But it was too soon to say anything to her siblings. What if the first date fizzled?
“No news to report.”
“Bummer. But hang in there. Once you’re back in civilization, the pool of possibilities will expand.”
“I’ll hold that thought.”
“You hear anything from Jack?”
“Not much. A couple of quick texts. What about you?”
“Same here. I think he’s directing the bulk of his communication to Lindsey.”
“Fiancées get first priority.”
“Remember that when your time comes.”
“Ifit comes.”
“It will. I have great confidence. What’s new on your end? Is all quiet on the southwestern front—or, as Jack would say, in the hinterland?”
Hardly.
In addition to all the other strange happenings, there was now a stamp-stealing ex-housekeeper in the mix. Lydia may not have confessed to Natalie, but according to the older woman at dinner last night, she’d had guilt written all over her during their hallway talk yesterday.
The question was how much to tell her siblings.
Other than Micah, none of the incidents that had occurred during her tenure were newsworthy. His death, however, could cross their radar, and if they connected the dots, they’d be upset she hadn’t said anything.
It might be best to give Bri a topline in case they got wind of that situation.
“Quiet for the most part, but there was a sad event on theproperty.” She kept her voice as neutral as possible. “Natalie’s groundskeeper died.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. What happened?”
“It appears he fell out of his boat on the lake, hit his head, and drowned.”
“Thatissad. Did he have a family?”
“No.”
“I suppose that’s a blessing. Losing someone in such a tragic manner would be hard for the people left behind.”
“Natalie’s upset, though. She’s counted on him for years.”
“I can imagine. No chance there was any funny business about his death, is there?”
Leave it to Bri to ask questions about a death rather than accept the news at face value.
Kind of like Brad, come to think of it.
“I don’t think so. The sheriff is looking into it, but as far as I know, the investigation is more a formality than anything else.” Unless he’d found some basis for the suspicions he’d hinted at during dinner the night of Micah’s service, when he’d said he planned to keep his ear to the ground.
“Watch your step just the same. I don’t like you in the vicinity of odd deaths. And let me know if anything else unusual happens on the property.”
“Why? This is way out of your jurisdiction.”
“I have connections. I could always ask someone to have a chat with the sheriff, since my sister is peripherally connected to the event. Not all small-town types are as diligent as they could be.”
