He looked to be about Robert’s height. He was also dressed in a tailored suit, said he liked nice restaurants, fine wine and strong women.
All the things Robert had first said. All were true, too, except the part about the strong women. He wanted meek and docile. One he could control. Who’d do what he said, pleasure him and bow down to his every wish and order.
Her gut instinct told her that Karl Cross could be Robert. The only way to know was to meet him in person.
Nerves bunched in her stomach as she responded that she’d meet him at the bar called Whistler’s Nightcap at seven.
* * *
GRIFF GRIMACED AS he walked to the sheriff’s office. He hadn’t handled the encounter with Ginny very well. But he didn’t intend to allow another woman to use him—or fall for her lies.
Still, he felt bad for coming on so strong. She’d looked frightened, and he’d been raised better. His father would have given him a good talking to for his terse tone.
Why had he been so angry?
Because she’s pretty and tempting and you want to trust her, but you don’t.
Thunder rumbled, dark storm clouds gathering, rain on its way. He glanced back to where Ginny was parked. But she was gone.
Maybe she’d give up the story and leave town. Unless his instincts were right, and she was here for more than a story.
The wind battered the thin windowpanes as he entered Jacob’s office. “I need to see Jacob,” he told the receptionist.
“He’s interrogating Wayne Norris at the moment.”
“I’ll wait in his office.” Griff bypassed the deputy who was on the phone, then strode through the double doors and down the hall to his brother’s office. Jacob’s desk was a mess, but Griff noticed a grainy photo on the side of his computer. He leaned closer to see what it was, and realized it was a sonogram of Jacob and Cora’s unborn baby.
A smile tugged at his lips. The Maverick family was growing. Odd that he hadn’t pictured any of them married and now the longing for someone to fill his lonely nights with niggled at him.
Ginny’s face teased at his mind.
Do not go there.
While he waited for Jacob, he seated himself and decided to dig deeper into Ginny. The fact that she was still here roused his curiosity even more.
He should have googled her before now but figured she’d be gone in a day and forgotten. But he plugged her name in and found two Virginia Bagwells. One was seventy-five and owned a pet store for cats in Maine. The other was deceased.
Next he entered the words journalist and investigative reporter and spent the next half hour researching various publications and articles but found no byline for a Virginia or Ginny Bagwell.
She said she was trying to break in to a TV network, so he researched those as well, but if she’d had any experience in the media, he couldn’t find it.
Footsteps sounded behind him, and he glanced up and saw Jacob in the doorway.
“What are you doing?” Jacob asked.
Griff stood. “Ginny followed me from the morgue,” he said. “I think she may know something about Joy’s murder.”
“Really?”
“Something’s definitely off about her. She claims to be researching a story on arsonists and saw the news on TV, but she’s been asking questions about Joy, how she died, if she was strangled.”
Jacob’s brows shot up. “She specifically asked about strangulation?”
Griff nodded. “Since you haven’t released that detail, it made me wonder if the murder was what brought her to Whistler.”
Jacob gestured toward the computer. “So, you were researching her?”
“I was, but so far she’s a mystery. I can’t find anything about a Ginny or Virginia Bagwell. It also struck me as odd that she came to me, and not you.”
Jacob worked his mouth from side to side in thought. “Could be she’s just a nosy journalist or that she’s hiding something. Either way, it’s worth looking into. I’ll have Liam see what he can dig up.” Jacob folded his arms. “Meanwhile maybe you should keep an eye on her.”
Griff’s stomach tightened. “I guess I could do that.” He would just have to remain objective. “How’d it go with Wayne? Do you think he killed Joy?”
Jacob shook his head. “I don’t like the bastard, but the creep has an alibi.”
“He could have hired someone,” Griff suggested.
“That’s a possibility. My deputy is looking into his financials to see if he was in trouble or if he withdrew a significant amount of money lately, money he could have used for that purpose.”
“How about insurance?”
“Joy’s business was doing well. No major financial problems. Wayne was not a beneficiary on her insurance. She removed him from the policy when she filed for divorce. He also had no claims to the business.”
“Maybe he was angry she cut him out.”
“Could be,” Jacob said. “But I have to start considering other persons of interest. I’m on my way to talk to Riley Thornton, the receptionist at the salon. Maybe she knows more about Joy’s personal life.”
“Tonight, I’ll drop by the bar where Joy and I went,” Griff offered. “Maybe the bartender saw her with someone else.”
“Good idea. I’ll meet you,” Jacob offered.
Griff shook his head. “Let me go alone. Bartender might freeze up when he sees a uniform.” Griff pointed to the ultrasound picture. “Besides, you have a family to go home to. How’s Cora feeling?”
“Tired, but excited,” Jacob said with a grin. “Nina’s ecstatic about having a little brother or sister.”
“I’m happy for you, brother.” Griff suddenly felt antsy to leave. “Let me know what Liam uncovers about Ginny.”
They agreed to stay in touch, and Griff left the office. Outside a few raindrops had started to fall, the clouds growing darker by the minute. He headed back to his truck, then decided to track down Ginny again.
Maybe she was back at the inn? He climbed in his truck, then drove past Mitzi’s. Ginny’s little sedan was there.
But she hurried out just as he neared the parking lot. He slowed and watched to see where she was going, his pulse hammering as he noticed her checking over her shoulder as she walked. She passed the mercantile and arts-and-crafts store, scanned the street as she walked. At one point, she ducked beneath an awning, then peered around the corner as if looking for someone.
Or...as if she thought someone was following her.