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Natalie felt the chill “Since the divorce wasn’t final, it’s fallen to me to settle his affairs I just wanted to make sure there were no loose ends to tie up”
“None The business is mine Slade and I squared our accounts before he died, so if you’re wondering whether I owe you anything—”
“No, of course not” Natalie was liking the woman less and less, but she wouldn’t walk away until she’d learned all she could “I ondering if I could get Slade’s personal things fro his friends would like”
Stella glanced restlessly around the bar, clearly eager to end the conversation “The desk has been cleared out But if anybody bothered to box his things, you can pick theht”
“Thank you” Natalie would have risen to go, but just then Sheriff Axelrod walked in the door Dressed in his unifore and pistol, he strode over to the booth
“Stella, if you’ll excuse us, I’d like a ith this young lady,” he said
“Fine I’ve got things to do” Stella rose and stepped away The sheriff slid into her place, his husky body barely fitting against the table
“I’ve been looking for you, Natalie,” he said “Matter of fact, I was on my way to your place when I noticed your vehicle outside Can’t say I figured you for a drinking woman”
Natalie ignored the comment “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
“Just wanted to h a lot in the past few days, losing your husband and having your boyfriend arrested for his murder”
“I’m fine And Beau Tyler is innocent”
“Is he?” Axelrod leaned a few inches closer His breath ss and got a look at hisover there in Iraq I et to be a habit—even an addiction That’s why I need to warn you about him”
“Warn me? That’s ridiculous” All Natalie wanted was for the o away But she needed to stand up for Beau “Slade hadabout now Those secrets could have made him some enemies Have you looked into other suspects, Sheriff? Maybe you should”
Axelrod shook his head “I believe this case is what’s known as a slam dunk Did you know Beau was treated for post-trauuess he was able to satisfy his killing urge as a DEA agent But here in this little Texas toith no Al Qaeda or drug runners to shoot, he’s having to look for other victims I can’t prove it yet, but I’irl as du Sooner or later, if we don’t put hiet so lady, would be a dirty shame”
Natalie slid out of the booth and pushed to her feet She was tre, but she willed herself not to show it “Sheriff, you don’t knohat you’re talking about,” she declared “Do your job And thatand everyone Slade always seemed to havebusiness It wouldn’t surprise al That’s where you should look for his killer”