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She smiled at that She’d knohat he’d been about to say "Would you hang around down here for a few et ready for the day?"

"Of course"

She’d drunk half her coffee Leaving it, she turned around and dashed up the stairs

He was going to be sorry to see the beautiful robe go, he thought

Restlessly, he walked the ground floor of the house, checking s as he went The place was sealed tight He sat in the parlor, thinking about the psychology of what had happened Whoever had done this wasn’t a serial killer with a penchant for a certain physical type; this was a person or persons with an agenda

Dustin knew he should be looking for so that wasn’t obvious Or e for soenda, why come after anyone else?

No, fear of discovery had to be theOlivia Gordon What did she know that she didn’t even realize she knew?

And how far was the killer willing to go to safeguard a secret?

Olivia came down the stairs, Saht outside

He rose "I have an idea Go to the café in your car I’ll get uests’ if you happen to arrive at a restaurant at the same time?"

"Yes, ays run into people at the café and there’s never been any kind of policy against sharing a host tours I’rateful for the suggestion

He collected his backpack; she picked up a shoulder bag

"All right, Olivia, I know I already mentioned this, but it’s i an alar that?"

"You say you heard noises--and that you’re far away fro nervous, that’s all"

"Okay," she said

They headed out

At the door, Sammy whined "You need to protect the ho it a couple of tiot in her car; he waited until she was safe inside, backing out onto the drive Then he followed As they approached the café, he slowed his car He wanted her to be there for a few minutes before he joined her

And yet, he wondered if whoever had attempted entry at her house had been there all the while, hidden so him watch Olivia

Olivia was the first custo Behind the counter, still setting up, Delilah looked at her with surprise "Liv, honey! What are you doing here so early?"

"Oh, I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and I didn’t feel like my own company," Olivia explained

Delilah nodded as if she understood "I hear ya, honey I know you people at the Horse Far That’s going to be hard for you"

"I’h she felt angry with Marcus Not the anger that typically ca abandoned by a loved one; she would have recognized such an ery with Marcus’s spirit--a spirit who showed up to shock her and then disappeared just when he was needed A ghost who didn’t bother to return when he’d proled machine in here" Delilah pointed at a shiny silver contraption "Makes a perfect espresso every ti to the box You want to try one?"

"Hular coffee--with a shot of espresso," Olivia said

"Hey, great idea Maybe I should try one of thosehours lately My waitress--you re, Genie?--she took off for Nashville last week Decided she was going to get a job in the city Can’t say as I blame her I hbut a young girl? She neededstory short, I’ve been filling in hts But I own the place and Steve back there has been my cook for the past twenty years Reckon we’ll rinned wickedly Steve was her husband as well as her chief cook and bottle washer

"If I hear of anyone looking for work, I’ll send them your way," Olivia said She pulled out her s for area alarm companies

"What ya doin’, honey? Can I help?" Delilah asked

"Oh, I’et an alarm system installed," Olivia replied

"Out here? We never have trouble out here Of course, I’ve got ive me trouble!"