“That’s good,” Gracie said curtly.

  Beatrice returned. “Ready,” she said to the judge, then turned to Gracie. “Thanks so much for stopping by. You did so much more than pick up a few limbs for me.”

  Fifteen

  After watching the taillights of the judge’s car recede in the distance, Gracie wasn’t in the mood to return home and think about dating a stranger. However, Lauren’s loving yet insistent voice compelled her to log on to the dating site and respond to Devin, the accountant; David, the administrative pastor; and Daniel, the manager of the facility for special-needs adults. Daniel had the initial advantage. Any man who served others for a living and owned two beautiful golden retrievers had a big heart. And Opie would love having playmates. But Daniel’s life was filled to the brim, and Gracie wondered how he could carve out time for a relationship with a woman who lived over two hours away. As she stared at the screen, she faced the fact that Daniel had signed up for the dating service because he wanted to find a mate. She pressed the send button.

  The following morning Gracie added Beatrice Smith to her prayer list. She’d never prayed for a woman in her late sixties to date the right man and steer clear of the wrong ones. Arriving at the courthouse, she had an email from Amanda Byrnes confirming that Judge Williams would be holding jury trials the remainder of the week beginning Wednesday. Gracie called Brenda over and showed her the message.

  “I could never do your job,” Brenda said as she shook her head. “Dealing with all the changes would drive me crazy. People who think we gossip and drink coffee all day have no idea what we put up with.”

  Gracie was processing her mail when Mayleah came into the clerk’s office. “Can we talk?” the detective asked.

  “Yes.”

  They went into the nearby conference room.

  “I have more info about Reagan,” Mayleah said.

  After the recent good news about Sue Ellen Ford, Gracie felt a surge of hopeful anticipation.

  “Now that the sheriff has authorized an investigation, I’ve researched the rest of the people from Reagan’s social media accounts. Most came up clean, but there were four more with criminal records in other states.”

  “What kind of crimes?” Gracie asked.

  “Domestic violence for a husband and wife who live in Louisiana. They got in a fight and both were found guilty and received probation.”

  “What was their connection to Reagan?”

  “A mutual friend. The only direct communication with Reagan came via comments when she posted a photo of herself at Jekyll Island with her family over spring break. The couple had vacationed there in the past and mentioned they’d stayed at the same hotel.”

  “That sounds innocent.”

  “I agree, but I made a note of it.” Mayleah checked her phone before continuing, “Then there was a man named Earvin Parish who lives in Chattanooga and has multiple arrests for disorderly conduct, assault on a police officer, and petty theft. He’s twenty-two years old and also has a record of criminal charges that occurred when he was a juvenile. He uses the nickname ‘Easy’ on his Instagram account. He’s a nice-looking young man who shared Reagan’s interest in music. He commented on three of her photos and told her she was cute.”

  Gracie remembered the young man. “Yes,” she said. “Is he the one who owned the ski boat?”

  “Correct. I followed up on that, and the photo he posted was from an advertisement in a magazine. There’s no record of boat ownership for him in the Tennessee records. All that’s titled in his name is a ten-year-old Honda Accord.”

  Gracie leaned back in her chair. “Lying is common online.”

  “True. Some innocent, some sinister.”

  “What’s next with him?”

  “I sent emails to the Chattanooga police regarding Earvin Parish. I don’t have easy access to anyone with inside information. And I can’t claim Reagan is in grave danger even though she might be.”

  “What does that mean for the investigation?”

  “I have to keep grinding.”

  “Thanks so much for coming by to give me an update.”

  Mayleah nodded. “Sure. And I’ll see you Friday night at the softball game.”

  “Since you’re coming to another game, would you be able to come a little early to speak to the team? The girls would enjoy a pep talk from someone other than me, and then we can grab a bite to eat afterward. We don’t have to go back to the Southside Grill—”

  “I’ll be with Buddy Smith,” Mayleah said with a smile. “It was my idea to go to the game, and he accepted. He said the teams have won a lot of games going back to when you played in high school.”

