Page 81 of Obsession

A look that could have passed for sadness on anyone else crossed Shaw’s face. “That gal was a pretty little thing,” he said. “Shame that she died like that.” Then he seemed to remember Sam’s question. “You were asking if she came with anybody?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve given this a lot of thought. She did come with someone, but don’t ask me who ’cause I couldn’t tell you if my life depended on it. Never saw him before or after, but she was right friendly with him when they first came in. Then those four college boys came in, and Mary Jo and her date had a spat, and she left him high and dry, started flirting with the Winters kid. The guy she came with just disappeared. Figured he must’ve left right after their little fight.”

Sam had been one of the four. “Could you describe the boyfriend?”

“Are you kidding? Like you said, it’s been ten years. I can’t remember what my sainted sister looks like, and she’s just been gone five.”

The music slid into a loud, fast dance song that made his head hurt. Sam took out a business card and wrote his cell number on the back. “If you remember anything else, doesn’t matter how insignificant, give me a call.”

He stood and held out the hundred dollars. Shaw looked at it, then shook his head. “Keep your money, son. Just find out who killed that girl.”

44

Sam hadn’t even attempted to kiss her goodbye last night. Relationships were hard. Maybe too hard. Even so, Emma’s heart kicked up a notch at the thought of seeing him later today.

Emma slipped a sweater over her head, glad she didn’t have to button a shirt today. Until the accident, she’d had no idea how difficult it was to use only her nondominant hand to complete the simplest tasks.

A quick glance at the floor-length mirror assured her the sweater was long enough to come to a respectable length over her leggings. With her left hand, she pulled her curls away from her face and snapped them in a barrette. At least she was getting better at that. The gray tabby wound around her legs, and she scooped the wiggly kitty up.

“I look like an elf, Suzy,” she said as the cat jumped back to the floor. Or a kid. Her mother would be aghast if she saw her. Too bad Emma hadn’t considered the effect before she went to the trouble of pulling the leggings on.

The clothes would do for a visit to the vet. In the living room, she opened the door to the small carrier Sam had brought up before he left last night, and Suzy circled it, then investigated inside. Good, it shouldn’t be a problem getting her in it.

Emma googled the closest veterinarian office and dialed the number shown. When the receptionist answered, she gave Emmaan appointment for nine forty-five. The phone rang just as she ended the call, and she almost dropped the phone.Corey?“Hello?”

“Just in case your caller ID didn’t work, this is Corey Chandler,” he said. “I trust that you’re well.”

The warmth in his voice was like a hug. “I’m fine.”

“I’m calling to see if we can get together and discuss the project at Mount Locust.”

Emma winced. She’d totally forgotten he’d said they needed to get together. “I’m pretty busy all day...”

“I was thinking more along the lines of dinner at the Guest House this evening, say sixish? And if not tonight, maybe tomorrow night?”

While she didn’t have anything planned for tonight, Sam’s comment about Corey’s interest in her popped into her mind, making her hesitate. She liked him fine—for a friend—and didn’t want to lead him on. But then again, Sam could be completely wrong. Emma had certainly never noticed any interest. At least she hadn’t until he brought it up.

“Tonight will be fine,” she said, deciding she might as well get it over with. Maybe while they ate dinner, she could get him to reveal the person who was trying to stop the project. At the very least, she could plead her case and show him her passion for the work.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at five forty-five?”

“Looking forward to it.” Emma disconnected. Somehow she didn’t think Sam would be happy about this dinner, but she had little time to think about telling him when her phone rang again, this time Sam.

“Good morning,” she said.

“My, you’re chipper this morning,” he said.

“Probably from not having to button a shirt,” she said with a laugh. “Or worry about cooking tonight.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Corey just invited me to dinner at the Guest House.”

“And you said yes?”

“I did. I would like to resolve the issue of surveying the cabins and cemetery.”

---