Page 76 of Justice for Samara

“Lived all my life in BallardCounty.”

“And what do your people do?”

“My mom is a nurse’s aide. She works at the big long-term care facility outside Cairo.”

“Oh, how awful,” Marjorie said, her voice taking on a pitying quality.

“Actually, not really. It’s a very nice place. For some of their residents, it’s the nicest place they’ve ever lived in their lives.”

“I see. And your dad? Is he in the picture?” Michael wanted to scream.

“Yes, ma’am. My dad’s an engineer.”

“You mean like an engineer who runs a train?”

Michael wanted to tell his mother what a ridiculous question that was when Samara spoke up. “No, ma’am. He’s an electrical engineer. Has a master’s degree. He works for TVA Shawnee Steam Plant. Has for years. He’s in the top five of their engineers across their operation.”

Marjorie’s eyes went wide. “Oh, my. That’s… impressive.”

“Yes, ma’am. My dad’s a great guy. I can’t wait for him and my mom to meet Michael.” Samara took the hand Michael had resting on the table, and he squeezed hers back.

“Well, that should be interesting,” Marjorie murmured. It took everything Michael had to keep his eyes from rolling until they unscrewed, fell out, and wobbled across the floor.

“I think it’ll be fun,” Michael said, smiling.

His mother was nowhere near finished, he could tell. “Are you an only child too?”

“No, ma’am. I’ve got three sisters and a brother. I’m the middle kid.”

“My, a big family. How old is the oldest child?”

“My oldest sister is forty-two.” Almost like she was anticipating the next question, she added, “My parents just celebrated their forty-sixth anniversary.”

“Oh, how lovely! That’s amazing. Wilson and I had been married for almost forty years. We tried for years to have a child before Michael finally came along. He’s been the biggest blessing of my life.”

“He’s a big blessing in mine too,” Samara said and gave him a wink. That made Michael smile in spite of his mother.

“So you’re a new deputy here?”

“Yes, ma’am, but SheriffMelton also hired me to do the bulk of the detective work, since I have experience with that through KSP.”

“I would think you would’ve preferred to stay there. Bigger organization, more funding, more troopers, more advancement possibilities and all that.”

Samara shook her head. “No. More gender discrimination. There were only two other female troopers at my post, and all three of us were relegated to little more than housekeeping duties. I tried to go back to McCracken, but they didn’t have any openings. And with Gray leaving here?”

“Gray’s leaving? You didn’t tell me that!” Marjorie very nearly shouted at Michael.

“Yeah. I just found out three weeks back.”

“Where is he going? What is he doing?”

Oh, boy. Here it comes, Michael thought. “He’s leaving to go to LittleRock and get married. Has a job waiting for him down there too.”

“Oh, wow! Have you met his girlfriend?”

“No, ma’am,” Michael answered, delighted that he was going to get to drop that bomb. “He actually has a boyfriend.”

Marjorie was pie-eyed and her brow wrinkled down until Michael thought it would take a crane to pull it back up. “Aboyfriend? And they’re gettingmarried? I never would’ve thought Gray would do something like that. I’ve known that boy his whole life.”