  “Uh, yeah. Like you heard the other night at the grill, we’ve had a lot of good players over the years.”

  “One other question,” Mayleah said. “Did Buddy’s high school girlfriend, the mother of his daughter, play softball?”

  “Just for a short time.”

  “Was she any good?”

  “She was okay. But she didn’t do anything special that I can remember.”

  Mayleah tapped the edge of the table a couple of times with her right index finger. “Do you think Buddy’s daughter might be a softball player?”

  Gracie didn’t immediately answer. “It’s possible,” she said slowly. “But the percentage of high school girls who play competitive fast-pitch softball is very small.”

  “Amber grew up in a town where it’s a popular sport, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she encouraged her daughter to play. The big role softball has around here made me think about activities that Amber might take with her when she left town. But it sounds like she was more boy crazy than committed to sports.”

  “That’s true,” Gracie said more forcibly than she intended. “I mean, we were all interested in boys.”

  “Did you ever date Buddy in high school?”

  Gracie felt herself blush. She knew the detective was trained in observing people’s reactions and hoped Mayleah had turned off her investigative switch. “No, and I think Amber was his first serious girlfriend.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you at the game,” Mayleah said.

  * * *

  Buddy had a late-afternoon appointment with Sue Ellen Ford for a debrief upon her return from Oklahoma. Sheriff Blackstone told her that Jackie was planning on leaving Red Hill, and they’d stopped him just in time. While she was in Buddy’s office, he called a counselor who also worked for the battered women’s shelter. The counselor scheduled an appointment for Sue Ellen and also recommended a child psychologist for little Jack and Emily.

  “I guess I should be willing to talk to someone,” Sue Ellen said when the call ended. “I mean, I have my mom, but if the woman is someone you trust, I’ll do it.”

  “Yes. I think it will help more than you might think, for both you and the kids.”

  “Okay,” Sue Ellen said with a nod. “I’m sure you’re right. And thanks for all you’ve done. If you hadn’t agreed to help, I don’t know where my son would be today. Seeing him at home, safe in his own bed, makes me so thankful.”

  The young mother suddenly choked up.

  “You’re welcome,” Buddy said with a smile.

  Buddy stopped off at his mother’s house on his way home. He hadn’t seen her for several days. She answered the door wearing a nice dress.

  “Are you going out with friends?” he asked. “I don’t want to hold you up.”

  “My dinner plans fell through a few minutes ago, and I haven’t had a chance to change. Come in.”

  They made their way to the kitchen.

  “I thought your supper club with the Mitchells and the Barringtons was on Thursday nights,” Buddy said.

  “Yes, but my dinner this evening was with Bryant Williams.”

  Buddy was reaching for a clean glass in the cabinet near the refrigerator and stopped. “The visiting judge?”

  “Yes, he’s staying at the Hunts’ bed-and-breakfast. Since they don’t serve supper, I’ve been showing him places to eat.”

  Buddy placed an empty glass on the counter and faced her. “Are you going on dates with the judge?”

  “I don’t think so,” his mother replied. “His family is in South Georgia, and he’s up here alone for at least a month.”

  “He’s not married, is he?”

  “Of course not! Why are you questioning me like this?”

  “I’ve appeared in front of him a couple of times and wasn’t impressed with him. Maybe he’s a nice guy away from the courthouse, but he suffers from a serious case of black-robe-itis.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A form of arrogance that hits a lawyer when he or she puts on a judicial robe and suddenly has a lot of power. It affects both men and women.”

  Beatrice sat down at the kitchen table. “Well, if you have to know, he’s a widower whose wife died from cancer about a year before your daddy’s heart attack. And I’m just being nice to him while he’s here. He had to cancel tonight because of a jury trial that ran longer than he expected. You may think Bryant has a judicial disease, but he’s been a perfect gentleman with me.”

