Jake smiled thinly and thoughtit’ll be a cold day in hell.
Chapter Nineteen
The Harrington Cabin
Jill was deepin writing, lost in a scene, when the knocking started.She knew she needed to get up and answer the door, but the scene was so clear, the sentences flowing, if she stopped…
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Grandma enter the room.Relieved someone else was taking care of it, she didn’t even bother to look up to see who was on the other side of the door.She just kept writing.
It was supposed to be a mystery, and itwouldbe, but deeper than that, it was a look into these two flawed characters and all their issues, and nothing got Jill’s creative juices flowing more thanthat.
But even she couldn’t fully block out reality once the paragraph was finished.She glanced up to see who’d been at the door and nearly startled.
“Sam.”Jill immediately slid a glance at Grandma… who was indeed staring at Jill suspiciously.
“Hi, Jill,” Sam greeted.She seemed easily casual standing there, but Jill suddenly felt tense and terribly awkward.She set her laptop aside.
“I won’t take up too much of your time.I just wanted to let you guys in on something that’s going on.I stopped by and told Aly about it first, and I know she could fill you in, but I figured I was close, I might as well do it in person and answer any questions you have.”
Jill’s nerves over Sam being here about Grandma didn’t ease, and those words made everything feel that much… worse.
What was wrongnow?
“Cal received another threat.We still haven’t figured out where they came from, and it’s always possible they’re nothing.We’re investigating from the angle that whatever the threat is, it connects back to his attorney days in Texas.I don’t have any reason to believe otherwise, except, well, the whole trial stuff last year.Since we were all involved in that, I just want us all to be aware of this.”
Jill blew out a breath.Poor Cal couldn’t catch a break.“Is he okay?”
“He’s fine.Maybe not taking it as seriously as I’d like, but the thing about threats is they give you a chance to protect yourself against them.I just want you all keeping an eye out.For odd things.People, cars you’re seeing over and over.Anything that seems out of place.Note it and let me or Nate know.”
“Of course,” Jill agreed.“I think we would have anyway after the way the past year has gone, but of course we will.”
Grandma nodded and Jill smiled.
“Thanks, guys.See you around.”Sam let herself out, and Jill sat there wondering if Sam hadreallycome all this way just to tell them that.
“Garden,” Grandma rasped.
She spent any sunny afternoon out planting her spring garden.It was a beautiful day, so no doubt Grandma would be out there for a few hours, and Jill could get some more writing done.
Jill nodded.“Sure.Let me know if I can help.”
But Grandma pointed to Jill’s computer—a sign for Jill to focus on working—before turning around and leaving.
Jillshouldwork.Instead, she jumped to her feet and scurried out the front door.She let out a breath of relief when she saw Sam was standing out by her car.She hadn’t even gotten inside yet.
So,no, this wasn’t about threats.
“Sorry if this ends up looking suspicious,” Sam said quietly when Jill approached.
Her eyes were hidden by big sunglasses, but her posture remained casual and loose.
Jill envied Sam that ability.
“No, I think you hid it well.”Jill studied Sam’s profile.“But it wasn’t a lie, was it?The threat?”
“No, that’s true.Everything I said in there was true.I just would have had Aly tell you all the same stuff if I didn’t need to talk to you about Glenda.”
“Did you find something?”
