Free Killer Headline by Debby Giusti Page B

got someone watching you in Missoula. That person has warned you twice to back off. The next time might be more than a warning.”
    Of course, she knew he was right. She could no longer pretend the break-in and phone calls weren’t connected, but she wouldn’t—couldn’t—stop her search for the truth. Women were being targeted. She needed to find out as much information as she could about the mob’s activity in Montana. A news article exposing their murderous tactics would warn others who might be in danger.
    “You’ll be right across the street, Clay. I’ll keep my cell on and call you if anything happens.” She gave him a ragged smile. “Having a cop living in the neighborhood has its advantages.”
    The corners of his lips curled into a grin that rocked her to the core. Had to be 8.5 on the Richter scale. Why was he affecting her so much? Probably the late hour.
    He stepped toward the door. “Call me if you need me.”
    “Thanks for your help.”
    “See you tomorrow night?”
    “Yeah, sure.” She locked the door behind him, feeling a letdown. As much as she’d wanted him to stay, the hour was late and she did have work to do. Clay would have been a distraction.
    With a heavy sigh, Violet turned back to her computer and hit the refresh button. A new message appeared from Gwyn.
     
    I planned to talk to you at the coffee shop about another woman in Witness Protection. Angelo got information before I left Chicago. I’ve attached the photo he received. Her name’s Jen Davis. The mob’s after her. She’s next on their list. Mama’s Diner in Billings plays into it somehow.
     
    Violet opened the attachment and stared at the photo. The woman was pretty with a sweet smile and long brown hair pulled into a ponytail. She wore what appeared to be a white nurse’s uniform and stared back at Violet with green expressive eyes. Printing off a color copy, Violet shook her head as the ink dried.
    She scribbled Ruby and Carlie’s names on a piece of scrap paper. Underneath, she wrote Jen Davis followed by a question mark. Jen Davis was in the crosshairs of the mob. She needed to be warned.
    Violet searched the white pages online. No Jen, Jenny or Jennifer Davis was listed in Billings, which meant she probably used a cell phone.
    Plugging Mama’s Diner into a map search, Violet found a hospital, nursing home and six doctors’ offices located within a few blocks of the restaurant.
    Although the hour was late, she requested the diner’s phone number from directory assistance. Tapping the digits into her cell, she heard a recorded message. “Mama’s Diner is closed for the night. Call back when we’re open for business—7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.”
    The mobsters had mentioned Mama’s Diner, so the place had to have significance. Maybe Jen worked there. Maybe she was a frequent customer. Surely someone would know her or recognize her name.
    Unless she used an alias.
    A woman’s life was in danger, and Violet was stuck in Missoula. On a whim, she checked the airlines. The distance from Missoula to Billings was over 350 miles. Too far to drive there and back in one day, but a flight left at 8:00 a.m. and returned at 4:00 p.m.
    Before she had time to change her mind, Violet purchased a round-trip ticket to Billings then printed off the boarding pass and electronic ticket. She sent an e-mail to Stu saying she planned to work from home tomorrow, which he’d get when he arrived at the paper in the morning.
    A noise outside pulled her attention from the laptop. Her heart thumped a warning. She reached for her cell, ready to call Clay when a knock sounded at her front door.
    “Honey, it’s Bernice.”
    Violet opened the door, surprised to find her neighbor wrapped in a thick flannel robe, hair disheveled and clutching her pillow.
    The older woman threw her thumb over her shoulder. “I got up for a drink of water and found Clay hunkered down on the front porch. The man insists he needs to keep watch over your house. I