Page 62 of Fatal Witness

She immediately moved her hand. He wished she hadn’t.

“Let’s talk about something that doesn’t deal with death,” he said. “How about if I take you out to eat tomorrow night when you finish whatever you have to do. Then I want to see your studio.”

She looked surprised. “You like working in the clay?”

“Never tried it, but I saw some of your pieces on your website, and they’re different.”

“We can do that as soon as we finish tonight. The sheriff said he didn’t think anything in the studio had been disturbed, but I’d like to make sure.”

Half an hour later, Dani tossed her half-eaten dinner in the trash. MREs couldn’t be any worse. “Sorry about that.”

“It was fine.”

“Thank you. You are being more than kind,” she said. “Ready to walk out to my studio?”

He opened the back door. “Yes, ma’am.”

An almost full moon lit the eastern sky as they walked the short distance to the studio. When Mark glanced up at it, Dani said, “It’s the Pink Moon.”

“I never heard a moon called that before. It’s not pink.”

She laughed. “No, I can see that, but April’s full moon is still called the Pink Moon.”

“And you know this how?”

She stopped. “I ... I don’t know, but it feels like I’ve always known it. Maybe I heard Nonny say it when I was a kid.”

“Sounds like something she would say.”

Dani stiffened and glanced over her shoulder toward the mountains.

“What is it?” Mark moved closer, catching barely a whiff of a light floral scent that he’d noticed when they drove to Chattanooga.

“I don’t know. Suddenly it felt like someone was watching.”

He turned and slowly scanned the area. “I don’t see anything.”

She reluctantly brought her gaze back to him. “It’s probably nothing more than I’m tired. Let’s check the studio so we can get some rest.”

As they continued on to the studio, he placed his hand on the small of her back, pleased somehow that the gesture seemed to ease some of her tension.

Dani punched in the code. “Not sure what we’ll find. Hopefully nothing.”

“Gem and I will go first.” Mark stepped around her and opened the door. “Search.”

He followed Gem as she shot ahead into the small front room that appeared to be a showroom of some sort. He followed her into a larger room with a couple of pottery wheels and several tables. Must be where she worked. Gem disappeared inside a side room before quickly reappearing. The dog sat down and looked expectantly at him. “Good girl.” He patted her on the side, then returned to get Dani. “Looks good. Come on in.”

Dani looked around the showroom and nodded, then walked into the workroom and surveyed it. “Just my usual mess.” She turned to him. “I’m really glad you came with me. I don’t know that I could have done this alone.”

“You could have, but I’m glad I came along. I like getting to know you better.” He nodded toward the showroom. “You have some beautiful pieces. I’ve never seen anything like them.”

She blushed. “Thanks. At least now I know where I got my talent from. I wish I’d had time to check out my grandmother’s work.”

“You’ll see it when we get back.” Mae’s work was good, but her pieces ran more to utilitarian vessels. Dani made those too, but judging by the vases in the other room and those scattered around the studio in various stages, she focused more on the artistic side.He carefully picked up a vase that resembled a carved flower. “This is just ... amazing.”

“That one is an order and came out of the kiln just before I left.” She ducked her head, then shyly looked up at him. “What do you see when you look at that vase?”

He tilted his head. “It makes me think of a flower, a tulip maybe? Except I’ve never seen one that was light green...”

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