Free Trinity Harbor 3 - Along Came Trouble by Sherryl Woods

getting riled up since she’d gone and broken Tucker’s heart. If it had been up to him, she’d have been chased out of the county, but, sadly, the law wouldn’t permit him to run her off. Tucker had explained that on more than one occasion when King had expressed the view that her presence was a blight on the community.
    So, instead of going on up to Swan Ridge, King drove on, only to find a bit of commotion at his place, as wel . His daughter was pacing back and forth across the veranda with some sort of bee in her bonnet. The instant she spotted him, she came flying down the steps and al but tore the door off the car and dragged him out.
    “Have you seen the news?” Daisy demanded.
    “Where would I see it?” King inquired testily. “I’ve been in town al morning.”
    “And nobody said anything?” she said incredulously. “I can’t believe it! For once, the gossip hot line in Trinity Harbor is actual y running behind the TV news.”
    “Slow down, girl. Take a deep breath. I’l get us both a glass of iced tea, and you can tel me what’s got you al hot and bothered.”
    “There’s no time for that,” she said, shoving him right back toward his car.
    “Wil you make up your mind?” he grumbled. “Am I going or staying?”
    “As soon as I tel you, you’re going,” she said fiercely. “And I’m coming with you.”
    “Where?” he asked suspiciously. He hadn’t seen her this het up since the night she thought Walker and Tommy were in danger from a gang of drug dealers. To Tucker’s dismay, she’d come to the marina armed with a shotgun and a ful head of steam, prepared to take on anybody so much as considering harming the two people she loved.
    “To Swan Ridge.”
    “I saw al the commotion. What’s going on over there?”
    “Somebody murdered Larry Chandler,” Daisy announced. “And Mary Elizabeth has gone and dragged Tucker right into the middle of it.”
    This time, it didn’t take any effort on Daisy’s part to get King to sit down. His knees felt so weak, he reached behind him and sank onto the driver’s seat in the car. “Chandler’s dead? You’re sure?” He’d never much liked the politician, especial y for his part in hurting Tucker, but the thought of someone kil ing him right here in Trinity Harbor was enough to make his blood run cold.
    “It’s al over the Richmond news,” Daisy said, then scowled. “And that woman is going to break Tucker’s heart al over again. I just know she is.”
    “Tucker’s smarter than that,” King insisted.
    “Is he real y?” she scoffed. “Then why was I taking clothes over to his place at the crack of dawn this morning so that Mary Elizabeth could get dressed?”
    King stared at her incredulously. “What the devil are you talking about?”
    “Can’t I explain al this while we drive to Swan Ridge?” Daisy pleaded.
    “No,” King snapped. “I want the whole story right here, where I can digest it without running off the road.”
    Daisy described her early morning mercy mission to Tucker’s place. “I wasn’t going to tel you. In fact, I promised Tucker I wouldn’t say a word to anyone, but things have changed now.”
    “Did you actual y see her?” King demanded.
    “No, but she was there. Her car was out front, and Tucker didn’t deny it when I accused him of letting her back into his life. He just hustled me right back out the door and told me to mind my own business.” She practical y shook with indignation. “As if this isn’t my business, when a member of my own family is about to get his reputation dragged through the mud.”
    Daisy was so furious and talking so fast, King was having a hard time keeping up with her. He seized on the first thing that had stuck in his mind.
    “Why the devil would a woman like that want your clothes?” He looked over the jeans and T-shirt Daisy was wearing. Straight from the discount store, no doubt about it. “I hate to say it, but you two never have shopped in the same boutiques. No