take a nap.”
“I’m with you on that.” Nona let the camera footage continue forward, increasing the speed to save time. After a few minutes, she said, “Good morning, Quincy. There you are, coming in through the personnel door. Our druid is still fast asleep. Maybe she just got tired and planned to do some mischief later, unaware that you always start your day so early.”
“This makes no sense.” Anger burned at the back of Quincy’s throat. “During that bright flash, she somehow got into that stall, and she damned well had a reason.”
“Unless she’s tellin’ the truth, and she just got dropped there,” Frank inserted.
Quincy sent his father a querulous glance. “Come on, Dad. Have you lost your mind?”
Frank sat forward on his chair, his gaze fixed on the frame where Ceara was stirring awake. When she struggled to her feet, he rubbed his jaw and frowned. “That outfit she’s got on—looks like the real thing to me.”
Chill bumps rose on Quincy’s arms. “Dad, people create costumes like that all the time. They may look authentic, but they aren’t.”
Frank sighed and stood up. “I reckon you’re right.” He stepped over to shake hands with Nona. “Good seein’ you again.” Turning to Quincy, he added, “I’m goin’ into town for a bit. Got some errands to run. I’ll stop somewhere and grab us some lunch. We’ll talk about this some more after my brain has had a break.”
Quincy’s own brain felt weary, so he couldn’t begrudge his father a little time to recharge. “There’s a great health food deli on Third.”
“Health food?” Frank groaned. “I had my mouth all set for a big, juicy hamburger loaded with cheese, and an extra-large order of fries.”
“You know I don’t eat crap like that.”
Frank shrugged. “Okay, fine, health food. But I’ll order sandwiches, none of the damned green stuff.”
“I’ll have a kale wrap. The gal knows me. Tell her the usual for me, but to add some bean sprouts this time.”
Frank pretended to shudder as he left the room. Nona laughed and shook her head as she resumed watching the camera footage, once again backing up to midnight.
“Isn’t that pointless at this stage?” Quincy asked. “With that bright flash, we can’t see how she got in.”
Nona sighed. “I’ve learned from experience that I can miss one little detail on a film, and when I finally find it, all the pieces fall together. Sticking tight is my job. There’s no need for you to stay.”
Quincy had all the ranches covered for the day, and he preferred to keep Nona company until Clint got home with his sick wife. Then, and only then, would his concern for his beloved horses take second seat to his worry for Loni. “Two sets of eyes are better than one. I want this nailed down before the day is over.”
Chapter Three
F rank returned an hour and a half later, his arms laden with a cardboard box crowned with two sack lunches from Quincy’s favorite deli. As he strode through the kitchen to the formal dining room, he hollered at Quincy to join him. Quincy abandoned Nona to do her job and followed his dad up the hallway.
“I didn’t order soft drinks,” Frank informed him. “I figured you’d rather have water. And I favor coffee. Nothin’ that dissolves a penny overnight is goin’ into my stomach unless it’s laced with Jack Daniel’s.”
Quincy was too tired to inform his father that pennies didn’t really dissolve in carbonated drinks. “You guessed right on the water. Normally I’m well on my way to downing my daily eighty ounces by now.” Quincy grabbed the sack with a Q scribbled on its fold. “What’s in the box?”
“Stuff from a safety-deposit box at the bank. Been years since I opened it. Last time was shortly before your mama died, I think.” Frank grabbed his own lunch. “The box will keep. After flyin’ in from Portland, we didn’t get home until four this mornin’, and I’d barely grabbed a wink before the sirens woke
Shan, David Weaver
Brian Rathbone
Nadia Nichols
Toby Bennett
Adam Dreece
Melissa Schroeder
ANTON CHEKHOV
Laura Wolf
Rochelle Paige
Declan Conner