It was bounding away, up the trail.
That was a plus. She’d be able to finish her walk without backtracking.
Yet instead of continuing on, she looked again at the boat, a shiver of unease rippling through her.
Something didn’t feel quite right.
Should she—
Oh!
Cara’s heart stuttered as she homed in on a floating object that was peeking past the far side of the boat.
Was that a ... hand?
She squinted at it.
Dear God.
Itwasa hand.
Pulse pounding, she scrambled down the embankment, clutching at branches and bushes as she half slid to the edge of the lake. Holding on to a tree trunk for balance, she leaned out. Grabbed the edge of the boat. Jockeyed it aside.
And almost lost her lunch.
A man was lying on his stomach in the water.
But she didn’t need to see the face to know his identity. The shirt and shaggy hair were familiar.
It was Micah Reeves.
“WHERE ISSHE?”Brad vaulted out of the squad car and tossed the question to Larry, who was standing on Natalie’s front galérie.
“The professor?”
“Yes.”
“Inside.” He motioned behind him. “She stayed by the lake until we arrived, but she was pretty shaken up. I brought her back up here. Alan’s with the body.”
“Is the coroner en route?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go down to the lake after I get a statement. You can stay here to direct the coroner.” He took the steps two at a time, gave a perfunctory knock on the door, and let himself in.
The living room was empty, but a soft murmur of voices came from the back of the house.
He strode that direction, stopping on the threshold of the kitchen.
Natalie and Cara sat at the table, a subtle hint of new-paint smell lingering in the air.
Brad gave the fire-damaged area a cursory scan.
It had been restored to pristine condition.
But his main focus was the two women at the table.
While Natalie’s complexion was pale, Cara’s was pasty. Shock had dulled her eyes, and even from several feet away, he could tell she was trembling.
