TWENTY-THREE
Jack sat at his desk with Terra and copied the museum interview reports to give to her. Terra, meanwhile, looked up all the private investigators in the area. How many could there be? Pauline could have hired someone from another county for more privacy, especially since the general consensus was that everyone knew her husband. How could they not since his face was plastered on billboards around town and the county?
Nathan swiveled in his chair at his desk. “Hey, Terra. It’s good to see you.”
“You too.” Terra didn’t look up from her laptop.
Jack couldn’t tell whether she was that absorbed in what she was reading or she held a grudge against Nathan because of his falling out with her best friend, Erin.
“What are you guys doing?” Nathan rolled his chair over to Jack’s desk.
“We believe Pauline Raymond hired a PI to take these pictures.” Jack laid out the two of Jim and the blonde. “We’re trying to figure out who she hired. I’m working on getting Pauline’s phone records.”
Nathan scrunched up his face as he rolled back to his desk. “Ah, man. A PI reported a break-in at her office yesterday. She called the police, but her business is just outside the city limits. Deputy Pendergrass—Linda—took the information.”
Jack angled his face to Nathan. “And you’re bringing this up because...”
“I should have told you sooner. The PI mentioned she had worked with Mrs. Raymond. Linda thought that could be important. She passed it on to me to pass on to you.”
Nathan lifted a paper from his desk. “See? Now I’m passing it on.” Then he handed it over to Jack, making that painful scrunched face again. “I’m sorry?”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. The timing works out.”
“The PI’s name is Dallas Simpson.” He briefly read the report as he stood and pulled on his jacket.
Terra stood as well. “Let’s go.”
Fifteen minutes later, they found the address—an old dilapidated building just outside of town. He parked at the curb and met Terra on the sidewalk. She glanced up at the three-story building with old fire escape stairs. She was probably thinking like he was that Dallas Simpson’s private investigation business wasn’t paying her enough.
He opened the door, and Terra stepped through with a smile. “Thanks.”
She paused in the quiet hallway. “Should we have called to see if she’s even here?”
“Oh, come on. You know you prefer the face-to-face surprise approach.”
“Only she won’t be that surprised to have a detective asking more questions.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate us looking into the break-in with more interest.” He gestured for her to go ahead.
She led the way down the corridor and noted many of the offices were empty but not all. An insurance agency occupied one office, a bookkeeper and tax accountant another.
They headed up the stairs and, on the second floor, Jack knocked on the door with a window displaying the stenciled words Dallas Simpson, Private Investigator.
“Come in,” a woman called.
Jack opened the door and held it for Terra again. A petite brunette woman was stuffing items into cardboard boxes. She paused as they made introductions, then Jack and Terra sat in the two chairs across from Dallas’s desk.
“We’re here to talk to you about a recent client—Pauline Raymond.”
Dallas opened her mouth but hesitated, then said, “I thought you’d come to ask more questions about the break-in I reported yesterday.”
Jack shared a look with Terra. “There could be a connection.”
Dallas eased into the seat behind her desk and rubbed her head. “I don’t know how much information I’m free to share.”
“Did Pauline hire you for litigation purposes?” Terra asked. “If not, then there’s no attorney-client privileges preventing you from sharing with us, if that’s your concern.”
“No, she didn’t. But it’s just not particularly good for business for me to share with the cops, though of course, we do like to work together.”