Simon Says Die

shoved her hair back behind her ears. “No, of course not. It’s just that, the man I’ve seen, reminds me so strongly of Damon.”
    Pierce narrowed his eyes at her. She had the distinct impression he knew she’d just lied. She hated lying to him, but she couldn’t exactly tell an FBI agent that she’d shot her husband the night he’d died, and that since the autopsy didn’t find the bullet, she was worried the man in the car wasn’t him.
    Oh, for a long time, she’d convinced herself he was dead, that the bullet must have remained inside the burned-out car, or the medical examiner missed it. But now she realized the real reason the medical examiner and police hadn’t found that bullet. The man who died in that car wasn’t Damon.
    â€œRegardless.” Pierce turned back to Hamilton. “A judge wouldn’t need to know about Madison’s suspicions to sign a warrant to get the credit card information. All the judge would need to know is that we’re trying to find a man who shot a federal officer, and that two people—Madison and me—described the same man that Mr. MacGuffin described. That might be enough for a warrant.”
    â€œMaybe,” Hamilton conceded. “Of course it all depends on whether Mr. MacGuffin was able to find that credit card receipt.” He took another sip of his coffee, and held it between his hands as if to warm them. “Let’s assume the stalker really is your husband, Mrs. McKinley. You said you’re from New York? That’s where you and your husband lived?”
    â€œYes, Manhattan.”
    He nodded. “Did you have the house here when you were married?”
    â€œNo, my brother recently advised me to buy my house as an investment.”
    â€œIf it was an investment, why did you move in rather than rent it out?”
    â€œI didn’t right away. I hired Mrs. Whitmire as a property manager to oversee the property. But then, you know all about that.”
    Pierce leaned his forearms on the table. “Who is Mrs. Whitmire?”
    â€œShe’s a property manager. She hired a cleaning crew for me to clean the house once a week, and a landscaper to keep up the yard. Several weeks later, she called to ask me why I’d sent her a note canceling the company’s service. But I didn’t send a note. I flew to Savannah to see what was going on, and I filled out a police report. Someone forged that note.”
    â€œYou knew about this?” Pierce asked Hamilton.
    â€œI found out after Mrs. McKinley made that first nine-one-one call. I personally questioned the property manager, to see if there was a connection. I couldn’t find any evidence to corroborate whether the note was real or a forgery. It was printed out, not handwritten. There wasn’t anything else I could do. And since no one had been hurt, I didn’t pursue it further.”
    â€œI’ll talk to Mrs. Whitmire myself and make my own determination.”
    â€œIt was a forgery,” Madison insisted. “Why would I lie about something that insignificant?”
    Pierce put his hand on hers beneath the table again. She drew a deep breath and decided to let him have the lead in the conversation.
    For now.
    Hamilton crossed his arms and sat back. “The point I was making was that if Mrs. McKinley lived in New York, how would her husband know to go to Savannah if he was after her?”
    â€œGood question, one I intend to answer.” Pierce pitched some money onto the table and stood. “But first, it’s time to go meet Mr. MacGuffin.”
    â€œA RE YOU SURE Mr. MacGuffin meant nine a.m. and not p.m.?” Hamilton hugged his jacket against the wind and peeked into the front window of MacGuffin’s. His nose was bright red from their brief walk from the café. He kept stomping his feet to keep warm.
    Madison couldn’t imagine what the man would do if he had to endure a real winter, like in New York.
    â€œI’m sure.” Pierce knocked on the door again. “Someone’s inside. They’re coming to the door.”
    Madison recognized the man she’d met earlier, Todd. He had a heavy ring of keys that jangled against the door as he unlocked the deadbolt. He pushed the door open and motioned them inside.
    Lieutenant Hamilton was the first to enter. He moved away from the door opening and gave a dramatic shiver before plopping down in a chair at one of the round