Page 118 of Counter Attack

“I might just do that. Appreciate it.”

Alex walked back to where Nathan waited. “Go all right?”

“Better than all right.” She hooked her arm in his. “Got a text earlier and Gram said to bring you to supper.”

“Sounds like a winner.”

An hour later, Nathan held the Stones’ back door open and Alex gratefully stepped inside. For the second day in a row, she hadn’t been certain she’d see this kitchen again or her grandparents. After embracing them, Gram insisted they sit down and eat.

Alex hugged her again. “Not everything can be fixed with food.”

“Maybe not, but food never hurts.”

Alex laughed. “True, but let’s get cleaned up first.”

“Sounds good,” Nathan said. “I have a change of clothes in my truck.”

Halfway through the meal, her grandfather laid his fork down. “I had no idea I was getting you into anything like this. But I’m proud of you.”

Gramps didn’t hand out praise easily, and his words swelled her heart. “Just doing my job, Gramps. Like someone else I know.”

“Yeah, well, Marge said neither one of you would leave untilthe rocks were cleared from the tunnel.” He turned to Nathan. “You too, son. I’m proud of you.”

“I was hoping for evidence,” Nathan said. “A clue to whoever tried to blow up the entrance to the cave.”

The older man leaned forward. “Don’t you think it was the killer?”

“Probably,” he replied. “But we never found a trip wire from the bag with the note to where the explosive was placed.”

“We know the note came from the killer,” Alex said. “Phame expected us to search the cave again. Could it have been some sort of laser beam that sent a message to the detonator when the note was moved?”

“I’ve requested the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to investigate. They have more resources than we do.” Nathan leaned back in his chair and pinned his gaze on her. “You’ve had quite a first week on the job. You are planning on taking the weekend off, right?”

Gram slapped her hand on the table. “She certainly is.”

Alex counted to ten and thought about counting to fifteen. “Let’s see. We have drug dealers from Chattanooga running around, not to mention a killer.” She pursed her lips and looked toward the ceiling, then leveled her gaze at her grandparents and Nathan. “Nope. I don’t think I’ll be taking the weekend off.”

An uncomfortable quiet settled in the room.

“Wouldn’t hurt to at least go to church Sunday,” Gram said in a small voice.

Alex joined in the laughter around the table.

62

Monday, after the morning briefing, Alex’s phone rang and warmth spread through her chest. Nathan. They’d spent a fair amount of time together over the weekend. “Hello?” She cringed, hating how breathy she sounded.

“Good morning. How’s it going so far?”

“Eh, so-so. Harvey is puffed up like a puffer fish. Mark’s okay, though. I think we may have worked through our problems. At least I hope so. What’s on your list today?”

“Court, in about half an hour.”

“Oh, that’s right. You said that yesterday after church. Think you’ll be free by lunch?”

“I’m not sure when I’ll take the stand, so I don’t know. We do get a two-hour lunch break. Want to grab a salad at Garden G’s?”

Garden G’s was a new restaurant in town that specialized in healthy soups and salads.

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