Page 37 of Twin Jeopardy

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Elisabeth asked.

Tammy had just taken a large bite of her sandwich and almost choked. She chewed and tried to think of an answer that wouldn’t beg elaboration when Elisabeth added, “I saw you with a cute guy outside the sheriff’s department. Tall, dark and handsome.”

Tammy’s face warmed. “That was just a friend.”

“Uh-huh.” Elisabeth gave her a knowing look. “Does yourfriendhave a name?”

“Vince.”

Elisabeth poked at her salad with her fork. “What’s he like?”

“He’s a great guy.”

“And you like him a lot. I can tell.”

“I do.” There was relief in admitting this out loud, an easing of pressure. “But I’m not sure how he feels about me.”

“Hmm. Then maybe you should ask him.”

Tammy made a face. “I don’t want to put him on the spot.” And risk scaring him off.

“Okay. Then why not try a little experiment?”

“What do you mean?”

“Turn up the heat and see how he responds.”

Tammy flashed back to the one kiss she and Vince had shared. There had been plenty of heat there, but nothing had happened since. “I don’t know...”

“Oh, come on,” Elisabeth said. “Just try a little seduction. If he goes for it, you’ll at least know he’s attracted to you physically. That’s a place to start.”

“Thanks for the suggestion, but that’s not my style. Say, how long are you going to be in town? Mitch mentioned you weren’t sure when you first moved here.”

“I’m still not certain, though this place is growing on me. And I like your brother. He and I have really clicked.” The way she said the words—and the smile that accompanied them—left no doubt that Mitch had responded well to any seduction Elisabeth had directed at him.

But Tammy could have guessed that, seeing how besotted her brother was with this gorgeous woman.

Her phone buzzed, and she slipped it out of her pocket and checked the screen.Where are you?Russ had texted. She imagined the irritation behind the words. The editor wasn’t known for his patience. “I have to get back to work,” she said. She took out her wallet.

“Oh no.” Elisabeth raised a hand. “This is my treat.”

“Oh. Thanks. At least let me get the tip.”

“It’s all taken care of.” She pulled out a sleek black credit card.

“Thanks. And I’ll, uh, see you soon,” she said, and made her exit. No one, she was sure, watched her as she hurried away.

Lunch had been...unsettling. Elisabeth had been friendly and the two women had gotten along, but Tammy realized she still didn’t know anything about her brother’s new girlfriend—except that startling revelation about a dead brother and two dead parents. Though she had mentioned when they first met that her father had recently died. Elisabeth had deflected any questions about herself, each time turning the conversation back to Tammy.

Maybe Elisabeth was a private person who didn’t like to talk about herself. Tammy could respect that. But she wished she and her brother’s girlfriend had connected better. Mitch liked her so much that Tammy wanted to like her too.

Some people take longer to warm up to than others, she reminded herself. If Elisabeth did decide to remain in Eagle Mountain, the two of them would have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other better.

VINCEWASJUSTstepping out of the shower Saturday morning when his phone alarmed with an Amber Alert for a missing teen. He was reading through the description of a fifteen-year-old male who had walked out of his family’s home the night before when he received the call-out for search and rescue.

Fifteen minutes later, he gathered with other volunteers at search and rescue headquarters. “We’re looking for Nicholas Gruber,” Danny told the assembled rescuers. “Five feet nine inches tall. Blue eyes. Brown hair. Last seen wearing jeans and a black T-shirt and black running shoes.” He lowered the phone from which he had been reading the description. “Apparently, Nicholas had a fight with his mom and dad last night and stormed out. He has done this before, and he always returns in the morning after he’s had time to cool off. When he didn’t show up this morning, they contacted all his friends, but no one has seen him.”

“They must be worried sick,” Carrie Andrews said. Vince remembered that she had two children of her own.

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