Page 8 of Out of the Shadows
“Laura, this is Jack Angelhart.”
“Your PI,” she said as she walked over to the coffeepot. “Coffee?” she asked Jack.
“Yes, please,” Jack said.
“Logan, I told you not to touch the cabinet. It’s too heavy, you could have hurt yourself. I can get the neighbors over to help.” Laura rinsed the pot, emptied grounds from yesterday and ground fresh beans.
“Jack insisted,” Logan said.
Laura glanced at him. “Thank you.” She stared at the coffeepot as it brewed.
“You need more sleep,” Logan said.
“I need to feed the animals, let the chickens out.”
“I can do that. I grew up on a ranch, too.”
She smiled thinly. “Thanks, but I want to do it. I also need to call the clinic and see if they can reschedule my appointments, or if Davy can take them for me. Go home and sleep. We’re fine.”
“Jack is going to stay here until we know what’s going on, okay?”
“We’refine, Logan. There’s a logical explanation, and the police will handle it.”
“Jack and his sister can get answers faster.”
“That’s not necessary,” Laura said, slightly dismissive.
“Yes, it is!” Logan exclaimed. His outburst surprised Jack and, apparently, Laura. Logan was one of the most even-tempered people Jack had ever met.
Logan rubbed his face with both hands. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “Laura, let me do this, please? Maybe this break-in is connected to me or my business. I don’t know, and neither do you.”
“Do you think that’s possible?” Jack asked.
“Anything’s possible,” Logan said.
Laura put her hand on Logan’s arm. “Okay, for a couple days we’ll do it your way. I think you’re blowing this out of proportion, but after the break-in—maybe you’re right. For a day or two,” she said pointedly, looking at Jack.
“It wouldn’t hurt to install a basic security system,” Jack said.
“Done,” Logan said. “I’ll get on it today.”
“Logan—” Laura began, then stopped when she studied his face. “All right, I’ll accept the help on one condition—go home and sleep. You’re punchy.”
“I’m going to my office,” Logan said. “I’ll leave a list of instructions for my admin so she may call you for information. I’ll sleep on my couch.”
“Just sleep, okay?” Laura hugged her brother. “I love you, Lo. But I’m a big girl.”
Jack walked Logan out. “I’ll keep an eye on her. I already sent Margo a message. She’ll start digging around, and when I need to sleep either Margo or Luisa will be here. Have you talked to Laura’s ex-husband?”
“Laura left a message after the accident last night, but I don’t know if he called her back.”
“I want to talk to him—me or Margo.”
“Of course. For all of Charlie’s faults, he would never hurt Laura or the kids.”
“Maybe not, but we still need to rule him out.”
Logan nodded soberly. “Thanks, Jack. I mean it.”
