Sudden Setup by Barb Han

Author:Barb Han [Han, Barb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-01-15T16:14:54+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Light peeked through before Holden seemed to quash it by turning away from Ella. When he looked at her again, he was all business.

Ella had no idea how to process what he’d just said, but she couldn’t ignore how his words made her feel. Before she could gather her thoughts to speak, he said, “Tell me more about what kinds of projects you were working on leading up to the attack at Devil’s Lid.”

Ella stretched out sore legs and pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to make her head stop pounding. Refocusing might give her a chance to get a handle on her runaway emotions. “I’m on a committee that was formed to clean up the creek along Slider’s Rock. Another to raise funds to build a bigger playground at the elementary school in town. Both of those met recently. And then there’s our recycling program. We’re always trying to drum up support and raise awareness of the benefits of recycling in schools and at parks. Let’s see. What else?” It was hard without having her schedule in front of her to work from. “We’re working on raising awareness for elder abuse and neglect. So many in our community don’t have enough money to run AC in the summer or have to resort to eating canned dog food when their Social Security check doesn’t stretch far enough.”

“And these projects have opposition?” he asked, a dark eyebrow rose.

A frustrated half laugh, half snort ripped from her throat. “Every single one.”

“Who could argue against preventing elder abuse?” Disdain brought down the corners of his lips.

“You’d be surprised,” she said. “Anytime you draw a line in the sand, you separate sides. People may not disagree about educating others about the needs in our community, but everyone will have a different opinion about how to get it done. And I mean everyone. From the mayor to someone’s uncle to the town’s barber.”

“When you put it that way, I believe it.” Holden took a sip of coffee. “We should make a timeline of events and include every meeting you attended recently, especially those with heated debates. Also, I’d like to get the names of everyone who is involved in the organization and any persons who might have something to lose based on outcomes of your decision or decisions you heavily influenced on paper.”

He moved into the kitchen and opened the few drawers until he pulled out a pad of paper and a pen. “This’ll help.”

* * *

AN HOUR AND a half later, Holden stood in the kitchen reading the long list of Ella’s activities. “You’re one busy person.”

“I already said I was involved in the community,” she said, and that solicited a grunt from Holden.

“Involved? Is there anyone else in town doing anything?”

Ella laughed. “I’m sure that I’m forgetting something. Like I said, the days following Dad’s death are a little hazy and my head hurts when I try to overthink.”

“You mean there’s more than this?” He held up the paper. “When do you have time to do anything else?”

“Like what?” she asked.

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