“I can’t answer the first question. But having his brother present meant he had a chance of making a jury believe he’d killed her accidentally while cleaning her gun. He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter?”
“Yes.”
“Which comes with a much lighter sentence than murder.”
“But I knew him. Better than anyone.” She fidgeted with the edge of Pink Floyd’sDark Side of the Moonalbum. “My father was not a murderer.”
“Tell me more about Carla.”
“She’s from the town of Toccoa. Her mother and her three younger brothers still live there. They hold a fundraiser in her honor every year. It’s coming up, actually. I always go, but anonymously, since I don’t think they’d be delighted to see me.”
“Her family members might be the ones who pose a threat to you.”
“If they wanted to take revenge on me, they’d have done it bynow. Also, there’s no way for them to know about this treasure hunt. Dad arranged this hunt while he was awaiting trial for killing Carla. Her family members are the last people he’d ever have told about this.”
She peeked at him. He was frowning.
“Her mother and brothers all have great reputations,” she said. “They’re active in the community. Centered on their families. Well-respected.”
Luke didn’t press the line of questioning further. However, she could almost hear the gears of his brain grinding as he thought about who might be chasing after her treasure and why.
After a time, he handed her a receipt he’d found inside an album from the seventies. “Is this anything?”
She studied the receipt and album. “Maybe. Let’s set all of the possibilities to the side.” She laid the items on the hardwood floor adjacent the rug.
Later, she noted that one of the songs on the back of an album cover had been circled.
Later still, he discovered a Snoopy bookmark inside an album of kids’ songs that had belonged to her.
By the time they’d completed a thorough investigation of every shelf, and even the bottom, sides, and back of the bookcase, they’d found three more records that either had markings on the outside or something stashed inside.
What they had not unearthed?
An envelope.
“Dad,” she whispered, sitting back on her heels. “You scoundrel. I can’t help but imagine you’re cackling over how hard you made this.”
“I’m still trying to figure out why you and your dad thought this was fun.”
“Didn’t you ever go on a treasure hunt when you were a kid?”
“A few. I don’t like games.”
Shocker. He seemed to have made dissatisfaction into an art form. “I challenge you to name five things youdolike.”
“Cars. Food. Solitude. Technology.” Pause. “Not being in prison.”
“I was an imaginative girl. I loved the treasure hunts because they were whimsical. Adventurous. Challenging.”
At the moment, though, she wasn’t sure that she still liked the challenge. What if she couldn’t solve this hunt? What if she’d dragged Luke all the way here for nothing? She couldfeelhis impatience pressing down on her. “That look you’re giving me is adding additional pressure that might stymie my ability to figure out the next clue.”
“What look?”
“That glowering one.”
He shrugged as if to say,I don’t know what you’re talking about. “Thirsty?”
“Yes. I know I left a box of tea bags here.” If he made tea, that would buy her a few minutes to think. “There’s a kettle on the stove.”
