Page 29 of Walking the Edge

“I got a few scratches.” Bea touched fingers to her forehead and to some bruises on her arms. “I guess they didn’t find you, if you’re here now.”

“They came to the cemetery, but Mitch chased them away.” She looked at the police officers and described what had happened earlier. Mitch showed the new officers Detective LeNoux’s card.

The cops left after getting a few more details, and Bea smiled at Mitch and fluffed her hair. “How do I look?”

He gave her two thumbs up.

Bea beamed at him. “Cath was right.”

“About what?” He raised his eyebrows.

Cath had mentioned Mitch’s testosterone poisoning. But those manly hormones had proved useful today. “It’s not appropriate for your ears.”

“That bad, huh?” The ends of his mouth twitched.

Her office manager patted the bedsheet. “I’m going to miss a few days because I had an episode afterward.”

Cath squeezed the bed rail. “You’re talking about the A-fib?”

Bea nodded. “I’m okay now, but the doctors want me to stay overnight to be sure.”

“Don’t worry about the office. I’m going to suspend business until the police can find out what’s going on.”

The nurse ducked her head inside the door, and they said goodbye. Mitch steered Cath toward the elevator bank and lowered his voice. “Someone really wants to get to you.”

“Unfortunately.” She clutched her arms, suddenly shaky. If she buried her face in his warm chest, would he put his arms around her?

Mitch stared at the closed doors and hit the call button again. She couldn’t even catch his eye. Had he expended all the sympathy he’d planned to and now just wanted to leave?

What good was a warm hug anyway? She would tough this out the best way she knew—alone. As soon as their car reached the ground floor, she took the hallway branching to her right and hit the number for Anthony, one of her two part-time guides.

“Where are you going?” Mitch fell into step.

She held up a hand when Anthony’s voicemail picked up. She identified herself and explained she was suspending operations for a while. “I’ll let you know when I can get the tours started again.”

They passed washrooms and medical clinics of one sort or another only to end up at a street exit. “Not this way.” She swiveled back toward the lobby.

“Way to where?” Mitch asked.

“You’ll see if I ever find it.” Her second part-time college guide answered. “This is Cath, Sherry. I need to suspend the tours for a while.”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“Something’s happened.” Two somethings. And that was just today. Cath veered down a different hallway. “I don’t expect to be closed down long.”

“I hope it’s nothing serious. But I’m already set for tomorrow’s tour if you want me to lead that one,” Sherry said.

“Sorry, all tours are canceled. I’ll talk to you soon.” Cath disconnected and nearly collided with a surgeon in blue scrubs.

Mitch steadied her, and she nodded her thanks. “I have to make sure I don’t endanger my other employees.”

“What about yourself?”

She shrugged. “I can handle myself.”

His lips tugged up. “I did notice that at the cemetery.”

Count on Mitch Guidry to point out her shortcomings. She stopped, hitching her purse higher on her shoulder. “I finally figured it out.”

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