Cold Case Connection by Dana Mentink

Author:Dana Mentink
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-11-07T19:37:19+00:00

* * *

Helen’s phone rang just after the dinner service, but it was not the number she expected. After a calming breath, she stepped out onto the front porch of the lodge and answered. “Hi, Liam.”

The connection was crackly, but she heard her brother’s every word, his Southern drawl pronounced, the drawl she’d worked so hard to tame in herself. “What is going on and please tell me you’re staying out of it?”

“How are you? Is Maggie feeling better?”

“Speak up, okay? I can’t hear you.”

It was not the connection, most likely, but the otosclerosis that was gradually rendering him deaf. She spoke louder. “I hope you two had a good time.”

“Phenomenal, and so far she hasn’t decided she made a mistake marrying me.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“We’re trying to get a flight home, but everything’s grounded due to storms. And don’t try to distract me with small talk. What is going on? Mitch and Chad haven’t explained everything to my satisfaction.”

She told him the abbreviated version. He cut her off toward the end.

“Go stay with Aunt Ginny and Uncle Gus.”

“You should add please to the end of an order, but I’m fine here. I’ve got cameras and brothers and Sergio and Jingles.”

He snorted. “I don’t know this Sergio guy, but Jingles couldn’t scare away a blindfolded, three-legged butterfly.”

She laughed. “I’m perfectly safe and I won’t do anything dangerous, I promise.”

“That’s not good enough. I’m coming home as soon as I can, but in the meantime...”

She sighed. It would do no good to talk him out of it, but she tried anyway. “It’s your honeymoon, Liam. What about Maggie?”

“Maggie is itching to get back to the lodge. She’s got all kinds of ideas for the menu.”

“Tell her I can’t wait to hear about them. I started a new spreadsheet for the fall season.”

“I’m sure you did, and flowcharts and line plots all properly footnoted in three different colors.” He was quiet a moment. “Seriously, Helen. Don’t let that guilt you’re hanging on to put you at risk. You were not to blame for Fiona. If Sergio’s making you feel like...”

“He’s not, Liam. Truly.” She saw Mitch and Sergio walking up the porch steps. “I have to go now, okay?”

“But you haven’t told me...”

“Goodbye, Liam. I’ll see you soon. Give my love to Maggie.” She clicked off.

Mitch grinned as he approached. “Liam?”

She closed her eyes for a moment. “He hasn’t commandeered a plane or anything so far, so that’s a win.”

Chad joined them next, a rope tossed over his shoulder. “Brushed down your horses,” he told Helen. “Took me twice as long since Liam called me every five minutes.”

“Called me also when I was moving the herd,” Mitch said. “I finally told him I was gonna block his number if he didn’t stop pestering.”

“That’s right about when he started in on me,” Chad said. “He’s probably on the line with Aunt Ginny right now.”

“She can handle him,” Mitch said. “I got permission, thanks to Danny, and a key from the parks department to explore the tunnels, but the clerk nicely told me if anything happens to us, it’s not their fault.

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