Who knew how this would play out if she shared what she found with him?
And Dan didn’t need any bombshells close to the election.
Besides, whatever had happened on that long-ago night when Marie died wasn’t relevant to a political race decades later.
Nevertheless, the press and the opposition could use it to smear the Coleman name.
Paul tightened his grip on the arms of the chair.
Should he alter his plans? Be upfront with Natalie instead of trying to convince her to give him the journals? Ask her to hold off on—
“Paul?” She reached out and touched his arm, her face creased with concern as she examined his white knuckles. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath and pried his fingers loose from the chair. Swallowed. “I have a lot on my mind these days. Politics is a stressful business, and Dan is neck-deep in it.”
“I’ve been following his campaign. He appears to be doing quite well.”
“He is. But politics is unpredictable, and the opposition can be ruthless.”
“Too true in our world today. I expect Dan will be fine, though. I’ve read up on his opponent. It seems to me he has a few skeletons in his closet that would discourage him from finger pointing or—” She pulled out her phone. “It’s the sheriff. He may have an update on Micah. Do you mind if I take this?”
“No.” Paul stood, the opportunity to broach his concerns gone for today. “I have to leave anyway. Duty calls. I’ll see myself out.”
“Come again soon.”
“I will.”
As she put the cell to her ear and greeted the sheriff, Paul crossed the room, slipped through the front door, and closed his eyes, suppressing a chill as a dark cloud scuttled across the sun and cast a shadow over the scene.
His campaign to put those later journals in cold storage had yielded zip, despite the efforts he’d made to convince Natalie they’d be safer in his hands.
Coming clean about his real motive for wanting to get them in his possession remained an option. One he’d almost exercised. But there was a risk in doing that. Even if he extracted promises from both Natalie and the professor to keep the contents confidential until after the election, they could also be damaging if Dan was elected. Used by those who opposedhis agenda as a distraction to undermine his ability to fulfill his campaign promises.
That technique had certainly been employed in politics in the past.
So maybe it was best he hadn’t mentioned his concerns today. Maybe he should continue pursuing his original goal to get Natalie to give him the journals. After all, he’d invested a lot of effort trying to convince her they might not be safe here. That danger could lurk within these walls.
It had been an unpalatable task. One that had taken him far outside his comfort zone.
But Dan was his son. Natalie was only a friend.
And family came first.
WELL, SHOOT.
Scanning her cell as Jack’s number flashed on the screen, Cara paused in her trek down to the lake.
Had her overprotective brother gotten wind of what had happened here three days ago?
If he had, she was in for a ton of questions. Any suspicious death raised his antennas. More so if a family member was in close proximity.
But delaying this conversation wouldn’t change whatever he had to say. And with him leaving for Quantico tomorrow, she owed him a good-luck wish.
Bracing, she pressed talk. “Hi, Jack.”
“Hi back. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No.” She walked over to the edge of the path, set down the small satchel she was toting, and perched on a large rock. “I’m taking a hike around the lake.”
