Page 64 of Buried Too Deep

Cora descended, her long legs encased in sleek black pants. And she wore flats.

“You sleep okay?” he asked.

They’d texted for an hour before she’d grown sleepy enough. Phin had stayed up another twenty minutes afterward rereading their conversation. It had been a lot of little things. Mostly books they enjoyed. Some stories about her library patrons that had made him chuckle.

She was a good storyteller. My mom would love her, too. His mother was a retired high school English teacher and books had been a huge part of their growing up. Bringing home a legit librarian would make his mother so happy.

She’ll be so happy when you just come home.

And he would. Soon. For now, his job was helping Cora stay safe.

Cora, who was so pretty in a green silk shirt that set off her red hair, making it look like a flame. But she didn’t smile. She was…frosty.

What had happened?

Finally, the older man knocked on the door and Cora stepped forward to answer it, but Val held up her hand. “My job, remember?”

Cora nodded, saying nothing.

Frowning, Phin leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “What’s wrong?”

She cut him a sharp look. “Nothing.”

Well, shit. He’d learned from his mother and sister that “nothing” always meant “something.” But he couldn’t press because Tandy’s father was in the foyer, his arms outstretched to Cora, much as Val’s had been for him.

He felt an unexpected spear of jealousy at the familiar way the man embraced Cora, and then he got it. Oh. Oh. Nothing was something. Cora had jumped to the wrong conclusion seeing Val hug him.

He spared a glance at Val to see her shaking her head at him, her lips twitching. “I’ll explain to her,” she mouthed.

He wanted to roll his eyes but didn’t dare. The man was watching him suspiciously over Cora’s shoulder.

“I’m Phin Bishop,” Phin said. “This is Val Sorensen. We work for Burke Broussard.”

“Oh.” The man released Cora, sliding his left arm around her shoulders. “My daughter told me all about him. I’m Patrick Napier.”

“Patrick’s been my surrogate father since I was in elementary school,” Cora said. She leaned her head on the man’s shoulder. “He and Tandy are the only family I have left.”

“I was out of town yesterday,” Patrick said to Cora. “I didn’t hear about any of this until I got home last night. I nearly drove straight over here, but Tandy said you’d hired Broussard. Bodyguards are expensive. I can—”

“No, you can’t,” Cora interrupted. “We’ve had this conversation before. I’m not taking your money. Tandy told you about Joy?” She glanced at Val. “Patrick, his wife, and Joy were my mother’s friends.”

Patrick nodded. “Lots of carpooling when Tandy, Cora, and Nala were kids. I stopped by the hospital on my way in. Joy was asleep, but Nala said I can come back later today. I’ll take you and Tandy, if you want me to.”

“I’ll be accompanying Cora,” Val inserted smoothly. “You and Tandy can meet us at the hospital. Bodyguard, you know.”

Patrick winced. “Sorry. Bodyguards are new to me. Cora, are you really all right?”

She smiled up at him, but the expression was strained. “I’m fine. Val and the others are taking care of me.”

The others. Phin had been relegated to the others. Val better explain things quickly or Phin would have to make sure that Cora knew what was what.

Patrick sighed. “I didn’t know someone had broken into your house. I would have mentioned the van I saw in your driveway on Friday morning if I’d known.”

Phin was suddenly on full alert. Friday night was when Blue had woken Cora, barking at what had been the intruder’s entry.

Val straightened. “Can you describe it?”

Patrick shrugged helplessly. “It was a van. You mentioned that you were having trouble with that commode upstairs that leaks. I figured you’d called in a professional to fix it. I meant to call you to make sure it was okay, but I forgot. I feel awful, Cora Jane.”

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