Page 17 of It Runs in the Family

Call me.

I didn’t feel like dealing with him at the moment, so I checked Garrett’s message.

Call me when you get up.

Did that mean he had news about the guy from my vision? I called, and he answered right away.

“I was about to come over there.”

“Why?” I asked excitedly. “Do you have news?”

“Why? Because you saw yourself murdered. Jesus.” He sounded majorly annoyed. “I texted you, and it’s been over an hour. I thought you were dead.”

“Nice to know you care,” I teased, but then again, I’d always known that Garrett cared. He’d cared when my mother had moved us back to Chaffney when I was five. I’d been overwhelmed by all my cousins, and he’d stayed with me at Granny’s Sunday family dinner, introducing me to everyone, multiple times, if necessary, and making sure Billy didn’t do anything all of us would regret. “Did you find anything?”

“I found out that Selena got a speeding ticket two days ago. She was going forty-six in a thirty-five-mile-per-hour zone. She also had expired insurance.”

“Okay…”

“At least we know she was still alive two days ago.”

“She was alive in my vision,” I pointed out. “Not necessarily helpful. Did you find out anything else?”

“The deputy said she had a phone and used it to make a call while he was writing her ticket. He thinks she was talking to a guy, but he didn’t catch a name.”

“So, we know she had a phone, and she’s probably moved on to her next man, and there’s a good chance he’s the guy in the store. Did you find out anything about him?”

“No. I showed the photo around, but no one knows who he is. He might not even be her boyfriend. Could be he was passing through town.”

“I think he knows her. He said I reminded him of someone, so it’s likely Selena. Plus, she was with him in my vision.”

“Maybe the reason you’re murdered is because you’re trying to find her, and once you do, he kills you.”

He had a point. “Then if I stop looking for her, can I tell Jimmy I’m working tonight?”

“It’s Friday night. Why don’t you just take the night off and go out with Mary Ellen and Ava?”

“Those two like to go to T-Birds on Highway 57, and they’re wilder than a school of barracuda in a chum tank. Are you wanting me to have fun or get into more trouble?”

“Just because they get into trouble doesn’t mean you will. You’ve got a level head on your shoulders, but it wouldn’t kill you to let loose a little bit.”

“You really want me hangin’ out there with a potential murderer on the loose?”

“You’ll be with the girls and there’ll be a crowd. When was the last time you went out and had some fun?”

“Pot meet kettle.”

“I have plans tonight,” he said smugly.

I laughed. “What? Fixing Granny’s water heater? That’s not fun, Garrett.”

“If you have to know, I happen to have a date.”

I did a double take. “Really?”

Now, Garrett had had his share of girlfriends. He worked out pretty regularly and had been in a fundraiser calendar for the sheriff’s department every year for the past couple of years. But after his ex-girlfriend broke up with him and ran off to Dallas with some guy she’d met in a bar, he’d sworn off dating for a while after that. That had been three months ago, and as far as I knew, he was still playing the celibacy card.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he said with a laugh. “So, are you gonna go out?”