The only sound trilling through the quiet air was the chirp of a cardinal in a nearby tree.
Cara vanished but returned seconds later, shrugging into a loose-fitting shirt that covered the skinny straps of her top and the broad expanse of creamy skin it had exposed. “I stream music from my phone directly into my processors. Wireless technology is a godsend for activities like dancing. What were you saying before?”
“Just that I, uh, didn’t want to invade your space, but I have news about Micah. I shared it with Natalie, and she can pass it on if you’d rather continue what you were doing.”
“I was wrapping up, and I’d like an update.” She glanced behind her, brow knitted. “The place is kind of a mess. I push everything aside for my dancing. Would you mind if we sit out here?” She motioned to two plastic patio chairs in front of the cottage.
“That would be fine.”
“Give me a minute to change my shoes.” She disappeared back inside, closing the door behind her.
He continued forward, claiming one of the chairs.
When she reappeared two minutes later, she was wearing sport shoes. The shirt had also been buttoned and hung long over her hips.
She sat beside him. “I hope you found some answers about Micah.”
“A few.” He tried to shift gears. Erase the images of her supple movements and long legs and graceful arms.
It wasn’t easy.
So despite the fact that his memory needed no prompting, he pulled out his notebook and redirected his attention tothe scribbles he’d jotted during his conversation with Rod. “After ruling out any other kind of medical event as a cause of death, the coroner is going with drowning, pending the toxicology results. Best estimate on time of death is sometime between six a.m. and noon on Sunday. Micah had a gash on his head, deep enough to potentially cause unconsciousness. One theory is that he lost his balance and fell backward in the boat, hit his head, tumbled into the water, and drowned.”
“One theory? Are there others?”
He flipped the notebook closed as a squirrel scampered past, acorn in mouth, intent on its task to store reserves for the coming winter. No ambiguity there.
If only life were that simple.
“Sorry.” Cara leaned toward him a hair. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I assume you can’t discuss active investigations.”
“No apology necessary. And I doubt it will be active for long. The tox screen won’t be back for weeks, but I didn’t find any evidence of drugs or drinking in Micah’s cabin. I expect it will be clean. Accidental drowning may end up being our only theory.”
Despite the questions he hadn’t been able to answer.
Like, why were Micah and the boat together, on the shallow, marshy side of the lake? The odds that the man had rowed into grass and reeds were small, and while the boat could have drifted there, the body should have sunk wherever Micah fell into the water.
And why had there been a smear rather than rivulets of blood running down the side of the boat where he’d theoretically hit his head? Yes, he could have touched his head before he lost consciousness, groped for the boat as he flailed in the water, but there’d been no blood on the cuff of his long-sleeved shirt to suggest his wrist had come into contact with his head if he’d reached for his wound.
“You seem troubled.”
At Cara’s comment, he refocused on the conversation. “I was thinking about a few pieces that don’t quite fit for me.”
“Ones you can discuss?”
“Not at this stage.”
“Understood.” She didn’t appear to be in the least put out by his reticence.
“The coroner did release the body, which means we can proceed with Micah’s wishes for his remains. I found a Bible in his cabin, so Natalie is going to read a passage before the ashes are scattered. I have a friend with a golf cart who offered to bring it by, and I’ll drive her down to the lake.”
Admiration—and perhaps something more—radiated from her. “That’s very kind of you.”
“It feels like the right thing to do.”
“I’m sure Natalie appreciates it. I was planning to attend too. A committal with no witnesses would be sad.”
“Yeah.” He swallowed. “It’s sad enough even when a crowd shows up.”
