Harlequin Intrigue July 2019, Box Set 2 of 2 by Janie Crouch

Author:Janie Crouch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Reid was already on his second cup of coffee by the time Arden arrived the next morning. The locksmith had come and gone and he was seated at his desk glancing through the paper as he chowed down on a breakfast burrito he’d bought at the corner store. He’d finally gotten a good night’s sleep and felt better than he had in days. Arden, on the other hand, looked as if she hadn’t slept a wink. The dark circles under her eyes had deepened and her response to his greeting had been lukewarm at best.

He gave her a lingering appraisal as she stood in his office doorway. “What’s wrong?” he asked in concern. “You look like something the cat dragged in.”

She gave him a pained smile. Then she glanced away as if she didn’t want him to stare too deeply into her eyes. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“I can tell.” He took a quick sip of his coffee. “Anything I should know about?”

“Squirrels in the attic,” she muttered.

Reid carefully set aside his cup. “Are you sure that’s all it was? Not residual nerves from what happened here yesterday?”

“I don’t think so.” Her gaze darted back to him and she shrugged. “Honestly, I think it’s that house. I never imagined it would be so disconcerting to be there alone. Every time I go out into the garden, I remember what happened. I close my eyes and I picture my mother’s body, so cold and still, on the ground. I imagine someone staring back at me from the summerhouse windows.”

“You lived in that house for years after your mother died,” Reid said. “You never seemed to dwell on it back then.”

She brushed back her hair with a careless gesture. “I was a kid. I thought I was invincible. Plus, I had you.”

His heart gave a funny little jump. “No one is invincible.”

“I’ve never been more aware of that fact since you came to my house the other evening and told me about the latest murder. And speaking of invincible…” She glanced over her shoulder toward the entrance. “I noticed you had the locks changed. That was fast.”

“I have a friend in the business. He sent someone out first thing this morning. I don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday.”

“That’s smart,” she said with a nod. “I’ve been thinking it would be a good idea to change the locks at Berdeaux Place, as well. If my uncle has a key to the side gate, then he may also have one to the house. And if he has a key to the house—”

“Your grandfather could gain access,” Reid finished. “I’ll set you up with my friend. You can trust him. I’ve known him for years. In fact, he was one of my first clients. You should also have him check out your security system, make sure everything is up-to-date. At the very least, you need to change your code.”

“I’ve already done that.” She had remained hovering in the doorway of his office all this time; now she came in and dumped the contents of her tote bag on his desk.

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