She smiled and rubbed her hands together. “Okay. You’re probably the only one I’ll tell this to because it’s kind of weird and others might overreact.” She wondered if she was referring to herself.
He set down his sandwich and fixed his green eyes on her. “And so …?”
“And so, it’s probably nothing, but …”
His eyebrows elevated.
“I received two anonymous notes.”
He said nothing, but he listened.
So she told him. She recited the contents and the method of delivery under the rocks—first at Rex’s cabin, then at the cottage. And she told him about the bizarre “breather call.”
Brandon scowled. “Did you see the number?”
She shook her head and told him the screen simply read “Unknown.”
“Did you tell Rex?”
Maybe Brandon had figured out that she and Rex were sort of a couple. After all, he was a smart man.
“No.”
“Did you save the notes?”
She nodded.
“Okay. What do you want to do about it?”
She thought for a moment. “I have no idea. The first note came over two months ago; the second one on New Year’s Day. The phone call was yesterday—and might not even be connected. Maybe I just needed to tell someone, and I knew you wouldn’t overreact and make a big deal out of it.”
He nodded slowly. “Let’s hope there’s no reason for that. But you haven’t gone to the police?”
“No. And I don’t want to if I can help it. My grandmother …”
Brandon nodded. “She doesn’t need this kind of stress.”
“Exactly. Besides, though it’s disturbing, it seems as if there was any real threat, something would have happened by now.”
They sat quietly, then he asked, “Will you do me one favor?”
She looked into his eyes. “Of course.”
“I have to go back to Boston tomorrow.” His primary practice was in the city, where he mostly worked until the summer. “I have a new client in Montreal, so I might be in Canada on and off. Even if I am, will you let me know if you get another note? Or another weird call?”
She agreed. And felt better already.
When they finished eating and Brandon walked her to her car, her phone rang in her purse. They stopped and glanced at one another; at least if it was another mystery call, Maddie knewat least she had support right there. So she quickly pulled out her phone and checked caller ID.
She blinked. “It’s Kevin. All the way from sunny California.”
Brandon nodded and waved. “Give him my best,” he said, then waved, and started toward his car.
“Hi, Kevin,” Maddie said into the phone. “How’s it going out there? Is everyone having fun?”
There was dead air for a moment, then Kevin spoke. His voice sounded wavy, uneven. He sounded almost childlike, as if he’d been crying.
“Maddie,” he whispered. “There’s been an accident.” He paused, then added, “It’s Rex.” He paused again. “And it’s bad.”
