Texas Gun Smoke. Joanna Wayne

just turn his back on her.

      “Keep us posted,” Langston said. “And don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

      “Don’t worry. The image of dead hero has no appeal for me.”

      “And keep your pants zipped and your heart in tow,” Zach cautioned. “Jaclyn’s the kind of woman who could burrow under a man’s skin without even trying.”

      “I have the skin of an armadillo,” Bart said, though he wasn’t sure even that was tough enough to avoid letting Jaclyn get to him. Still, he’d never messed with another man’s wife before—and he damn sure wouldn’t start with the wife of a serviceman on active duty.

      Bart and his brothers joined their mother and their sister Becky on the screened back porch for Langston to say his goodbyes.

      “Where are Jaime and Jaclyn?” Bart asked, alarmed that Jaime might be somewhere bombarding her with questions.

      “Jaime went into town with a couple of her girlfriends,” Lenora said. “Jaclyn seemed tired, so I suggested she go upstairs and get some rest. She seemed grateful for the offer.”

      “That’s probably a good idea,” Bart agreed, hating the disappointment that he hadn’t gotten to tell her good-night.

      “She’s really worried about her friend,” Becky said. “She didn’t say much, but I could hear it in her voice when she talked about the police blowing off her concerns.”

      Lenora stood and walked over to where Bart was standing. “I don’t know how the police can do that. I know the area’s had a hard time coming back after Katrina and that the police have their hands full with the upswing in crime, but surely they could have at least questioned people about her disappearance.”

      “It’s hard to say what they were thinking or what they’ve actually done,” Bart said, “but I think the situation deserves better than it’s getting.”

      “I’m not sure you’re getting involved in this is a good idea, Bart.”

      He dropped an arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Aren’t you the one who always says that the Lord expects us to reach out to those in need?”

      “Don’t twist my words around, Bart. Jaclyn needs police assistance, and you’re not in law enforcement.”

      “I’ve seen all the episodes of Law & Order.”

      “This isn’t a joking matter.”

      He knew that all too well. “I don’t plan on doing anything stupid or reckless. I’ll be fine, Mom. Now tell me about your day,” he said, eager to change the subject. “Langston says you’re researching the possibility of child care for the employees of Collingsworth Oil who have young children.”

      She clearly wasn’t convinced his going to New Orleans with Jaclyn was a good idea, but she was eager to talk about her plans. He listened a good fifteen minutes, then excused himself to go back to his place and get some sleep.

      He was walking through his front door when he got a call from Aidan Jefferies.

      “I hate to call you this late, but I’ve been out at the crime scene of an armed robbery at a convenience store in southeast Houston. The clerk was shot twice in the head, but we’ve got a good lead on the perp. Anyway, I’d asked one of the young recruits to see what he could find on Jaclyn Mc-Gregor, since that was the name given by the woman who reported Margo Kite’s disappearance.”

      “What did he find?”

      “A good reason for you to say adios.”

      Bart’s blood boiled as he listened to the details of Jaclyn’s recent past. He swallowed the curses that flew to mind as he thanked Aidan and headed back to his car. He had a few words for Jaclyn, and they wouldn’t wait until morning.