Grace gasps and the rest of us look at each other. “Have there been no abductions from our town because they’re isolated onourmountain? Wa—was Guy murdered for what he noticed?”
Jaxon meets my gaze and I pull my phone. “I’m reaching out to Preach. If someone is hiding something up the mountain, he’s the one to send.”
Caleb: Mayday
CHAPTER 14
Grace
My hands are shaking. I collapse onto a chair at the table. Woody immediately sits next to me, leaning his weight against my thigh, eyes trained on my face. “I don’t understand any of this. Was Guy murdered for something he saw in our own back yard? And why are they bothering me now?”
“We don’t know that he was murdered,” Clay says.
“Stop it, Clay. I’m not deaf nor dumb. I heard all the speculation about the fire that took Guy. It escalated too quickly. Due to location Guy was sure to be first on scene. That one of the other men heard the same voice but thought it was a radio. That someone saw a vehicle leave the woods after Guy was pulled from the burned-out wreckage.
“Was my husband murdered? And why is this starting all over again now?”
Caleb hunkers down in front of me covering my hand with his. “Something has changed. Something has happened that has them spooked. These notes are incriminating. You said you don’t remember anything in the house being disturbed. But then theytried to start the studio on fire. Had we not caught the blaze in time, they may have done the same with the house.”
“Can you think back to anything going on the last few weeks? Anything different?”
“I took a few more of Guy’s paintings to the shop. Some old guy came by and wanted to buy Guy’s truck, twice. He was a little persistent, almost pushy, but I said no both times.
“I also cleaned out some old stuff and seasonal clothes of Guys and took them to the shelter in town. They called me when they found a roll of film in a pair of Guy’s pants.”
“The film. What did you do with it?”
“I took it to the drugstore to be sent out for development. I haven’t picked it up yet. Oh, I was nearly rear ended that day and an old sketch book of Guy’s slid out from under the seat. Then the yard light went out and the fire that Caleb stopped.”
“Where is the sketch book,” Clay asks. “And did you look through it?”
“I-ah-just fanned through it. I couldn’t really look. It’s in the studio. No, wait, I put it there but then I took it to the Vet center. I wanted to show Joe some examples of how to sketch before painting. He asked to keep it for a couple days. I left it with him. I-ah looked at the first two sketches. One of me and one of our hands clasped. I—I couldn’t go any farther.”
Clay looks at Caleb. “If someone’s been watching her...”
“We need to get the photos, and the sketch book from the Vet center.”
“I’ll stop by the center. No one will think anything of me going in tonight,” Jaxon offers.
“I don’t know if they’ll release the photos to you, Clay. I could try calling.”
He glances at his watch. “They’re about to close. Call but make up an excuse as to why I’m getting them in the morning.”
Sharon answers. I’ve known her since high school, and she accepts my explanation easily. Who’s going to doubt the sheriff.
Spade glances to where I’m mindlessly scratching the top of his dog’s head. I’m surprised by the comfort the animal is giving me.
“Grace, I’m going to leave Woody here tonight. He’s taken a shine to you and isn’t going to want to leave anyway. I know you’ve talked to Fawn about maybe wanting a dog for company. I’d like you to give Woody a trial run. I planned to leave one of the two with you tonight just for extra protection anyway, so I have food and bowls. I’ll come back tomorrow and we can talk more.”
“Thank you.”
Caleb stands. “I’ll walk the two of you out.”
Slumping back in my chair, I squeeze my eyes shut. When does this nightmare end? At least I have confirmation for my own suspicions. My husband was murdered.
I knew he was too well trained to make a mistake during a fire. What I could never figure out was why. He was a good man in a dangerous profession.
And here I am, head over heels in love with a hotshot. Another risk taker. He’ll put his life on the line in every fire, too. The potential for another heartbreak is right there. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ll never have peace if I continue down this path. Wasn’t one loss enough?
