. “So why do you think he’s all dressed up?”
“He was late, wasn’t he? Maybe he was at some event that got out later than he’d expected, and he didn’t have time to change.”
“On a Saturday afternoon? More likely he’s on his way to something, and he realized he’d have to go from here, so he’d better dress for it. I want to know.”
“You could follow him,” Wanda said.
“He’d catch on right away. My car stands out.”
“Mine doesn’t. The key’s…” Alice made a turning motion with her hand to demonstrate. “In the ignition.”
“That’s a bad idea,” Wanda scolded. “The key in the ignition, not Tracy driving your car. That’s a good one. I’ll go with her.”
Tracy hated that she was even considering the offer. She directed her question to Alice. “You really don’t mind?”
“Just…tell me what you learn.”
Tracy couldn’t believe she was going to tail CJ. Of course, maybe if she’d tailed him a time or two in California, she would have been better prepared when the Feds lowered the boom. “I’ll fill the gas tank.”
“No need.”
“I can keep an eye on him while you drive.” Wanda got to her feet. “We’d better head out the moment he does, or we’ll lose him.”
Tracy looked outside once more and saw Pete walking back to his SUV. That meant CJ was leaving. She didn’t have time to reconsider. “Thanks, Alice. We’ll let you know.”
Wanda followed her to the door, and they both paused. Pete was turning around in the road. Then CJ got in his car and did the same thing. He took off like a shot, passing Pete on the left.
“We’re out of here.” Tracy threw the door open and ran for the side of the house where Alice’s Hyundai sat. It was as old as Olivia, but Alice had driven it so rarely that except for the inevitable Florida rust, she’d had few problems with it.
“I’d offer to drive, only I’ve seen you behind the wheel,” Wanda said as she threw herself into the passenger seat.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Before Wanda could even reach for her seat belt, Tracy backed the Hyundai out of the driveway.
Wanda buckled up quickly. “So, you got any guesses where he’s headed?”
“I don’t have a clue. And I don’t have a clue about that car he’s driving, either. His share of what was left when the Feds got finished went into a savings account, so he’d have spending money in prison. But it wouldn’t have stretched to a daily pack of cigarettes, much less an Aston Martin.”
“That’s what he’s driving?”
“The lower end of the line. Still costs a fortune.”
“That’s a James Bond car.”
“Well, let’s see if he’s got a James Bond girl stashed somewhere.”
“You think that’s what the suit’s all about? Are you jealous?”
“No! I just want to keep tabs on him.” Tracy drove faster. She could see Pete’s car ahead, but not CJ’s.
“I’m glad I had that extra piece of pie. It settled my nerves. Now I’m just going to pray you don’t burn out Alice’s engine before we get to the bridge.”
Pete turned off at Randall’s, and without his SUV blocking most of her view, Tracy could see CJ’s car far ahead. There was a stop sign before the turn to the bridge into Palmetto Grove. She hoped he observed it. Then there was a light just before the bridge. She prayed for red.
Luck was with her. By the time she got to the light it was green, but she could see CJ just ahead on the