ASAP.
Because the longer this took, the higher the risk.
Micah might be out of the picture, but the professor was still on the premises—and she’d taken to wandering about too.
That was dicey.
What if she saw me somewhere I shouldn’t be and got suspicious? Mentioned it to the sheriff, with whom she appeared to be cozy?
The odds were low that he’d find anything to pin on me, but he seemed sharp. Tenacious. The type who’d stick with a case that bothered him until he had answers.
That could be bad news.
So I’d have to watch Cara Tucker and hope she didn’t get in my way, as Micah had.
But if she did, she might end up just as dead as Natalie’s enigmatic groundskeeper.
FIFTEEN
“I BELIEVE THESE OLD EYESNEED A BRIEF REST.”Natalie set Marie’s journal down on the table and removed her glasses. “But we’re making fine progress.”
“Yes, we are.” Cara lifted her fingers from the keys of her laptop and leaned back in her chair. “We’re definitely picking up speed now that we’re becoming more familiar with Marie’s writing style.”
“I’d say familiarity is helping other things pick up speed too. Like friendship with a rural sheriff.”
Cara stifled a groan.
Of course Natalie had noticed the high-voltage current zipping between her two dinner guests last night. She was as sharp and perceptive as someone half her age.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know him, but I’m, uh, not planning to rush into anything more serious than friendship.”
“Very wise. However, I was talking aboutmyfriendship with him.” The woman’s eyes began to twinkle.
“Oh.” What else could she say? She’d walked straight into that one.
“Nevertheless ... the sparks between the two of you lastnight were a force to be reckoned with. I thought I’d have to pull out the fire extinguisher again.”
She could punt—but denying the obvious would be disingenuous.
“To tell you the truth, they kind of came out of nowhere. I never expected to meet any interesting men while I was here.”
“Then two of them came along. Steven seems quite taken with you as well.”
Uh-oh.
Was Natalie going to be disappointed if nothing happened between her cousin and her houseguest?
“He’s a very nice man too.” She shifted in her seat. “It’s just that—”
“Cara.” Natalie held up a hand. “No explanation necessary. Sparks happen, or they don’t. Attraction can’t be forced. I’d be delighted if this trip produces more for you than a translated journal you can use as background for your paper, should someone catch your fancy. The notion of these tucked-away acres being the catalyst for true love appeals to the romantic in me.” She winked and motioned to the journal. “Shall we get back to work?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
They plowed through several more pages during the remainder of their session without any glitches, until Natalie paused near the end.
Cara looked up from her typing. “Did you come across a difficult passage?”
“No, not at all. It’s clear as a bell. I think we may have run across the first clue in our quest to discover what happened to Marie. It’s certainly a mysterious entry.”