  Buddy shrugged. “It’s really none of my business if he takes you out to dinner.”

  “I’m glad you feel protective, but spending time with Bryant has helped get my mind off the situation with your father.”

  “And I shouldn’t put you under a microscope. I have a date with someone new Friday night. I’m taking a detective who works for the sheriff’s department to a summer league softball game. It was her idea to go see the team Gracie Blaylock coaches.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Mayleah Harkness. She works cases having to do with kids.”

  Beatrice nodded. “I heard good things about her from someone at my bridge club who volunteers at the juvenile court.”

  “She’s even offered to help me find Elise, even though there’s no crime involved.”

  “Really?” Beatrice raised her eyebrows. “You’ve always said the police wouldn’t get involved.”

  “That could be changing.”

  Beatrice ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m glad you’re supporting Gracie’s team. She stopped by the other evening when she was walking her dog and prayed the most beautiful prayer. It was like the Lord told her exactly what to say.”

  “Maybe she had a little help,” Buddy replied, thinking about his breakfast conversation with the clerk.

  “That’s what I mean. I wish I’d recorded it on my phone or written it down, but it happened right before Bryant and I went to Morgan’s Steakhouse.”

  “Who paid for dinner at Morgan’s?”

  “He did. No more questions!”

  “Okay.” Buddy held up his hands in surrender.

  * * *

  Friday afternoon Gracie checked to see if she’d received anything from Daniel before driving to the softball field. Over the past few days, the two of them had exchanged longer and longer emails. Gracie was surprised by how much she enjoyed sharing with him. It also was fun reporting back to Lauren. Today there was nothing new in her in-box.

  It was a cloudy day with the threat of a thunderstorm. The visiting team had already arrived at the ballfield. Most of the girls were younger than the players on Gracie’s team, and she began revising her roster so that some of the second-stringers would have an opportunity to start. If a team had a ten-run advantage after three innings, the league had a mercy rule that suspended the game and awarded the victory to the team in the lead. Gracie didn’t want the visitors to drive all the way to Milton County for three innings of play. As soon as Laura arrived, Gracie called the second baseman over and patted her on the back.

  “Warm up on the practice mound,” Gracie said. “You’re going to be our starting pitcher.”

  “You want me to start?” Laura asked in surprise.

  “Yes, just keep the ball in the strike zone and don’t try to overpower the hitters.”

  As game time drew near, Gracie glanced up in the bleachers. Buddy and Mayleah were sitting beside each other. Mayleah had left her Western gear in her closet and was wearing shorts, a yellow top, and sandals. She and Buddy each had a bag of popcorn. Buddy motioned for Gracie to come over, and they climbed down from the bleachers.

  “Coach, what should we expect tonight?” he asked.

  “The other team has some younger girls, so I’m giving our backups a chance to start.”

  “They have a decent pitcher,” Buddy replied. “I watched her warming up. The ball really popped when it hit the catcher’s mitt.”

  “Thanks for the scouting report,” Gracie said as she adjusted the ball cap on her head. “And I appreciate you coming out to support the team.”

  “Is Laura going to be the starting pitcher?” Mayleah asked.

  Gracie was impressed with the detective’s memory for names. “Yes, she’s worked hard and earned it.”

  Buddy’s assessment of the opposing pitcher proved accurate. The lanky girl retired all three batters she faced in the bottom of the first inning, but the Milton County team broke through in the fourth inning and scored three runs, making the score 3–2.

  “Gracie will bring out one of her better pitchers in the top of the fifth and shut down the other team,” Buddy said.

  “The girl who’s been pitching is solid.”

  “And it’s time to make a switch before she makes a mistake.”

  Buddy’s prediction that Gracie would change pitchers proved correct.

  “How did you know that?” Mayleah asked when a new pitcher jogged out to the mound.

