“I want to put some lost and found posters up for Freckles, here.” She was looking to the new stray addition to the family, a copper-and-white cocker spaniel. “He has a boy out there somewhere. I just know it.”

Aunt Nadine had a reputation for taking in strays—humans and animals alike. He couldn’t fault her for her soft, caring heart. After all, she’d taken in her granddaughter when her own daughter was spending too much time partying and was too high to care for her own child. That seemed to be a family curse. Drugs and alcohol. Then Aunt Nadine had taken Jack in too. Some might have expected her to do that since she was his aunt, but he was a lot of trouble for her and Uncle Barry, before he died.

Jack downed black coffee. “I can help you with that, but I have something I need to do first, if that’s okay.”

“You mean on that murder.”

“Yep. I need to stay on top of it. That’s my job here, and you wouldn’t want me to mess up. You want me to find who killed Jim, don’t you?”

“Yes. I know you’ll find that murderer. You were FBI before, after all. They can use your skills in the county. You’re the best thing to happen to the sheriff’s office in a long time.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” And that’s why he kept his secret from her. If she knew one of the reasons he left his former job, it would break her heart. He rinsed his plate and hers. “You wait for me to get back. We’ll put the posters up everywhere, I promise.”

In his vehicle, Jack headed straight for Jim and Pauline’s home. Cars lined the driveway and the street. Relatives, families, and friends. Though Jack dreaded facing the bereaved widow, he needed to question her about Jim’s day and his connections. His home could be part of the narrative, too, since evidence or clues might be found there.

Considering Jim knew everyone and was supposedly loved by everyone, this investigation could get complicated. But it was clear that at least one person didn’t love Jim Raymond.

Jack received a text and looked at his phone. Terra. They’d exchanged numbers yesterday just in case he required assistance.

I’m here with Pauline. Where are you?

Confusion rocked through him. She wasn’t investigating the murder, so what was she doing there? Maybe she’d stopped in to give her condolences. He didn’t waste time responding.

He hiked up the driveway, weaving between parked vehicles, then marched up the porch steps to stand at the door.

He dreaded causing Pauline more pain. Maybe Terra getting here and going in first was a good thing and would help his approach.