“I’m hoping he can run Hammer’s name through the criminal database. If that doesn’t pan out, and this Hammer guy is involved in the gambling issue with Trent, our man might be from Midvale. My uncle could contact the sheriff over there to see if he’s heard of him.”
“The name Hammer is probably a nickname,” Preston said. “The guy might be a carpenter by trade.”
“I agree, but let’s hope it’s not.” Benson had met many people with very strange names.
Ariel rubbed her side and then sucked in a breath, implying her injuries were more severe than she was willing to admit. He just hoped she hadn’t cracked a rib. That would take quite a while to heal.
“Even if this man has a record, it’s not like we can ask the sheriff to bring him in and question him, or can he?” Ariel asked.
“No,” Benson said. “But we need to give my uncle all of the information we have.”
“What about Walter Winston?” she asked.
Benson blew out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “We can’t start accusing everyone who has a connection to Samantha or your brother. Walter had relations with Sam. That’s all we know. I could ask Mason to subtly find out if Walter was at the store all day yesterday to eliminate him from being our picture taker.”
“We should do that.” Ariel said.
“I’ll call Mason right now.” He pulled out his phone and punched in his cousin’s number.
Mason answered on the third ring. “Well, well. I haven’t heard from you in a while.”
That was true. “I’ve been busy.”
“With Ariel?”
Had the whole town learned that she’d moved in with them. No wonder her stalker found her so easily. Benson couldn’t exactly say she was their mate since she was sitting right there. “Yes. I have a favor to ask.”
Mason chuckled. “I figured, though if I’m ever accused of a crime, and you have to prosecute me, you have to promise to go easy on me.”
“That goes without saying. I’m calling because Ariel has a stalker.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Exactly.” Benson explained about the photos she received yesterday and the attempt on her life this morning. “In truth, if this person had meant to kill her, he could have. I think it was just a warning.”
“Did she see the car?”
“No, but she thinks it was white.” Benson explained that a friend of General Armand’s had tracked the photos to Pauline’s Café. “Pauline remembers someone new in here yesterday by the name of Hammer.” He described him. “Can you see if you can find anyone like that?”
“I’ll try, but even if I give you his address and phone number, having a strange name doesn’t mean he’s your man.”
“I know.”
“I’ll be in touch.” Mason then disconnected.
Their food arrived, and Benson was happy to see Ariel eating. That boded well for her recovery. The big question he was grappling with was how to break it to her that neither he nor Preston would be sleeping with her until he was certain she was feeling better. The ankle he didn’t mind. If she had cracked ribs or too many bruises, sex would only exacerbate the problem.
“Benson?” she asked.
Damn. He’d spaced out. “Yes?”
She nodded to the server who was standing over him. He looked up.
“Can I get you anything else?”
“Just the check.”
The server nodded. When she returned, Benson quickly signed the receipt. “Ready to talk to my uncle?”