Page 12 of Beneath Still Waters

He slithered his way closer to her. “Why didn’t you want to go along with? Aren’t you . . . curious?”

She took a deep breath but refused to even take too long to blink. This guy gave her all the heebie-jeebies. “I’m here on a consultant basis only.” No way would she admit she was injured.

“Huh. Didn’t know Piper’s Ridge was big enough to need a consultant for vandalism. And, it kind of seems like you’re missing a chance to consult by not seeing the damage.” His tone was skeptical and he came forward another few steps.

She clenched her teeth and shifted away from him a step. “I’m not here for this case. It’s what he’s doing after that I’m here for. You know. Police work.”

“You think I’m stupid?” He tilted his chin down like a bull about to charge.

“I never said you were anything.” Her pulse punched her ribs.

“You’d best not say anything. I don’t like you. Neither does Kevin. You’re not welcome here.”

“Didn’t catch your name.” She lowered her hand closer to her gun.

“Didn’t give it to you.”

Well, this is going great.

“I’m Ferd Kincade. Nice to meet you.” Perhaps being kind would kill the tension knotted between them.

“You don’t need to know my name. You aren’t from around here anyway. Not staying. Don’t need your help or want it.”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at him, hoping to disarm him a little with frank appraisal. “You knew Bailey?”

Snaggle-Tooth looked away and cursed. “Drunk. That’s all he was. He made trouble around here. Good riddance.”

“What kind of trouble?”Now we’re getting somewhere.

“Like I said, he was a drunk. He had loud parties on his boat. Only a matter of time before someone ended up dead on the water. Only a matter of time.”

“Interesting. You think he died because of drinking?” That wasn’t what Connor had said about him.

He stared at her and remained silent for a long, disquieting moment. “I think he died because he tested the wrong people and failed. That’s what I think.”

Duke came from around the back of the barn, shaking his head. “Turns out the back forty was only about forty yards back, not acres. There are lots of tracks. I took pictures.” He stopped and held out his hand to the unknown man.

“Duke Campose. We haven’t met yet.”

“Heath. Heath Starns. Just moved here to help Kevin.”

“I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”

Ferd climbed slowly back into the pickup and waited for Duke to turn on the engine before she spoke to drown out what the men might overhear.

“Glad you got his name. That guy is really protective of Kevin, or something is going on with him.”

“He noticed you noticing him. Made him very uncomfortable.” Duke turned the key in the ignition.

“He wasn’t the only one.”

ELEVEN

Duke kept silent as he drove her toward Wayside. She’d waited for him to give her some indication of what he’d really found behind Kevin’s house, but other than what he’d announced in front of them, he hadn’t elaborated. Maybe it really had been nothing and her feelings about Heath had made her believe there would be.

“You going to tell me what you’re thinking?” She tensed as the Wayside fence came into view.

“I’m thinking that it’s odd that someone would move all the way out here to the middle of nowhere and then get uptight when someone who’s lived there longer comes onto their property.”