Page 67 of Fortune's Control
Once the water boiled, I poured it and honey into matching ceramic mugs and brought the hot drinks to the living room.
Lilah thanked me as she took hers, wrapping her hands around the large cup, pressing it against one cheek as if to absorb its warmth. She took a sip and relaxed into her chair.
“From now on, you don’t go anywhere alone. If I’m unavailable, then Jack or Aiden will be with you,” I said. Her lips tightened, but she didn’t otherwise respond. “Same for you, Soph. This guy saw you two together and knows what you look like. You don’t go anywhere without one of us.”
Her expression soured. “I’m going home in a few days, and I’m not bringing one of you with me.”
“As long as you’re in town, the rule applies.”
Sophie’s stubborn jaw stuck out. “Fine.”
Lilah’s comment came in a much softer tone. “You’re going to be bored, stuck with me all the time.”
“I doubt it.” Following her around wouldn’t be a chore, as it meant time in her company. I enjoyed our simple conversations and our warm silences. Dad once told me to find someone I enjoyed sharing boredom with, and I found that with Lilah. The townsfolk reminded me how alike Dad and I were, and it appeared they were right. “I promised to show you the area, so this is as good a time as any.”
Lilah’s eyes brightened at the suggestion, and I regretted not offering earlier. She’d asked about Fortune’s Creek more than once, with occasional jokes about the necessity of gator wrestling. I couldn’t fix that mistake, but I could make it right.
Jack interrupted any response. “Aiden is here.”
“How do you know?” Sophie asked.
“We recognized the sound of his truck,” I said for him.
Jack left the room and returned with our new guests.
“He looked for you and found me. I figured you’d want to hear it directly.” Aiden tilted his head toward Pete.
Pete glanced toward Lilah with a hint of discomfort and steeled his shoulders. “Someone was looking for her. A stranger.”
Everyone, save Aiden, stiffened at Pete’s announcement. It’s why he called me earlier. I assumed he wanted to yammer about baseball or deck chairs and let it go to voicemail. Instead, his concern led to repeated attempts to contact me. Guilt pricked. The time between his original call and Lilah’s wasn’t long enough to matter, but I should have answered. I nodded, taking it in. “Tell us whathappened.”
Pete tapped his boot toe against the wooden floor. “It was after you two finished your ice cream. I noticed because he parked right in front of my store, and there was a duck.” He waved his hand in a strange bobbing motion. “It moved. He came in and said he was looking for a person named Delilah Mayberry. He said she had information about a murder.”
He glanced toward Lilah, so I put him at ease. “She does, which is one reason she’s hiding here in Fortune’s Creek. I’d appreciate your help protecting her.”
Pete somehow grew taller at my request. “Yes, yes, of course. I told him I didn’t recognize her, and that we get so many tourists through the antique stores, it was difficult to keep track. He thanked me and left.”
“Is that it?”
“No. This is the strange part. He got a black sweatshirt from his trunk and put it on. I thought it was warm for Florida, you know? Then, he got in his car and drove away.”
“Did he show you a badge? Did you get a license plate?”
Pete shook his head. “I didn’t think of it, but I can tell you what he looks like.”
“Middle height. Brown hair and a goatee?” Lilah asked.
“Yes, ma’am. That and a bit of a southern lilt in his voice. More of a drawl than a twang.”
“I don’t remember what he sounded like,” Lilah said in answer to my unasked question.
“He left Pete’s store, saw you two, and decided there was no point in looking any further.” The attack showed he knew she was in town, but not where she lived. “We need to contact the sheriff’s office and report this. Pete, care to stay for dinner? This may be awhile.”
“I invited Diane to an evening meal.”
“Invite her here.” I checked Lilah over and saw a pleased smile. Our quiet evening vanished into this chaos. For that smile, I could put up with house guests for dinner.
*****
