Page 86 of Fatal Witness

“Any luck with the Petersons?” he asked as she slid across the vinyl seat, facing him.

“Not really.” Alex had emailed Nathan the files on the Bennett case and told him she planned to interview the Petersons. “Kyle never showed up, and Mr. Peterson didn’t give me as much as he gave Mark. Did you get a chance to read the files?”

Nathan nodded. “The files indicated there wasn’t any proof that he was involved in any aspect of the case.”

“I know. It’s just a gut feeling that he might have been. And it could be hunger pains.”

“I’ve already ordered chicken salad on a wrap. It’s such a pretty day—do you think your hunger could hold off long enough to take our wraps to the park to eat?”

“Fresh air and sunshine and seventy-degree temps? Absolutely.”

“You want to ride with me or follow in your SUV?”

“I’ll follow.”

He nodded. “How about we pray before it gets here?”

She nodded, and he took her hand, his thumb resting on the engagement ring he’d given her at Christmas. After he said the blessing, Alex looked up, and he was smiling. “What?”

“You haven’t seen the email?” he asked as Ethel approached with their meal.

“Here you go, folks.” Ethel set the sandwiches down with a flourish.

“Do you mind boxing it up for us?” Nathan asked. “We’re taking it to the lake.”

“Give me a second.” She hurried away to the kitchen with the food.

“What email?” Alex demanded as soon as Ethel was out of hearing range.

“The one from the venue you wanted for the wedding. They had a cancellation.”

Her eyes widened. Alex had never thought she’d want to have her wedding at a venue, but this one was on top of a mountain. “When?”

“June first.”

She swallowed hard. “That’s so soon. I couldn’t possibly plan a wedding in a month.”

He frowned, but before he could respond, her cell phone rang. She checked the ID. “It’s Hayes. I better see what he needs.”

Nathan nodded, and she punched the answer button. “Stone.”

“Someone’s shooting at Mark. They disabled his SUV and have me pinned down.”

“Where? And are you okay?”

“I’m fine. It happened on the road to Eagle Ridge.”

“Mark and Dani?”

“He was okay when I talked to him. Said he was going to hike to his place and get his ATV, but Mark kept breaking up. He doesn’t answer when I call. I’m hoping it’s because his reception is terrible.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“Good.”

Alex gritted her teeth and disconnected. “There’s been another attempt on Dani’s life.” She relayed Hayes’s information. “I should’ve sent more deputies with them.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

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