“Got it.” By the tone of Dave’s voice, I didn’t think he actually did.
He led us out of the beautiful office, past the pack of barking dogs, and to the front door. Jack didn’t move his hand from my back, and I didn’t want him to either.
When we were safely at the porch and Dave was in the doorway, we turned to wave.
“Thanks again, sorry to take up your time,” I said.
His mouth slanted downward. “I’m not sure what you two are up to, but I suspect you weren’t here for training your cat. I can’t trust anyone in this town.”
He slammed the door. Jack and I walked to the car in silence, and quickly drove away.
I let out a long breath. “Yikes, that was super intense at the end.”
“No kidding. But we got some amazing information.”
“Yes,” I cried. “So much information. I think I know the developer.”
Jack took his eyes off the road and turned to me. “What?”
“Don’t crash.” I pointed at an upcoming stop sign. “Turn right and then left, and park on Main Street. Let’s stop at the Crow’s Nest for some coffee and I’ll explain everything.”
“Right, then left,” he muttered.
“I’m going to make sure my sister hasn’t texted me. Park anywhere on Main.” I extracted my phone from my purse. I had no calls, and no texts from Vera.
My mind spun with possibilities. I tapped on my phone screen at my voicemail. I still had the call about the baby gator in the pool from the homeowner.
As Jack parallel-parked like a champ, I played the days-old message on speakerphone.
“Hi, uh, this is Bruce Doyle.” He mumbled his name, but now that I listened to it a second time, I could understand what he was saying. “I’m at 760 Osprey Ridge Parkway and I have an urgent situation here. There’s a massive alligator in my pool. I’ve already called another trapper but it’s been two hours and he hasn’t called back. Can you come over and catch him? I’ll pay extra. Thanks.”
Jack killed the engine. “Who was that?”
I shot him a triumphant smile. “Let’s get coffee. I’ll tell you inside.”
We charged into the Crow’s Nest. Probably I should’ve felt a little ridiculous since it was my second time in the place today, but it didn’t matter. I needed coffee to think.
The Crow’s Nest was one of the oldest businesses in Wahoo, with lots of hanging ferns, a laid-back hippie vibe, and the best coffee in town. It was owned by the wife of my high school debate teacher, and she’d let us study there back in the day.
It wasn’t packed, and I spotted a worn sofa in the corner. “Go grab that and I’ll order. What would you like?”
Jack squinted at the menu. “A double espresso.”
I went up to the counter, wondering if anyone I knew was working here. I was greeted by a fresh-faced teenage guy with a lip piercing.
“Didn’t you come in a couple of hours ago?”
“Yeah,” I said sheepishly.
It didn’t take me long to order two double espressos, and with a squirmy, excited feeling I brought them to Jack. He accepted his cup and I sat next to him. Probably a little closer than I would normally, but a couple was at the next table, and I didn’t want anyone to overhear what I was about to say.
Plus, I liked the way Jack smelled.
“OK, so that voicemail I played on speakerphone in the car? I think that’s the developer Dave was talking about.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “I went to a gator call at his house on Thursday. The same day I found Gene’s body.”