As Dean passed the Beaumont Hotel, he caught sight of Dickinson Faust, the Dawkinses' attorney, emerging, his hand on the arm of a striking woman who didn't seem to care for the gesture. The woman turned away and began walking down the street, leaving Faust with a disappointed look on his face. Dean had a feeling the woman was the tall blonde he'd seen leaving the courthouse behind Fred O'Connor. She might have been a fellow juror, but Dean sensed that he was watching Jennifer Radisson in his rearview mirror. He turned the Jeep at the far end of town and began following her.
By the time he neared the woman, she'd crossed the intersection where the water fight would be held later, and was passing the bank in the heart of town. He followed her slowly, but a couple of horn toots coaxed him to move along. He lost sight of her while trying to find a parking spot. By the time he was successful, he was nearly to the park, south of Ouray's hot spring pool. One of Fred's nameless cohorts buttonholed Dean as he stepped from his vehicle, and by the time he extricated himself from her verbal grasp, the blonde was lost in the crowd at the park. There was a pet parade scheduled and the open field was ayip and awash with activity.
Dean looked around the crowd but couldn't spot her. He strolled among the self-conscious pets and people, smiling and looking until he was sure she wasn't there. As he neared the softball stands and was about to return to his Jeep when a hand touched his arm. He turned, shocked to see the woman standing behind-and nearly above-him, a smile on her face.
"You're not very good at following someone. If sheriffs have to do that sort of thing, you'd better practice."
She was nearly as tall as he, a natural blonde or the customer of a very good beautician. Her dress was casual but stunning. She wore an impish look, high cheekbones and the only lavender eyes Dean had ever seen. It was a wonder even the parading pets didn't stop and stare. Dean guessed no male juror would even bother listening to the testimony before giving her anything her little heart desired. While he was instantly embarrassed and wore stunned look on his face, he saw no point in denying his activity. "There goes my emeritus status in the Crime Stoppers Club," he said. "You know who I am?"
"I recognized your Jeep. I saw you pick up the old gentleman- the juror. How do you know who I am?"