Page 78 of Concrete Evidence
Did she feel as attracted to him as he was to her? Back to business. “One more thing. Shortly after midnight, the weather report issued an update. Hurricane Braxton is gathering strength in the Gulf. The dam and lake are still on the path of the dirty side.”
She stiffened her shoulders. “Any more good news?”
“You’re tired. In the morning we’ll talk about the worst-case scenario.”
She shook her head. “The dam is fine. My grandfather is a man of integrity.”
“But you don’t know the capabilities of who might have plotted against him.”
44
AVERY COULDN’T SLEEP.An hour after she and Marc had ended their conversation, she stared up at a dark ceiling. In the shadows, the fan whirled in rhythm to her roiling thoughts. At 4:03, she dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that readStress Is a State of Mind. The phrase should boost her troubled attitude.
Should.
Downstairs Avery crept to a storage area near the utility room. She stuffed the items needed for the day into her backpack—sunscreen, bug repellant, mini first aid kit, binoculars, flapping tape, small notebook, pen—and added her phone to the outer pocket.
“Avery, do you ever sleep?” Mia’s soft voice oddly enough comforted her.
She faced the woman who’d dressed for the day in capris and tennis shoes. “I could ask you the same thing. Why are you up?”
“To brew coffee and make breakfast sandwiches for you and Agent Wilkins.”
“You are so sweet, but I have plenty of time to do those things.”
“Of course you do.” Mia’s teasing tone shoved a shade of normal Avery’s way. “The coffee might be okay, but the sandwiches would be worse than dog food.”
Avery laughed and opened her arms. “I’ve missed that snarky wit.”
Mia stepped into the embrace. “I am the voice of reason and common sense.” She separated herself from Avery. “You finish your packing, and I’ll work my magic in the kitchen.”
A nagging question persisted. “When I left for Houston, why did you ask me if I had my handgun?”
Mia sighed. “You were upset, and I had no clue why. Your grandfather had asked me to keep an eye on you and deter you from leaving the ranch. I assumed the worst, and unfortunately my instincts were right.”
“We haven’t had an argument.”
“I’d rather you two were in a shouting match than this.”
At five forty-five, Marc joined them at the coffeepot. “I followed my nose.” His eyes held the glint of a little boy ready for adventure.
Mia handed him an insulated mug. “Avery has breakfast sandwiches and fruit for the trip.”
He grinned and thanked her, then fixed his attention on a huge bowl of packaged candy. After grabbing a snack bag of M&M’S, he ripped them open and dumped the candies into his black coffee. “Are you married, Mia?”
“No, sir. My husband died nineteen years ago.”
“I’m in the market for a wife who’s pretty and cooks.”
That leaves me out.
Mia pointed to sugar and creamer for him. “Eliminate Avery from your search then. She doesn’t know which end of a frying pan to use.”
“I’m good with numbers,” Avery said. “That must count for something.”
“Right. You think pie is the sixteenth letter in the Greek alphabet.”
Avery groaned and grabbed her backpack with the breakfast bag. On the way to the truck, two deputies from the sheriff’s department offered a good morning. Their presence eased her concern for those left behind.
