He moved to the table and sat beside her, calling up every ounce of his willpower to resist the temptation to fold her hand in his. “You okay?”
Her breath hitched, but she nodded.
“Ms. Boyer?” He transferred his attention to the older woman. “How are you?”
“Devastated. I know most people didn’t care for Micah, but he and I had an understanding. He took excellent care of the property, and I always felt like he watched out for me in his quiet way. Such a gentle soul, with his love for animals.” Her voice caught. “I can’t believe he’s gone. Do you have any idea what happened?”
“Not yet.” He pulled out his notebook and refocused on Cara. “I have to ask a few questions.”
“Okay.”
“If you don’t need me, would you mind if I lie down?” Natalie grasped her cane. “One of my rare headaches is coming on, and if I don’t deal with it fast, it will last for hours.”
He stood. “I can catch up with you later if necessary. The only question I have at the moment is whether Micah had any next of kin who should be notified.”
“If he did, he never shared their names with me. There may be some personal information in his cabin, though.”
“I’ll swing by there.” As she rose, slowly traversed the room, and disappeared down the hall, he turned to Cara. “Would you like a glass of water?”
“No, thanks.”
He retook his seat and opened his notebook. “Let’s start with what led up to you discovering the body.”
With a nod, she launched into her story.
Brad took notes as she talked. Her account was so precise and detailed he didn’t have to pose a single question or ask for any clarifications. Not surprising for a woman who spent much of her life doing meticulous research.
“After I called 911, I waited by the lake for someone from law enforcement to arrive.” As she concluded, she drew a shuddering breath. “What do you think happened to him?”
He closed his notebook. “We’ll have to let the coroner weigh in. A number of factors could have been involved. A heart attack. A fall that knocked him out while he was trying to extricate the boat from the reeds. A cerebral hemorrhage.”
“But he was relatively young, and he fished in that lake all the time. Why would he venture into the reeds?”
“Who knows? But accidents—and fatal medical issues—can happen without warning.”
Her brow crimped. “I know, but this feels off to me.”
“How so?”
“From what I’ve heard and observed, Micah wasn’t sloppy or careless. Case in point.” She motioned toward the impeccably repaired wall. “You can’t even tell there was a fire, and he cleaned up the kitchen every night while he was working. It was pristine in here. As for health issues ... I suppose that’s possible, but with all the physical work he did, I imagine he was in excellent condition.”
True as all that might be, no one was immune from catastrophe ... as a job in law enforcement verified every day.
“I’ll pass all that along to the coroner.” He slid his notebook back into his pocket and stood. “I’m going down to the lake. Would you like me to walk you to your cottage?”
She rose too. “No, thanks. I want to get a book from the collection in the study. Besides, with so much law enforcement presence right now, it’s not like I have to worry about walking around by myself.”
“Didyou worry about that?”
She lifted one shoulder. “A little. I’m a city girl, remember? Being on an isolated estate can sometimes be a bit unsettling.”
“There’s nothing wrong with trusting your instincts if you sense danger. It’s always safer to be too cautious than not cautious enough.”
“I suppose, but—”
“Oh, Sheriff, I’m glad I caught you.” Natalie reappeared inthe doorway. “I took a quick look through my father’s files to see if he had any information on next of kin for Micah. I found one contact name and a phone number. But it’s from many years ago, after Micah’s father died, so I’m not certain it’s valid anymore.” She walked over to him and held out a slip of paper.
He took it. “Thank you. I’ll also check the cabin.” He started to fold the paper. Paused at the two words written on the back.
