What beautiful blue eyes you have, Jake.

“I promise to let you know if anything transpires from the lead. Now, you promise to leave the investigation to us.”

He looked so satisfied; I hated to burst his bubble. “That’s great news Sheriff, but I’m not sure I can do that. I have more people to interview for my article. I can’t help it if they’re acquaintances of Tatum’s. It’s a small town, after all.”

His demeanor changed in a millisecond. He grumbled, just loud enough for me to hear. “Look, Ms. Montgomery, I’ve tried being nice to you. I know this has been hard on you and Ms. Lamont, but stay out of where you don’t belong. Consider yourself warned.” With hands on the edge of the table, he pushed his chair back and nodded to Deputy Ray.

“But, I’m not through eating yet.” The deputy met his boss’s eyes and he changed his mind. “Oh. I guess I’ve had enough.” He scooted his chair back and tipped his hat to us. “Ladies.”

With that, we watched the local law enforcement, and any olive branch they might have offered, storm out of the restaurant.

Chapter Twenty

The rest of our meal subdued, we finished our dessert and retreated to our room.

“Trixie, you heard what that handsome sheriff said. Are you going to mind him?” Only Nana had the nerve to ask, but I saw the same question mirrored on Dee Dee’s face.

“Nana, I really am working on an article. Remember, that’s why I came to Dahlonega in the first place. I’m just taking the opportunity to ask questions that might help Dee Dee while I’m at it. What if I trust the sheriff, who wants to run for mayor, and he slams the case closed? And Dee Dee behind bars!”

“Put that way, it’s as clear as the nose on my face. That’s why you need my help.” She had a glint in her eye that scared me. I half-expected her to grab her jacket and pocketbook again and head out the door. “Together, I bet we can not only clear Dee Dee, but solve who did this terrible thing.”

“Uh, that’s great Nana. I’m sure you’ll be an asset.” It was late; I didn’t have the energy to argue. I still had research to do before I could go to sleep. I looked to the closed door and sighed. “Dee Dee’s sure been in the bathroom a long time.”

“That girl needs to see a doctor. It’s like watching a commercial with the leaky pipe people!”

Right then, the door flew open, and in Dee Dee bounced, dressed in her bright green kitty pajamas.

“Well, who let the cats out?” Nana asked. I doubled over in a fit of laughter.

“Very funny,” she said as she grinned. “Y’all are jealous because you don’t have any p.j.s like this.” She modeled for us, to our hoots of laughter.

“You’re right.” We both laughed and applauded.

Dee Dee gingerly made her way to the roll away bed and straightened out the blankets. She sat down and sighed.

“How are you really doing, Dee Dee?” I clasped her hand and pressed my lips together in a smile. I wanted to help her so badly. I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes.

“I feel a little better since Sheriff Wheeler told us he has another person of interest. Isn’t that good news?” She shook off her matching kitty slippers and put her feet on the bed.

“Yes, it is. I won’t be satisfied, though, until they’ve made an arrest. Then I’ll breathe easy.” I spoke slowly, watching Nana grab her toothbrush and jammies and head to the bathroom. I made sure the door closed tight before I lowered the boom.

“I plan on driving out to the Hawkins’ in the morning. From everything we’ve been told, Tommy could be a prime suspect. I’m not sure what reason I’m going to use for an interview. I don’t suppose I could tell him I’m doing a story about stills, and someone told me he might have one in working condition?” I emitted a nervous laugh.

Dee Dee smiled, but shook her head. “Very funny, but I don’t think so. Approaching the Hawkins clan sounds dangerous to me.” She pulled the covers up to her nose.

“I’ll come up with some idea tomorrow. I have to.”

“Well, if you insist on going, I’m going with you. After all, you’re doing this for me. The least I can do is help.” Dee Dee wore the look she would don when she was dead set on doing something. I didn’t even try to talk her out of it. My problem was to figure out how to keep Nana from joining us.

Dee Dee smoothed the bed covers. “I called Sarah to see how things were at the shop. She told me not to worry, business couldn’t be better. And she was fine working alone. I hope when I reach her age I can be as active as she is.”

We sat and discussed what we had learned from talking with Miranda and Sueleigh. Both of us were in a lighter mood with the news that Sheriff Wheeler had another person of interest. In a few minutes, Nana emerged from the bathroom wearing a nightie that had surely been ordered from Victoria’s Secret.

Something was definitely going on with Nana. What would cause this gray-haired little lady to become so flirtatious lately? I had many memories of my spunky great-aunt, but flirting shamelessly was not one of them. Now the sexy nightie? I would have to keep a watch on her.

Even though it wasn’t quite dark, Nana and Dee Dee had settled down to sleep. I turned off the big light and used my book light to read from one of the Dahlonega research books I’d brought from home.

Harv had asked me to look for a murder that took place during the original gold rush days and, after looking at several books, I found an unsolved murder I thought would make a good article.

In the early 1930s, a farmer named Donnie Haygood lived and worked the land that had been handed down through generations of his family. His great-grandfather, Micah Haygood, had won the acreage in the Cherokee Land Lottery. Micah hoped to find gold, but was unsuccessful. The spread became a working farm, and the Haygoods spent their spare time looking for gold.

Tired of working his farm, Donnie decided to sell and move into town, hoping to offer his children a better life. He promised the property to a buyer, but before the transaction took place, Donnie discovered gold and backed out of the deal.

A few days later he was found dead behind the assayer’s office.

I screwed my lips and tried to remember if I’d seen or heard anything about this at the gold museum. I yawned and set the light and the book down, unable to keep my eyes open any longer.

It seemed I’d just laid down when my eyes opened to light peeping through the curtains. Propped up on one elbow, I craned my neck to see the alarm clock. The lighted face of the clock showed it was nearly seven. I seriously considered turning over and going back to sleep. In my dazed, half-awake, half-asleep state, my dream of a handsome cowboy tempted me to resume snoozing.

But sleeping in was not a luxury I could afford. Important interviews waited. I wanted to interview Tommy Hawkins as soon as possible. I willed myself to jump up and rush around with enthusiasm, but I couldn’t. Cowgirl up! It took several minutes before I could force my tired body from the bed.

It wasn’t easy maneuvering around Dee Dee’s cot. I stumbled, bumped into her bed, and fell over on a wadded up body.

“What the ….” Dee Dee shot up like a jack-in-the-box.

I held my sore knee. “I’m sorry, Dee Dee.”

“Are you okay?” She asked with concern in her voice, and rubbed sleep from her eyes.

“Yeah, I’m all right.” I held my painful knee. “I hit my knee. I tried to be quiet.”

“Need me to do anything?” She spoke in a sleep-slurred voice.

“No. Go back to sleep. I’m going to get a shower. We’ve got a lot to accomplish today.”

She rolled over, covered up, and started snoring.

Another head popped up on the other bed, reminding me of a bobble-head doll. “What’s going on over there?”