Harmful Intent: A Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels/Dawson Hughes Novel Read Free Page A

boss knows where I am."
    He chuckled. "You'll know anyway soon as you talk to Hoot. I live in Arroyo. Spotted that green go-cart you drive on my way in to work."
    "I see." Why did I feel the last thing I needed was Hawkeye in the neighborhood?
    He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "Ma'am, is Mark Ingels your husband?"
    "Ye--es."
    "I'm sorry to be blunt, but it so happens he died last night of a gunshot wound to the head."
    "No." I gasped. Despite my anger, I couldn't deny my deep feelings for Mark. That's why his betrayal hurt so badly. "Wa... was it a robbery?"
    "It doesn't appear to be. On the surface, it looks like suicide, but that could've been staged. On the other hand, it might be a professional hit, as y'all say where you come from."
    Jack's joking around yesterday flitted into my mind, and I pushed it away. This wasn't funny. Not at all.
    "I can't believe this." I hugged myself as a shiver raced down my back. Was the deputy trying to rattle me? If so, he was doing a good job.
    "Cassidy Renault, owner of the bridal shop in the Mall of Abilene, says you're an excellent shot." He removed his hat, revealing a full head of thick, wavy brown hair.
    "I'm trained with weapons. It goes with my profession." My mind ran through every possible scenario and immediately ruled out suicide. This had to be a random shooting, a matter of extremely bad luck. What else could it be?
    He grinned but the effect was mirthless. "Ah, yes, a New York City lady PI."
    Heat flamed my cheeks. He'd obviously interviewed my nemesis and come away with the wrong impression. "Sounds like Cassidy told you a lot about me."
    He hiked one shoulder in a noncommittal half-shrug. "You were once sorority sisters in college?"
    I let out a sigh that seemed to come up from my toes. "And best friends. Inseparable, actually. Then my family finances took a down turn… mom's and mine that is. I had to leave college here in Texas and go back home."
    "Ms. Renault said your parents divorced."
    Anger lodged in the back of my throat choking me. I swallowed twice. "She had no trouble airing my family's dirty laundry, did she?"
    He offered a wan smile. "By the story she told, I'd guess she's not your biggest fan."
    The throbbing behind my eyes intensified. "Let me set the record straight. My dad was a successful stockbroker. He divorced my mom when I was in high school and she got a very nice settlement. I guess he got tired of making payments. During my freshman year at college, he hid his income and declared bankruptcy. I came home, finished my associate's degree in Criminal Justice at the local community college, and went to work first as an armed security guard. Then Jack Cooney Investigations hired me."
    He had a way of not breaking eye contact. "Well, that's a might different than the way Ms. Renault told it."
    "I'll just bet." I took a deep breath, then clamped my jaws shut. As much as I wanted to turn the tables on Cassidy by telling him about her cheating heart, I put the brakes on my tongue. I'd already told him way too much about my life and broken one of my cardinal rules. During an interrogation, answer only questions asked. Never volunteer anything to the cops.
    His eyes bore into me. "I believe it was you I saw barrelin' out of the Mall of Abilene parking lot yesterday. You had quite a head of steam on. Where did you go after that?"
    I related the call to Jack, getting lost in the hills, and finally arriving in Arroyo.
    He drummed his fingers on the table. "Did you bring any weapons to Texas?"
    I shifted in my seat. "I'm licensed to carry here. I brought my Glock and a Colt twenty-two."
    He sat back, and his eyes bored into me. "You came after your cheatin' spouse and you brought two guns with you?"
    "I didn't come after anyone. This was the last place I thought he'd be. I came to see a woman I thought was my best friend." My voice raised an octave.
    "When you got here, you found out Cassidy Renault wasn't the friend you thought she was."
    "You got that