opposition to the sale?” Gage said.
“The sale. The graveyard relocation. The buyer’s plans to build thirty homes. No one is happy with most of the changes.”
“Any threats?”
She thought about the card signed Craig . “No threats, exactly. Mostly vague warnings that I’m committing a sin by moving the graves. One guy in Honor suggested that I’m going to hell. I just make it a point not to stop in Honor anymore.”
“You call the police?”
“And tell them what? I’m unpopular with the locals? That’s the story of my life. And like I said, there were no out-and-out threats. No property damage.”
“If something like that happens again, call me.” Gage had issued an order, not a request.
Adrianna bristled. “Hopefully, by this time next month I won’t have this to worry about.”
“A lot can happen in a month,” Gage said.
Adrianna glanced toward the edge of the cemetery. The image of the skull wasn’t easily forgotten.
“We’re going to have another look at the graves.”
“I understand.”
“Don’t leave the property without checking in with me.”
Resentment bubbled. “If I’m not here, I’ll be at the main house.”
Gage studied her a beat and then turned and left her to watch Vega, Miller, and him move away toward the edge of the woods. They didn’t pass beyond the yellow crime scene tape.
Crime Scene . “God, how did this day go so wrong?”
“You doing all right?”
Mrs. Wells’s voice came from behind Adrianna. Recovering, she smiled with relief. “Yes. I didn’t see you come up.”
“Just got here.” She looked a bit desperate to do something, anything that might smooth out this situation. “Figured my time was best spent at the main house working than standing around here. But then I just couldn’t stay away anymore. So how are you holding up?”
“Considering we have an unknown body on the property and the excavation is delayed indefinitely, I’m hanging in there.”
Mrs. Wells glanced toward the police. “When I rolled out of bed this morning, I expected that my biggest challenge was going to be getting those upstairs curtains down.”
Adrianna smiled. “I was worried that I’d be late for a five o’clock charity meeting. Now I feel like a fool for worrying over something so small.”
“We all get caught up in the little things until something big happens.”
“I suppose.” She glanced toward Gage, who stood near the lip of the woods. “Do you have any idea who could be buried over there?”
Mrs. Wells followed her gaze. “None. When Miss Frances got sick, she came out here less and less. Could be anyone.”
Adrianna let out a breath. Dread crept through her bones as she stared at the billowing yellow tape.
Mrs. Wells followed her line of sight. “There’s plenty of work up there for you to do and it’s clear these graves aren’t going anywhere today. Busy hands will keep your mind from worrying.”
“Me, not worry?” A smile lifted the edge of Adrianna’s lips. “Worry is what I do best.”
Mrs. Wells’s surprise appeared genuine. “You’re as cool as a cucumber.”
That made her laugh. “Don’t believe it. I’m a worrier. In fact, I can easily stay very busy and worry at the same time. A multitasker at heart.”
Mrs. Wells patted her on the shoulder. “Well, at least you’ll be getting something done if you do your fretting at the main house.”
“You’re right.” And honestly, she just wanted to get away from Gage. “If anyone needs me, just tell them that I’ll be at the main house. Or they can call me on my cell.”
“Will do.”
Adrianna thanked Mrs. Wells and got into her Land Rover. She started the engine and backed up. When she put the car in drive, she glanced up and realized Gage had turned from the crime scene and was staring at her.
Chapter Five
Tuesday, September 26, 9:40 a.m.
Adrianna’s Land Rover kicked up dust and gravel as she drove off toward the main house. When her car rounded the
“The sale. The graveyard relocation. The buyer’s plans to build thirty homes. No one is happy with most of the changes.”
“Any threats?”
She thought about the card signed Craig . “No threats, exactly. Mostly vague warnings that I’m committing a sin by moving the graves. One guy in Honor suggested that I’m going to hell. I just make it a point not to stop in Honor anymore.”
“You call the police?”
“And tell them what? I’m unpopular with the locals? That’s the story of my life. And like I said, there were no out-and-out threats. No property damage.”
“If something like that happens again, call me.” Gage had issued an order, not a request.
Adrianna bristled. “Hopefully, by this time next month I won’t have this to worry about.”
“A lot can happen in a month,” Gage said.
Adrianna glanced toward the edge of the cemetery. The image of the skull wasn’t easily forgotten.
“We’re going to have another look at the graves.”
“I understand.”
“Don’t leave the property without checking in with me.”
Resentment bubbled. “If I’m not here, I’ll be at the main house.”
Gage studied her a beat and then turned and left her to watch Vega, Miller, and him move away toward the edge of the woods. They didn’t pass beyond the yellow crime scene tape.
Crime Scene . “God, how did this day go so wrong?”
“You doing all right?”
Mrs. Wells’s voice came from behind Adrianna. Recovering, she smiled with relief. “Yes. I didn’t see you come up.”
“Just got here.” She looked a bit desperate to do something, anything that might smooth out this situation. “Figured my time was best spent at the main house working than standing around here. But then I just couldn’t stay away anymore. So how are you holding up?”
“Considering we have an unknown body on the property and the excavation is delayed indefinitely, I’m hanging in there.”
Mrs. Wells glanced toward the police. “When I rolled out of bed this morning, I expected that my biggest challenge was going to be getting those upstairs curtains down.”
Adrianna smiled. “I was worried that I’d be late for a five o’clock charity meeting. Now I feel like a fool for worrying over something so small.”
“We all get caught up in the little things until something big happens.”
“I suppose.” She glanced toward Gage, who stood near the lip of the woods. “Do you have any idea who could be buried over there?”
Mrs. Wells followed her gaze. “None. When Miss Frances got sick, she came out here less and less. Could be anyone.”
Adrianna let out a breath. Dread crept through her bones as she stared at the billowing yellow tape.
Mrs. Wells followed her line of sight. “There’s plenty of work up there for you to do and it’s clear these graves aren’t going anywhere today. Busy hands will keep your mind from worrying.”
“Me, not worry?” A smile lifted the edge of Adrianna’s lips. “Worry is what I do best.”
Mrs. Wells’s surprise appeared genuine. “You’re as cool as a cucumber.”
That made her laugh. “Don’t believe it. I’m a worrier. In fact, I can easily stay very busy and worry at the same time. A multitasker at heart.”
Mrs. Wells patted her on the shoulder. “Well, at least you’ll be getting something done if you do your fretting at the main house.”
“You’re right.” And honestly, she just wanted to get away from Gage. “If anyone needs me, just tell them that I’ll be at the main house. Or they can call me on my cell.”
“Will do.”
Adrianna thanked Mrs. Wells and got into her Land Rover. She started the engine and backed up. When she put the car in drive, she glanced up and realized Gage had turned from the crime scene and was staring at her.
Chapter Five
Tuesday, September 26, 9:40 a.m.
Adrianna’s Land Rover kicked up dust and gravel as she drove off toward the main house. When her car rounded the
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