Page 41 of Fatal Mistake
“You mentioned earlier about situations where turning your back on faith doesn’t seem so far-fetched. Days like those must be the ones that challenge your beliefs.”
He remained silent for a long time, his lips pressed together. “My faith has pretty much been on the rocks for a while now.”
“And that’s why you don’t ever let down your guard,” she said, and ignored the fact that her lack of trust in God resembled Cal’s struggle.
He shrugged and looked away.
Right. He didn’t plan to talk about it, and she wouldn’t keep heading that direction either.
He took over emptying her grocery bag and gestured at a stool. “What about you? Tell me more about your job.”
“Way to change the subject.”
“Hey.” A tight smile spread across his mouth. “You asked about me, so it’s only fair that I ask about your job.”
“I suppose you mean the government translator job that I had before Oren tried to kill me.”
“Right. They probably didn’t hold it for you, did they?” He set apples next to the bananas. “I’d be glad to talk to your boss and let him know you had no control over this situation. Maybe they’ll give you back your job.”
She settled on the stool and considered how to respond to him. One minute he acted hard as nails, not open to talking, demanding, pushing her around, and the next, he appeared genuinely considerate, doing things like offering to help her get her job back. Or even more importantly, he was willing to sacrifice his life for hers. She was smart enough to know he could be both controlling and kind. The big question for her was how he lived out those characteristics off the job, but to find out, she’d have to breach a wall to his personal life that was best left in place.
His phone rang, and he looked at the screen. “I need to take this call.”
“Brynn,” he said into the phone as he left the room.
Tara understood that he had to be careful about discussing the investigation in front of her, but she didn’t like being left in the dark when her life was on the line. She finished unpacking the groceries, and he returned in short order.
His tortured gaze landed on her, and she didn’t have to wonder if Brynn gave him bad news, just the specifics of the news.
“What is it?” she asked.
He came back to the island and took the stool next to her. “I have something difficult to share.”
“Is it Aunt June?”
“June is fine.” He set his phone on the sleek countertop.
Tara exhaled. “Then what?”
“You know that we didn’t find Keeler at the cabin, but I didn’t tell you that we found a body. A woman.”
She opened her mouth to ask for details, but his phone dinged, stealing his attention.
He picked it up and tapped the screen. “We haven’t been able to identify her through any of our methods, and we need you to look at the woman’s picture to see if you know her.”
“But I don’t know anyone in Oregon. I purposefully made sure of that.”
“I need you to look. Just in case.” He pressed the button to unlock his phone. “She’s been dead for some time, so you should prepare yourself for what you’re about to see. It’s nothing gory, but still…”
Tara took a deep breath and turned his hand to look at the picture.
“Oh, no.” Her stomach sent the orange juice roiling, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
“You know her,” Cal said in his usual straightforward tone.
Tara nodded and fought for enough composure to speak. “I don’t actually know her or even know her name. She worked in the post office in Dufur. I talked to her when I picked up my mail.”
Tara wrapped her arms around her waist. “She was such a sweet person. She always went the extra mile for me, and now…” Tara’s sorrow begging for release, she shook her head. “…now because I talked to her, she’s dead.”
