Page 22 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

Adam caught the apple that Jacey threw at him. "Why are you so happy today?" He set the apple on his desk.

"Jennifer Coleman agreed to go to dinner with me Saturday night.

We got to talking at the candlelight vigil and exchanged numbers.

We talked a lot over the weekend. She's just moved back after finishing her degree at Boise State.

We knew each other in high school but hung around with different crowds. " Jacey had a silly grin on his face.

"She sticking around town?" Adam asked.

"She wants to. She's got a job working at the hospital, so that's good.

She's a physical therapist. I told her to talk to Nancy, and she could probably get on doing home health too if she wants more hours.

She hates living back with her parents and is hoping to save up either to buy a house or get an apartment.

" Jacey took a bite out the apple he had.

"I'm taking her to the drive-in Saturday night, then I'll see if she wants to grab ice cream or something after church on Sunday. "

"I can't wait to meet her. Does she know what you do?" Adam asked.

"Yep, and she can't wait to meet you. She's got an old poetry book that was given to her by a friend. I guess it's really old. She wants to know the history behind the book. I told her you'd probably be able to tell her something about it."

"Tell her to come in anytime. I'd be happy to do a free reading for her.

" Adam hadn't told Jacey much about how his reading on Trina had gone, despite him pushing for information.

Jacey didn't need to have those images in his head.

It was the one thing he loved about Jacey, he was always so upbeat and happy.

"She's happy to pay you. I'll bring her in one day next week if all goes well."

"I'm sure it will. I'm glad you two found each other. It's about time you got out there and started dating." Adam hadn't seen Jacey go out for over a year with a girl.

"It's hard when you grow up in a town this size. You know almost everyone from high school. There can be a lot of baggage there. I'd never dreamed of dating Jennifer back in high school. We were too different, but now, that stuff doesn't seem to matter much."

"She knows you might go off to college?" Adam asked.

"We talked about it, but I'm still not sure that's what I want to do.

I'm happy here. I know I don't make a ton working for you.

Not like I would if I had a degree and worked for some big company.

But just the thought of having to wear a suit and walk into a crowded building every morning sets me on edge.

For now, I'll stay here. At least until you get sick of me and send me packing. "

"That's not going to happen." Adam smiled and stood as the bell above the door rang and Maggie walked in. "We meet again." Adam met her halfway.

"Sadly. One day I'm going to walk in and not have to draw a criminal's face. I'll come in to visit and browse." She waved at Jacey. "How's your mother doing?"

"She's good. Keeping busy," Jacey told her.

"Tell her she needs to give me a call. I could use some help with an art project I'm doing at the school." Maggie looked at Adam. "Shall we? I'm a bit rushed this afternoon. I need to be at the high school by three to work on the plans for graduation decorations."

"No problem. Now that I know how you work, we should be able to get through this faster. I can even work on the computer image as you draw if you want." Adam led her to the back room. "Jacey, call me if I'm needed." He left the door open a bit so he could hear if anyone came into the store.

"That will work." Maggie pulled the items she needed from her bag, then turned on her laptop and opened the app she needed before pushing it toward him. "Like before, give me the basics and we'll go from there."

Adam gave her the basic rundown on head shape, facial features, hair length, then slowly moved into more detailed descriptions.

Unlike last time, he wasn't as nervous and felt comfortable with Maggie and how she worked.

Things went a lot smoother than they had the first time.

They were about halfway done when he heard the bell ring, and someone entering the store.

A moment later, Barret pushed the door open and stuck his head in. "Care if I join?"

"Come on in." Adam pushed a chair out for him. "What brings you in?"

"I wanted to get the sketch as soon as Maggie was done.

Officers will be going around town this afternoon, showing it to people.

I wanted to take both sketches out to the truck stop with me since that's probably where these two were seen if anyone saw them.

" Barret leaned back. "Don't let me interrupt. "

Adam refocused on Maggie, and in no time had the sketch done.

It took only ten more minutes to add in details to the computer-generated image before it was also finished.

"I can't believe how good of an artist you are," Adam told Maggie.

