Nevertheless, it wouldn’t hurt to watch her back from now on.
Just in case someone much more menacing than gentle-natured Micah was lurking about the premises for purposes they alone were privy to, waiting to wreak more havoc.
SEVENTEEN
PAUL TOOKA STEADYING BREATHas he ascended the steps to Natalie’s galérie.
This was the last place he wanted to be late on a Sunday afternoon, and the task ahead was the last thing he wanted to do.
But this was the only way forward.
And since there were no cars parked in front of Natalie’s house, suggesting her cousin had left after his weekend visit and the professor wasn’t yet back from Cape, he couldn’t ask for a more ideal window to get the job done.
Mustering every ounce of grit he could dredge up, he leaned forward and pressed the bell.
Three minutes later, the front door swung open.
“Paul!” Natalie’s eyebrows rose, and her lips tipped up in welcome. “What a lovely surprise. Come in.” She stepped back and pulled the door wide.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” He crossed the threshold on stiff legs and moved into the foyer.
“Not at all. Steven’s gone back to St. Louis and I had an early dinner. My activities for the remainder of the day consist of reading and crocheting. I’d welcome a bit of conversation.”She motioned toward the living room. “Have a seat. May I offer you a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you. I can’t stay long.”
She followed him in and claimed a chair while he perched on the edge of the couch. “What brings you out to my neck of the woods? Were you at the historical society?”
His heart began to pound.
This was it.
Sweat broke out on his upper lip as a sudden barrage of doubts assailed him.
Maybe he should change course. It wasn’t too late. He could come up with some excuse for this visit, chat for a few minutes about inconsequential matters, and walk out the door.
Because what he was about to do was risky, and once he stepped over the line, there was no going back. If he made a mistake, it could come back to haunt him—and Dan—forever.
“Paul?” Natalie leaned forward, brow bunching. “You seem quite distressed.”
Not surprising, given the churning in his stomach.
“I am.” He twisted his fingers together.
Just do it, Coleman. Get the distasteful task over with.If you ever want to have a decent night’ssleep again, you know you have to fix this problem.
“Is Becky all right?”
“Yes.”
“And Dan?”
That was his opening.
Paul wiped a hand down his face and tried to fill his lungs, but they refused to inflate.
“Heavens, Paul, are you ill?” Natalie touched his arm, alarm tightening her features.
Yes, he was, but it wasn’t a physical ailment.
