Page 63 of The Reluctant Roommate

“That was before I ratted you out. Before I got you tipsy on barely decent wine.”

“I thought it was okay.”

“I’m adding ‘poor taste in wine’ to the negative column. Really, Morgan, I thought your taste was better than that.”

“I guess my tastes are changing.” A smile flickered on Morgan’s face, and she freed her hand and linked arms with Heidi. “Let’s hurry home and have some of that turkey.”

How could Morgan compartmentalize her life so thoroughly? The moment of weakness had shuffled away out of sight. But that was how she was, and Heidi had to accept that.

She once again scurried to keep up with Morgan. “We’ll do that. And let’s plan what we’re going to do in Leadville.”

Chapter 29

There’s Really Only One Bed

“Car filled with gas,” Morgan said. “Check.”

“Bags in the trunk. Warm clothes for the mountains. Check.”

“Snacks?”

Heidi held up a canvas bag. “Nuts and chips. Fruit, if we want to be healthy. Candy, of course.” She wiggled in her seat. “I’m excited. I’ve never been to the Rockies before.”

“I thought this trip was to get your twenty grand back?” Morgan grinned. Heidi was cute all the time, but her excitement made her extra adorable. The way her shoulders shimmied and how the green streak in her hair fell over her forehead.

“It is. But it’s also to marvel at mountains, drink margaritas from glasses bigger than my head, and, according to Trip Advisor, eat the best Mexican food in Colorado.”

“We can do all of that—after we’ve confronted your ex.”

“Yeah, and that’s where the plan falls down. I still have no clue how to do that.”

“Westill have no clue, pardner. There’s two of us in this car.” She paused. “Are you sure you don’t want to postpone this until Lula can come too?”

“I’d love for her to come. She almost certainly would have better ideas about Serena than me. But it was hard enough for me to get time off work, and no way Lula could get it. And who knows how long Serena will stay in Leadville?” Heidi said. “As for confronting her, I think the best option is you bang on her door, and say—”

“What! Why me?”

“She doesn’t know you. She won’t slam the door in your face. At least not immediately.”

“Valid point.” Morgan sucked at her lower lip. “But what do I say?”

“That you’re a private investigator following up on a fraudulent banking claim.”

“Then you should have taken your actual private investigator, Brandon.”

“A bank officer, then.” Heidi shot her a grin. “And Brandon asked me again where you were working. He seems keen to get in touch with you. He mentioned again that he’s not as happy with your successor.”

“Nothing I can do about that. As for me impersonating anyone official, I’m sure it’s against the law, especially when it’s for financial gain.”

“Is it financial gain if you’re only taking back what is rightfully yours?” Heidi asked.

“We still need to think.” Morgan fiddled with the navigation app on her cell phone. “I’m putting in Serena’s address. Did you book a motel?”

“No, just in case we learn Serena is somewhere else and we have to go racing off,” Heidi said. “Although if she’s back in California, we’re not going there. Not this trip, anyway. But Brandon was confident she’d be in Leadville. She’s signed a lease.”

“Let’s go, then.” Morgan started the car and headed for Broadway, which would take them south. Highway285 was familiar to her—indeed, the first part was the same route they’d taken to RedRocks, which seemed like a lifetime ago.

She glanced across at Heidi, who was staring out the window.