The Hidden

“Thanks,” Diego said.

“Well, then, I suppose we should let everyone get back to sleep,” Adam said easily. “We’re very sorry for disturbing everyone, but we’re trying to solve a series of murders before anyone else gets killed, and that means time is of the essence.” He turned to Ben. “Would you mind coming with me to see that all the doors are locked?”

“No problem,” Ben said, and the two of them headed down the stairs together.

“I’m embarrassed to admit this,” Gwen said, “but I’m feeling very nervous. What if the killer decides to break in?”

“We can take turns sitting up and keeping watch,” Meg told Matt cheerfully.

“Are you sure?” Gwen asked. “Because I have to admit, I’ll feel a lot better if you do.”

“I’m quite sure—as are we all,” Meg said.

“Jane and I can take first shift,” Brett offered, turning to Matt. “Then you and Meg can take over.”

“Scarlet and I will head over to her apartment,” Diego said. “We’ll see you all in the morning. Scarlet?” he said, turning to her.

She smiled and raised a hand to the others. “Good night,” she said.

“Curious,” Diego said as they walked to her place.

“What is?” she asked.

“That Terry and the Bartons were at the same not-that-big bar and didn’t see each other. Then again, I’ve been places and heard from friends the next day that they were there, too, and we never saw each other. If you’re not looking for someone, it’s easy to miss them.” He stopped walking and made a point of studying the outbuildings, the parking lot and the stables.

“What about Angus?” he asked, looking at the stables. “What does he do when he’s not out on a ride?”

“He eats up at the house sometimes, and I’ve had him over for sandwiches. But he has a little kitchenette in his apartment, so he goes in to town and shops periodically. He loves it up here on the mountain, though. Says he can tolerate people long enough for a trail ride, but he loves it when they leave. I like Angus. We’ve always gotten on well, maybe because we both love the horses. Why? No one saw him at the Twisted Antler, and a bar full of people and loud music is pretty much the last place I’d expect to find him.”

“Maybe. But Angus is part and parcel of the Conway Ranch,” he said. “And I wonder what he sees from up there above the stables? I think it might be worth talking to him tomorrow morning to find out if he saw anyone coming or going last night. It’s odd, don’t you think, that Terry and the Bartons decided to sneak out the back door on the same night to go to the same place but never saw one another.”

They headed to the museum. Diego keyed in the alarm code as soon as he opened the door, turning on the lights downstairs.

The museum sat in silence; all was still.

He took her hand, put his finger to his lips to caution her and they walked along the rows of display cases and past the many mannequins, checking out the entire museum.

“You think someone is in here?” she whispered.

“No. But I don’t like to think there’s no one, then find out there is.”

Finally satisfied, he reset the alarm, then led the way upstairs.

Once again, he wasn’t happy until he went room to room, assuring himself that they were alone.

“It’s all good,” he told her at last.

She looked at him and smiled, “Yes. Because you’re here.”

She headed to the bedroom. He smiled slowly and followed.

There were so many things they could say to one another, he thought, but maybe it was good that they didn’t. Maybe it was best just to hold tight to this time—and to each other.

A flicker of unease stirred in him.

The victims had all been Nathan Kendall’s descendants.

Like Scarlet.

He had to get her through this.

Or talking about the future would be irrelevant.

He followed her into the bedroom. She was already beneath the covers. He knew she was be naked, waiting.

He carefully set his Glock on the bedside table within easy reach.