She knew the ploy. He was buying time to regroup. He’d likely planned exactly what he would say if she stuck to her guns on the issue, but he hadn’t actually believed she would do it. Now he was having second thoughts about his original game plan. Not only would she be in his way, but he would also have to answer to Cyrus for allowing her to be a part of the investigation.
Just because this was Wyatt—a man she’d once loved with her entire being—he would not be immune to the old bastard who owned this part of Mississippi.
Once they were back in his office, Wyatt closed the door. “When Cyrus’s boys find out you’re here, the shit will hit the fan. You know this. This case demands all my department’s resources. I don’t have time to work this investigation and protect you.”
Adeline crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t need your protection.”
He laughed, but the sound held no humor. “When you left, I believe the exodus order from your uncle went something like,Set foot in Mississippi again and you’re dead.”
“That’s right,” she agreed. “But I’m not afraid of my uncle. I never have been. I haven’t stayed away because of Cooper’s law. I haven’t been back to Mississippi before now because there was nothing to come back for.”
Wyatt flinched.
Victory tore through her. She’d nailed him with that one. “Let’s get this straight once and for all,” she warned. “I’m here until this is done. Deal with it.”
Five, then ten seconds elapsed before the color of outrage faded from his face. He took a deep breath and said, “You’ll be staying with your momma?”
“No. I don’t want my presence to bring any trouble to her door. I’ll stay at the Shady Oaks over on Delmas.”
“Not a good idea.” He shook his head. “That place is even more of a dive than it used to be. There are other places.” He named a couple of the chain motels that had moved into the area since she’d left.
“I won’t be spending much time there, so it doesn’t really matter. A quick shower, a few hours’ sleep.” She shrugged. “Not a big deal. I’d rather be close to downtown.” The Shady Oaks was only a few blocks from the courthouse.
“Does your momma know you’re here?”
“I let her know I was coming, if that’s what you’re asking. She isn’t expecting me to stay at the house. The house is on Cooper land. She knows I won’t come there.”
He shoved the files on his desk into a drawer. “It’s been a long day. I’ll escort you to the motel, and we’ll convene at eight tomorrow morning to kick off the search and then we’ll go over the case.”
“You said you planned to conduct a couple of interviews.”
He rounded his desk, reached for his coat. “That’s right.”
“I’d like to sit in on those.”
“I’ll consider the request.”
Great. He wasn’t going to make a single aspect of this easy. “Do you mind if I take the file and read up on the interviews conducted so far?”
“I had a copy made just in case you asked.” He went back to his desk and picked up the numerous pages held together by a binder clip.
He’d gone to the trouble to make the copy but hadn’t offered to share until she asked.
Perfect.
Outside, the air was cool. But not as cool as back home in Huntsville. The Gulf weather was great in the winter, but in the summer it would be muggy as hell and the mosquitoes would carry your ass off.
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t taken the time to eat today. She would pick something up later. It wasn’t like the Shady Oaks Motel had room service, but there was probably someplace close that delivered. She would check once she had a room. No way would she ask Wyatt and have him insist on joining her for a sandwich. If she mentioned food, he would feel compelled to do the gentlemanly thing.
Too bad he’d fallen down on the job nine years ago.
If she hadn’t been so deep in the past, she might have recognized something was wrong. But she’d been way down memory lane and hadn’t gotten her head out of her ass until she was halfway across the street.
Wyatt drew up short first.
Adeline halted as the reality of what her eyes saw was absorbed by her brain.
Her big old four-wheel-drive Bronco was her baby. Thirty-six-inch tires. Six-inch suspension lifts. Roll bar. Badass exhaust pipes. The world knew she was coming well before she turned a corner. She had spared no expense on her baby.