Smokescreen (Pros and Cons Mysteries #2)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

R eid jumped from his seat and rushed to the door. Olive stayed on his heels.

He pushed the door open, and Olive held her breath.

No one stood on the other side.

But they’d both heard that footstep with the telltale creak. Someone had been here and quickly fled.

Reid walked through the butler’s pantry and into the kitchen. Olive followed.

But there was no one around.

Whoever had been there had known they’d been exposed.

Olive’s stomach clenched at the thought.

Reid sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Whoever it was is quick.”

“Yes, they are.” They started back to the dining room. “Who do you think it was?”

“It’s hard to say.”

She knew by the look on his face that he was bothered by the intrusion. And rightfully so.

When someone was sabotaging something, the lengths they would go to were unsettling, to say the least.

“Let’s finish eating,” he said, his jaw stiff as he nodded toward the table. “Keep the talk casual for now. In the future, we can find a more private place to discuss things.”

“But who might it have been?” she whispered. “Who has access to the house?”

He let out a harsh breath as he sat back down. “That’s a hard one. Hannah and Miriam, of course. I have another house cleaner who comes in three times a week and an assistant cook who comes in two days a week. Cooper comes and goes, along with about five other guys who help extensively here at the ranch.”

Olive twisted her neck as she let that settle. “That doesn’t really help us to narrow this down, does it?”

“Not to mention the fact that I usually keep the door unlocked during the day.”

She gave him a look.

Reid shrugged. “What can I say? We’re in the middle of nowhere. Up until recently, it seemed perfectly normal. I really don’t want to have a life where I have to constantly watch my back and worry about locking up behind me all the time. That’s not the way life is supposed to be out here.”

“I can see that. But for the time being, you might want to rethink that stance.”

“While you’re here, I’ll definitely rethink that.”

Reid’s words made Olive feel for a moment like they were actually dating. But the man was simply being a gentleman, and she could appreciate that. There was no need to read more into it than necessary.

He straightened and nodded at the table. “Now, let’s finish eating before our food gets cold. It would be a shame to let a meal this tasty go to waste.”

Olive couldn’t help but agree.

Olive felt so perfectly content and full by the time she finished dinner that she nearly forgot about the danger around her.

Nearly being the key word.

“Look, I know it’s still pretty early.” Reid set his napkin on the table. “Only eight o’clock. But I have some paperwork I need to fill out. Do you mind if we call it a night? Or if you want to, I can show you that bogus will first.”

She sensed Reid truly did have a lot to do. “It can wait until morning.”

She had plenty of other leads to follow first. Plus, she wasn’t sure exactly what that will would prove other than the fact that it was forged.

“I’ll walk you to your room.” Then he shrugged. “It’s only polite.”

That was right. They needed to keep up this act.

Before coming here, Olive had feared getting Reid to cooperate would be half the struggle of this assignment. But he was keeping up appearances in this charade surprisingly well.

They slowly walked up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom.

If she was honest with herself, Olive would admit she was tired. She could use some time to herself also.

He paused in front of her. “Good night, Olive.”

“Good night.”

For a minute, she wondered if Reid would kiss her cheek again. But no one was around watching them, making it unnecessary. Instead, he squeezed her hand before walking away.

Olive shouldn’t be feeling the warm, tingly feelings she did. The reaction was strange and unwelcome. Not only that, but the response could prove to be a vulnerability.

She was better than that, and she would buckle down to prove it.

She sighed before stepping into her room.

But as soon as she did, a scream caught in her throat.

Someone had been in here while she was gone and left her a message she couldn’t ignore.