“We have guns and a dog,” JT said. “The property is too expansive to fence in its entirety. We could plant additional booby traps, but we have charters and we have friends, not to mention the multitude of animals in the woods. I’d rather not blow up a bunch of deer with new gadgets.”
Explosives didn’t seem like a good idea. “There’s only one way in, and you do have a gate. We certainly can’t stop anybody from walking from the road to the property, but halting vehicles is a step.”
“We can keep the gate closed except for when we’re expecting a charter,” JT said easily. “I can head to town and buy a chain and lock, but those still aren’t much protection.”
Scott didn’t know how to broach the subject, so he didn’t bother being smooth. “How well do you know this Lila?”
“Not well,” JT said, a veil drawing down over his eyes. “I’d like to send her packing but Aunt Mae is being stubborn.”
“I know I’m grasping at straws.” Scott wiped rain off his face but didn’t try to step under the eaves. If JT could stand in the rain, so could he. Plus, the droplets cooled his slightly singed flesh.
“Did you meet with the chief today?” JT asked.
“No. Something came up, like the explosion, so I called the chief and rescheduled for tomorrow. The prosecuting attorney seemed irritated, but apparently he wants a crack at us bad enough that he stayed overnight.”
“I dropped by and spoke with the chief earlier today,” JT said, his stance wide in the rapidly muddying ground. “Skinner has been asking around town for the last two days about Millie, about you, and about the Bakers. Just the way Millie was found in Baker’s bed caused a sensation. Throw in the expensive lawyer from DC and her HDD connections? They’re probably already casting for a movie of the week.”
“I appreciate the analysis,” Scott said wearily. “Have you heard anything from the townspeople?”
“No,” JT said, “but I worked away from home for a long time. I wasn’t around when Millie dated Clay, and I certainly didn’t attend college with the guy. He’s not very well liked by many people here, but it’s my understanding he’s the belle of the ball in Charleston.”
Scott scratched a scab on his jaw and winced as it tore free. Multiple areas on his body had endured dents and battering. Too many areas. “What about in town? Have you heard anything?”
“Not really. Clay would come to town with his brothers. They’d usually kick up a ruckus in one of the bars, and he’d often take a woman home. That’s not unusual.”
“Got any names?” Scott asked.
JT kicked a rock off the grass into the dirt driveway. “A few, but nobody out of the ordinary. It’s a small town, man. If Clay found himself in trouble, it happened back in Charleston. I’ve reached out to contacts I have there, but nobody knows much.”
“We have our computer expert working on it as well.” If anybody could track down the information electronically, it was Brigid.
JT sighed. “Are you armed?”
“Yeah,” Scott said. “I picked up a couple of weapons at home. Are you?”
“You could say that,” JT said dryly. “I’ll shut the gate tonight, then we’ll figure out something else tomorrow. We should probably invest in a gate that locks, but just having it shut seems to keep most looky-loos away.”
Scott wouldn’t get much sleep until he took out whoever wanted to kill Millie. How his focus had gone from his life to hers so quickly didn’t concern him. “Did the chief tell you anything about the three attackers?”
“No. I asked, but he’s close-lipped. They were obviously hired thugs, and not very good ones.”
Yeah, but one had gotten to Millie before Scott could stop him. He’d hear the sound of her scream in his dreams for years to come, even though she hadn’t been harmed. “They were good enough,” Scott said.
“I heard you were better.”
Scott swallowed as his chest ached and his body thrummed in pain. He needed rest, but his mind wouldn’t stop. He only hoped he’d be as good next time, because danger unmistakably awaited them all.
Chapter Twenty-Four
After showering and checking the new scrapes, scratches, and burns on her body, Millie dressed in jeans and a mint-green sweater before stumbling down to the kitchen and the coffeepot. She poured herself a thick mug and drank half the contents before really looking around.
She’d been mildly disappointed to find that Scott hadn’t joined her the night before in bed, and when she’d peeked into the spare bedroom, the room appeared untouched.
He had to be driving on empty, but she understood the demons haunting him. She’d had several nightmares the previous night that involved explosions, projectiles, and bullets aimed at her. How badly were his night terrors from his being shot with Angus combining with his obvious trauma from his time in the military?
She looked outside to see rain pounding the earth. The weather fit her mood. Where was everybody? She felt silly calling either Scott or JT via phone because they were obviously off doing something.
She hunted in a cupboard for something to eat. Hadn’t she left Pop-Tarts in there a couple of months ago? The delicious treats lasted forever, so she rifled through different bins, trying to find them, until the sound of a vehicle caught her attention.
