Heaven to Betsy (Emily #1) by Pamela Fagan Hutchins Page A

positioned myself in a stall.
    “Could you hang on a second?” I pressed mute.
    “Sure.”
    Snowflake stood in front of me, staring. It gave me stage fright. I closed my eyes. Better.
    When I was done, I ended mute and said, “I’m back. I was telling you about going to talk to witnesses. If you’d like to come with me, to any or all of them, you’re welcome to. Strength in numbers.”
    “Would I ever. Who’s driving?”
    I washed my hands at the creamy tan marble sink. I wasn’t sure when Rich would have my car delivered.
    “I don’t have a car here. Yet.” Yeah, that made me sound like a loser. “I’m getting mine shipped to me soon,” I added quickly.
    I turned to look for a blower. None. I eyed the towel dispenser. Empty. Okay. I fanned my hands, which basically did nothing. I wiped them on my navy pants.
    “How about I pick you up at nine thirty? If we have time, I can take you to lunch at the GoldenLight Café. Great burgers and,
Lord
, the Frito pie! You’ll probably go into cardiac arrest after your first bite, but it’ll be worth it.”
    I pulled the door open to Williams & Associates, unclipping Snowflake to let her run free. She sprinted back to Jack’s office like white lightning. I decided not to tell Wallace that I was a vegetarian—yet. I lowered myself into my chair and leaned my head back.
    “Perfect,” I said, before giving him the address.
    I ended the call smiling. Not that I wasn’t going to worry about that little girl—whether she was real or not—but at least Wallace was on the case.
    The door swung inward, and my boss followed. My heart did a little acrobatic number in my chest, which annoyed the pee-waddlin’-squat out of me. He had a longer list of bad qualities than Rich, and I went through them in my mind: eccentric, annoying, cryptic, and pushy. Snowflake careened down the hall and launched herself at him full speed. He crouched and caught her in one arm, mid-flight. She set upon him with kisses and yips.
    “Well? Did you break Sofia’s case wide open yet?” Jack asked. He set the dog down and she ran circles around the office, jumping on and off the couch during each loop.
    “I keep learning less instead of more,” I said. “But the police and CPS think she’s dreaming up the daughter. They’re still looking, but—”
    “What?”
    He put one arm over his head and one at his waist and did a little mariachi dance. Snowflake stood on her hind legs in front of him then started hopping and spinning.
    “We’ll plead insanity,” he said. “And the APD and CPS will testify on our behalf. That’s the best news I’ve heard all day!”
    I raised my brows as my mouth fell open. I didn’t know about
Sofia’s
mental health, but I was pretty sure my boss was nuts.

Chapter Five
    When Jack told me we were going to New Mexico on Saturday, I assumed he meant on Southwest Airlines. I knew things were amiss when he directed me to meet him at the Tradewind Airport. I hadn’t ever heard of it, and I was pretty sure that Southwest hadn’t either. It turned out that the little airport was only ten minutes south of downtown. Emphasis on the
little
part. It had a convenient location going for it, but nothing else that I could see. Mother drove me, and she pulled into the tree-lined lot, right up behind Jack’s car. He emerged from the driver’s seat, and I waved at him. He waved back.
    I got out and pulled my luggage from the backseat.
    Jack, with Snowflake on a pink leash at his heels, came around to stand beside me, facing my mother and her open window.
    “Agatha, I hope you’re having a blessed Saturday,” he said.
    I heard the teasing note in his voice, but it didn’t seem she did.
    “You too, Jack.”
    Then she bit her lip and my heart sank to my stomach.
Here we go
.
    “This trip doesn’t have anything to do with that illegal alien client of yours, does it?” my mother asked.
    I cringed. I could only thank God that she hadn’t added “or her little brown