Page 75 of Lost Cause
This kiss.
This woman.
A future.
He didn’t know how he could make it happen, but he had to find a way.
19
Under warm morning sunshine, Burke walked up to Dr. Melanie Shore’s front door, Abby by his side. In his friend’s boat as they’d traveled to the mainland and again on the car ride to the doctor’s house, they’d both been self-conscious and somewhat high-strung. No doubt it was because of the kiss last night, but neither expressed regret over letting it happen.
He wished another person had been with them to ease the tension, but Kelsey wouldn’t arrive for another two hours. Thankfully, the botanist needed to be interviewed, providing a neutral third person.
She wasn’t hard to find. She’d retired ten years ago, and for forty-five years she’d been living in the same small bungalow near a local forest reserve in Seaview Hollow.
Burke pounded on her door and stepped back.
“Cute cottage,” Abby said. “And she couldn’t live any closer to the reserve. Probably a great location for a botanist.”
The lock snicked open, and a thin, almost frail-looking woman stood in the doorway. She had long gray hair and wore aLeave Me AloneT-shirt. Hopefully, her shirt didn’t indicate how the questioning would go.
“Dr. Shore?” Burke asked.
One of her thick eyebrows shot up. “Who are you?”
Ah, the suspicious type. He got out his shield and introduced himself and Abby. “We have a few questions for you regarding your visits to the Lemoine Estate.”
“Victor and I are friends. What questions could you have about that?”
Abby smiled widely. “Could we come in and explain it?”
She took a few deep breaths, then nodded. “But only for a few minutes. I have an appointment soon.”
She led them into a cozy kitchen that opened to a combined dining and living area. Sunlight poured through the windows, flooding the space in warmth and highlighting the lush greenery filling nearly every surface.
As if used to being obeyed, she pointed at a floral sofa. “Sit.”
Burke waited while Abby took a seat, then settled next to her. “We were told you first visited Victor for professional reasons.”
“And if it was?” The same eyebrow went up again. “Is informing someone on the local flora a crime?”
Burke hadn’t expected this much hostility from their innocent questions. “What exactly was Victor interested in learning about?”
The doctor crossed her arms. “That’s between me and him.”
Burke wouldn’t be put off and back down until he got a straight answer. “When did you first meet with him?”
She shrugged. “I don’t remember the exact date.”
“Give us an approximate one.”
She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “I’m not sure on the year, but it was a few months before Estelle went missing.”
A few months before? Could she be connected to Estelle? He schooled his expression to hide his interest. “Did you meet Estelle back then?”
She shook her head. “He said she was a naturalist and the one driving his questions, but she wouldn’t be interested in any details.”
“And what questions and details are those?” Abby asked, as her phone chimed, indicating a text. Thankfully, she ignored it and didn’t break their rhythm.