"It's like you can see the image in my mind and bring it to life. "

"It's my job to do that." She handed the sketch to Barret. "Find these men, then destroy those drawings. Leave no memory of them around." She packed up her stuff, then offered her hand to Adam. "Thanks for putting up with me being rushed. I'm glad we got this done."

"So am I. Good luck with things at the graduation." Adam shook her hand. "If you need anything…"

"I'll be sure to ask." She smiled, then left to speak a bit with Jacey.

"So, you're going to the truck stop?" Adam asked Barret.

"I am. I drove out this morning to talk to the mechanics and they agree that what you described is a sleeper cab, but they see so many that they couldn't identify which one it might be.

They gave me some names of trucking companies that have smaller cabs than others, but I'm not sure that will get us any leads.

Vance is currently gathering names of companies that drive through Hidden Falls on a regular basis.

He's talking to every business in the area that has deliveries.

Biggest would be the grocery store, but a lot of the smaller businesses have stuff shipped in on trucks. "

"Can I do anything to help?" Adam asked.

"How good is your memory of the sleeper cab? I know you said there were blankets and pillows, but did you see anything else? A fridge, or cups, or anything else that might have been lying around?"

"Maybe. I can't be positive. Why?"

"Can you draw me a crude map of what you saw? Where everything was placed? I was going to ask Maggie to do it, but she warned me she was short on time today. Since it's nothing official, I was hoping you might have enough art skills to draw something up. It could help us identify the truck."

"Sure, I can try. Want it now, or is this something I can work on throughout the day?" Adam asked.

"Throughout the day. I'll drop by tomorrow and pick it up.

We got the lab work back on the oil stain that was found near Trina's car the night she was taken.

All it can tell us is it was for a diesel engine, but that fits in with our semi narrative.

We're still waiting for the lab work from the autopsy.

Hopefully, that will give us even more to work with. "

"How long for that?" Adam asked.

"Could be weeks still." Barret sighed. "I wish things moved as fast in real life as they do in movies and TV."

"Me too." Adam laughed. "Want a water?" He got up and pulled one for himself from the fridge.

"I'm good. I need to get going. I've got to get this back to the station and make copies for everyone." Barret held up the sketch. "I'll be by tomorrow and update you on what we've learned."

"Sounds good. Be safe out there," Adam told him and realized he really meant it. He'd come to consider Barret a good friend over the past week. Surprising after how hostile their initial meeting had started out. He turned as the bell rang over the door again, announcing a customer.

"I will. Looks like you have business to take care of. You take it easy and call me if you remember anything important." Barret nodded a goodbye and quickly made his exit.

Adam downed half the water, then left the bottle on his desk as he walked out front. An older woman stood with Jacey and looked over at him as he stepped toward them.

"This is Mrs. Kendal. She's hoping you might tell her something about this necklace that her grandmother left her. She was told it belonged to royalty in France many years ago but doesn't believe it."

Adam glanced down at the box the woman was holding, curiosity rushing through him.

He loved reading old items like this. "I'd be happy to help you.

Please read over and sign the contract that Jacey will give you, then meet me in the office.

We'll find out exactly where the necklace comes from and if it has any value outside of being a family heirloom. "

"Thank you." Mrs. Kendal turned to Jacey with a fifty-dollar bill in her hand. "Tell me where to sign."

Adam walked back into his office and grabbed two more waters and set them on the table, then put a candy bar next to them.

Jacey would be there if he needed more, but for a simple reading like this, he doubted it would take too much of his energy.

Mrs. Kendal appeared to be well into her seventies.

If her grandmother had had the necklace, it had been around for many years.

He hoped he could see far enough back and didn't just get images from the Kendal family.

"Okay, here." Mrs. Kendal walked into the back room and set the box on the table.

"Have a seat," Adam told her. "I'm going to have my assistant open the box and then I'll take the necklace. If I touch the box, I'll probably just get a reading of your family and others who have touched the box over the years."

She sat down across from him and Jacey took the seat beside him.

"Would you like this recorded?" Adam asked.