Her mouth dropped open for a moment, then closed tightly and her eyes flashed again. “Liar!” she shouted.
“If you haven’t seen them,” Jill said, “I’m sure TBI Agent Wayne Fought will be happy to show them to you.”
Camilla stood there for a moment, her expression running the gamut from shock to fear to total frustration. She spun on her heels and rushed out, leaving the door wide open. I walked over to close it, watching as her small red Jaguar spun its wheels and raced off.
I turned back to find Jill walking toward me, smiling. “I hope we didn’t blow anything for Agent Fought by mentioning the Marathon papers,” she said.
I checked my watch. “He’s probably meeting with Hedrick right now. Incidentally, you did a magnificent job, babe. I think we can cross Mrs. Rottman and her highfalutin friends off our potential client list.”
“Amen.” She threw her arms around me, resting her head on my shoulder. She looked up with a failed attempt at a doleful expression. “I’m sorry you won’t be sitting in the HI club suite at Titans Stadium this fall.”
“Yeah. I regret that almost as much as I regret not giving Kirk Rottman the chance to shoot me in the other arm.”
She started to giggle, then broke out laughing so hard I couldn’t help but join in. After all the misfortune that had plagued Marathon Motor Works’ demise and its aftermath, I relished the opportunity to wind up our involvement with a good guffaw. Wayne Fought might still have a few problems to resolve, but our case was all neatly wrapped up and ready for the archives.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The idea for this book came from a suggestion by a neighbor, Kathleen Mays, who had recently visited Marathon Village, the restored plant and offices of the company that gave Nashville its claim to automotive fame—home of the only car completely built in the South. Her father, Joe O’Mara, had worked in the Chassis Department in 1914, the year the plant closed. Kathleen suggested I write something about Marathon in my next book.
I need to thank several other people for their help with various facets of the book. First, of course, is Barry Walker, the intrepid entrepreneur who took on the task of salvaging two decrepit, decaying industrial buildings and turning them into historical landmarks. In the small county of Trousdale, I had the help of Chief Deputy Sheriff Wayland Cothron. Providing valuable insights into the workings of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were Law Enforcement Information Coordinator Jim Green, Special Agent Dan Royse of the Forensics Division, and Director of Communications Jennifer Johnson. I consulted with the mystery writer’s favorite forensics guru, Dr. D. P. (Doug) Lyle, in hopes of getting my medical facts straight.
Also, thanks to avid reader/fan Wayne Fought, who won a contest and contributed his name to the TBI agent in the story.
A special word of appreciation to Bob Middlelmiss, the editor who guided me through four Greg McKenzie mysteries. And last, but hardly least, thanks as always to my live-in assistant, wife Sarah. You’re the greatest.
Having said all that, I take full responsibility for any discrepancies that might have crept in.
Check all of my books for the Kindle at http://amzn.to/WXLqZI.
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