Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 05 - Gems & Gunshots by Laina Turner Page A

this such a big deal?”
    “Consider it good advice. Remember what I said. Goodbye, Presley.”
    As the door closed behind him, I just stood in the living room with my hands on my hips, angry, wondering what the hell had just happened. If I hadn’t thought Greg was involved in something before, I surely did now. His actions weren’t those of someone who had nothing to hide. And if he thought his warning was going to scare me off, he was sorely mistaken. It had made me even more interested in finding out just what exactly was going on.

Chapter 13
    W hat do you mean you didn’t tell Cooper?” Haley questioned me, giving me the impression she thought Cooper was the first person I should have told. And she wasn’t exactly wrong, but I knew what his reaction would be, so I hadn’t yet.
    I shrugged. “I will eventually. He just came home in a really bad mood and I didn’t want to make it worse. Besides, it would be more ammunition to support my staying out of business that isn’t mine, as he puts it, and I don’t want to have that conversation again. I’m not afraid of Greg. I think he’s more bluster than anything.”
    “Presley, he came to your house knowing Cooper wasn’t there. That doesn’t scare you even a little?” Haley had finished with her shift early and had stopped over for some of my—now famous, in my mind—mojitos. I had made them the last few nights and was getting really good at it. It was quickly becoming a good replacement for my nightly wine.
    “I guess it does a little, but not much. After all, he is one of Cooper’s clients. Greg wouldn’t be that big of an idiot to think he could get away with doing any harm to me. I’m more concerned as to what he’s hiding, for Amelia’s sake and Cooper’s. Especially Amelia. I felt bad for her. I know Greg is up to something. He wouldn’t have made the effort to come over to the house if he wasn’t nervous about me having information he deems a problem— and that’s what I want to find out.”
    “How do you plan on doing that?” Haley asked, taking a sip of her drink.
    “I’m not sure,” I mused. “I haven’t heard from Amelia. I’m just hoping she’s not mad at me. If Greg made the effort to come over here to threaten me, I can’t imagine how things are at home. I figured I would wait to hear from her.“
    “Maybe Alan would know. About the woman angle, I mean.”
    I turned to Haley. “That’s genius! Why didn’t I think of that? But how do I bring it up? It’s not like I can just call him and admit I was at the funeral to get information and didn’t get enough so how about talking to me some more.”
    “That, my friend, is the million dollar question. But let’s think about this. How could it work? Do you even have his phone number?”
    I shook my head. “No, but information like that isn’t hard to find.”
    “Then why don’t you just call him? Maybe just be honest with why you want to talk to him,” Haley said.
    “Hmm, maybe you’re right. Speaking of phone calls, has Robert tried to contact you anymore?”
    “Yes,” Haley frowned. “I’ll never understand men. I’ve ignored him but every day I get at least one text asking why I won’t talk to him. It’s just weird.”

Chapter 14
    P resley. So good to hear your voice.”
    She didn’t sound angry, so this was a good start. “Hi, Amelia. I’m so glad you called. What have you been up to?” I said holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder so I had my hands free to close the latch on my purse.
    “I have so much to tell you. I know it’s short notice, but I was hoping you could meet me later.”
    “Sure. Where?” I sat down on the stool in the kitchen and reached for the notepad and pen Cooper kept on the counter in case I needed to write something down.
    “Down at the wharf there’s a place called Smitty’s. It looks like a dive, but it’s really a fun little lunch place. Meet me at two?”
    I looked at my watch. It was already twelve thirty and