Page 5 of Dead Man's List

Maybe I do, too.

“Thanks, Kit.” Rita hugged her, then skipped out of the barn before Kit could react.

Before she could hug her back. Kit wasn’t great at giving hugs.

Kit wasn’t great at too many things.

Sam was good at everything. He was a caring therapist, he volunteered his time with teens and the elderly, and he had the patience of a saint. He’d never pushed her or made her feel bad for needing her space or for being prickly. Sam was a good man, plain and simple.

With a big sigh, she folded the saddle blanket, putting it away. Then she walked out of the barn, only to see two glowing lights off to the side. Two lights that illuminated a man’s big hands as he carved a block of wood.

“Pop? What are you doing out here? You’ll catch cold.”

He looked up from where he sat on a bench, a flexible flashlight hanging from his neck. Kit had gotten the light for him for Christmas and she didn’t think she’d seen him without it since he’d opened the box. It provided enough light for him to get all the details right on whatever he was creating.

“I wanted to make sure you two were okay. I didn’t listen in.”

Kit settled next to him on the bench. “Rita was making me promise not to cancel my date with Sam.”

Harlan smiled. “Good for Rita. That girl is somethin’ else.”

“She is. She’s also nervous about the trial.”

Harlan’s smile faded. “I know. We’ll stand with her.”

“She’s afraid if Drummond gets off, he’ll come after her.”

Harlan’s jaw tightened. “I’m getting better security.”

There was something in his tone that gave Kit pause. “What’s going on, Pop?”

Harlan exhaled quietly. “Someone sent a letter to Rita. Unsigned.”

Kit tensed. “Tell me.”

Wordlessly, he pulled a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to her.

Kit unfolded the single page with trembling fingers.

I see your school is doingAlice in Wonderlandthis spring. Have fun being in the ensemble. It’s not a huge role, but I know you’ll do it brilliantly. I’ll be in the front row.

New rage bubbled up.Son of a fucking bitch. Drummond.But there was no signature. No evidence it had come from the disgraced former city council member. The man had been released on two million dollars bail and was freely walking the streets until his upcoming trial. Now Rita’s fear made even more sense. “When did this arrive?”

“Right before Christmas.”

Kit drew a breath, trying not to sound angry with her father. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m telling you now,” Harlan said. “Rita didn’t want you to know. She was afraid you’d go after Drummond. Get yourself in trouble.”

How Kit wanted to do just that.Get Drummond. Not get into trouble.But they’d be one and the same if she allowed herself the vengeance she craved on Rita’s behalf. “Do you think this is from him?”

“Don’t you?”

“Yes, but I imagine he’s smart enough not to have left any evidence. Did you report this?”

“Joel knows. That letter’s a copy. He has the original.”

“Okay.” The prosecutor on Rita’s case would do the right thing. “That has to be enough for now. And it shows that Drummond is scared. That’s positive.”

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