  “Besides my superb legal skill, I’m a girls’ softball genius,” Buddy answered. “Also, during the last inning I noticed that a new pitcher was warming up along the right field line behind the home team dugout.”

  Mayleah laughed. The game ended in a 4–2 victory for Milton County.

  “I’m hungry,” Buddy said. “A small bag of popcorn wasn’t a meal for me. Have you been to Smoke, the barbecue place on South Hamilton Street?”

  “No, but whatever you suggest is fine with me.”

  This time of the evening on a Friday night, the dinner crowd at Smoke had thinned out, and there were more people drinking beer than eating pork. Buddy requested a table in a small overflow room that connected to the main dining area. It was much quieter than the rest of the restaurant.

  “This is nice,” Mayleah said.

  “They don’t open it during lunch, but the whole place was packed a couple of hours ago. A barbecue dinner on Friday night is the preferred way to end the week for a lot of people.”

  They ordered their food. Both Buddy and Mayleah selected the salad with burnt ends, but Buddy added a bowl of Brunswick stew and insisted Mayleah order a cup to sample.

  “You’ll thank me later,” he said when the waitress left.

  Buddy took a sip of water. They sat in silence. Mayleah didn’t seem in a hurry to initiate a conversation.

  Buddy cleared his throat. “This is the first time we haven’t had a business reason to meet,” he said. “What would you like to talk about?”

  Mayleah smiled. “You can volunteer information, or I can interrogate you. Which do you prefer?”

  “Interrogation,” Buddy replied. “But only after you read me my Miranda rights.”

  At that moment the waitress arrived with the Brunswick stew. Buddy waited for Mayleah to sample it.

  “This is good,” she said. “There’s a nice mix of heat and sweet.”

  “Another reason to like Milton County,” Buddy replied.

  Mayleah ate another bite before laying her spoon on the paper place mat. “I’m still not clear about how your parents felt about you and your daughter. How did they react? Did they offer to step in and help you and Amber as a young couple, or were they relieved that she left town?”

  Buddy knew any chance of developing a relationship with Mayleah Harkness would require honesty about Amber and Elise.

  “That’s been coming to light over the past few weeks in ways I’d never suspected.” Buddy paused to take a sip of water. “Only a few people know what I’m about to tell you, so please keep it between us. But if you’re going to help me find Elise, you need the full story.”

  Mayleah’s normally inscrutable demeanor cracked when Buddy told her about discovering the envelope of checks in his mother’s basement.

  “That’s incredible,” she said. “And your mother never found out about this while your father was alive?”

  “No, which has been very hard on her. And me.”

  As he related his mother’s unfulfilled desire to know her first grandchild, Buddy saw Mayleah’s compassion come to the surface.

  “I’m totally in to help you for as long as I’m around to do so,” she said.

  “Are you thinking about moving?”

  Mayleah picked up a napkin and held it to her lips for a moment before saying, “Since you poured out your heart to me, it’s only fair to let you know there’s a chance I might leave Milton County.”

  “You met with your ex-husband when you flew to Oklahoma, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, and we’re talking to each other.”

  “We’re talking to each other too.”

  “Yes,” Mayleah replied with a slight smile. “But it’s not the same. After my recent conversations with Clay, you and I should keep things on the friends level.”

  Buddy understood the words but was confused because Mayleah had been the one to initiate the date. If she wasn’t interested in him, why would she ask to go out with him? Then he remembered Millie Graham’s words.

  “We didn’t share popcorn at the game,” he said.

  “What?”

  “If this was really a date, we would have shared a popcorn. You wanted your own bag.”

  “Yeah, and that’s exactly what I was thinking,” Mayleah replied with a grin. “If I didn’t believe I was supposed to consider reconciling with Clay, I would share a bag of popcorn with you any day of the week.”

  Buddy knew Mayleah meant her statement as a compliment, but it stung.

  “What would you like for dessert?” he asked. “I always save a corner of my stomach for something sweet. Either the peach cobbler or banana pudding is good.”