by Mosby, was there more? What had made him suspicious?
Frantic to know more, Savannah delved back into the box. Each successive letter showed her grandfather’s tortured thoughts about what he should do, whom he should discuss his suspicions with. It seemed he ended up trusting no one because he wasn’t sure who was involved. His friends in Mobile told him to drop it, and even Aunt Gibby urged him to let it go, telling him he was pursuing something that had no hope of a good outcome. Finally it appeared he had accepted that nothing could be done and apparently went to his grave wondering if he had allowed the murderer of his son and daughter-in-law to get away.
Savannah stood. Though stiff from sitting too long, she barely paid attention to her body as her mind raced with all she had learned and the multitude of questions she now had. Was this possible? Had the man she had despised for killing her mother and destroying their happy life been an innocent victim? Who would have done such a thing? And why?
She ran from the guesthouse as if demons chased her. Entering the main house, she grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter and then ran out the door. Thankfully Zach had kept his promise—her car was in the driveway, and a note lay on the seat: Had Manny check your tires and oil. You were a little low on both.
For the first time, she noticed that her car was much cleaner, inside and out. Not only had Zach had her tires and oil checked, he’d had her car detailed. The interior smelled fresh and citrusy and the deep blue exterior paint gleamed from its bath. A wave of emotion swept over her at the sheer sweetness of the act. He had left this morning hurt and angry. Instead of maintaining that anger, he’d done something incredibly thoughtful and kind.
She would call and thank him; maybe invite him for dinner. She didn’t like how they’d left things.
That settled in her mind, Savannah started the car. Now she had only one thought. She had to see Aunt Gibby and find out what she knew. Had her father really been innocent? If so, who had murdered her parents?
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
Zach was on the sidewalk talking to Mayor Kilgore when Savannah flew by in her Mustang. Hell, if he’d had his patrol car close by, he would’ve jumped in and run her down to issue a ticket. Where was she going in such an all-fired hurry?
“You two looked awfully chummy the other night. Nesta said she saw definite sparks.”
Discussing his love life with Midnight’s mayor wasn’t something he planned to do. Lamont’s bright eyes twinkled with questions he was apparently dying to ask. Zach shifted the conversation to something else he knew the mayor was concerned with. “I don’t think we’ll have any more vandalisms.”
“Really? Does that mean you caught the culprits?”
As far as Zach was concerned, the incident last night was over and would stay private. He’d had another blunt talk with both Henson and Dayton.
Clark Dayton had been uncharacteristically meek, apologizing repeatedly. He confessed to every vandalism crime, including the message on the school wall about Savannah. When a furious Zach had gotten in his face and threatened bodily harm if he came within a mile of Savannah, Dayton had stuttered out another apology and promised he wouldn’t. He’d even offered to paint over the words. The man seemed sincerely remorseful. Time would tell just how sorry the idiot was.
Henson, unfortunately, had been his same predictable self. Unrepentant, he had denied doing anything wrong and had threatened Zach with a lawsuit for harassment. As they’d walked out the door, Zach had issued one final warning. If another vandalism occurred, he was coming after both of them and would hold nothing back.
The arrests were known only to his department, and he wanted to keep it that way. His answer to Lamont’s question was deliberately vague. “Let’s just say I had a long discussion with some people who know some people. I don’t think we’ll see anything happen again.”
“That’s good, Zach. Real good. All that talk about you not being able to handle your job will die down now.”
The mayor’s words confirmed what he already knew. As lame and stupid as Henson’s and Dayton’s crimes had been, they’d been effective.
“I appreciate your support, Mayor.”
“How about you and Savannah coming over to the house next week for dinner?”
Accepting social engagements without talking to Savannah wasn’t something Zach