Forbidden Ground (Cold Creek #2)(33)
“But not like Dr. Carson Cantrell, right?”
“In a different way. People are specialists in their own areas, their own lives. But did I catch a hint of your judging Carson as some sort of intellectual egghead snob when you haven’t even met him?”
“Touché.”
“My mother always used to pronounce that as touchy. We’re all products of our past, aren’t we? Oh, that reminds me that I wanted to ask you about your grandmother. You seemed so close to your grandfather—that’s a photo of them in the room I have, right? The one in the handsome wooden frame that looks like it was taken in the 1960s or ’70s?”
“Yeah, that’s Hiram and Ada. I never knew her. She died young, about six years before I was born, so she...she was never talked about much.”
“How young was she?”
“Mid-fifties, I think. That used to sound pretty old to me, but not anymore.”
“She looks kind of starry-eyed, maybe nervous or distracted.”
His head snapped around, and he stared at her. “She did have—a nervous disposition, as they used to say. I guess they didn’t like to talk about it, so I didn’t know much about her, but lots about Grandpa.”
“Well, she was very pretty. She must remind me of someone I once knew, I guess. I didn’t mean to pry. Grant, listen, if I’m any kind of problem here, I can stay at Tess and Gabe’s new place until they get back.”
“I was in there early this morning to see how things were coming with the final details. The place smells like paint. You wouldn’t like it—it might make your headache worse, so you’re stuck with me.”
“You’ve been so generous and kind.” She reached out her hand to him, and he took it. His hand felt so big and strong holding hers. Their fingers entwined. “I appreciate it and want you to know I’m not crazy enough to believe that the Celtic or Adena dead came back to scare me tonight. But that means it was someone wanting me to believe that, someone who hates me or wants me to leave this area. Someone who knows enough about the Adena, he—or she—knew to make and use that mask.”
“Then he or she doesn’t know you very well. Courageous, curious and calm Kate.”
“Not very calm today and tonight. I’m betting it was Bright Star, because I stood up to him. I want to tell Deputy Miller about the stars and the mask. It—it wouldn’t be your ex-wife, would it? I mean, I did walk into the mill with you, but then, where would she ever get a mask like that even if she does want to run me off?”
“Lacey? No way. If that was a Beastmaster mask, its appearance was too well planned and sophisticated. The only masks she’d care about were ones for a glitzy costume Halloween party. Besides, she’s long done with me and has a guy crazy about her—at least that’s how I read it. But as for Bright Star again—yeah, let’s talk to Jace first thing tomorrow, and we can also find out how the investigation into Paul’s death is going. I told Nadine that, when the coroner releases his body, I want to pay for whatever the staff donations at the mill don’t cover for the funeral and burial.”
“I’ll contribute in another way. I’m going to see if Nadine will sell me that tree trunk with the Adena pipe effigy, and I’ll pay her well for it. Surely she doesn’t want the piece that smashed his skull. I just wish I could have asked him to put a Celtic shaman or Beastmaster mask on it, linking the two cultures, which I intend to do.”
They held hands, their arms stretched between their chairs. She had an almost overwhelming urge to snuggle up to him in his chair, but she wasn’t ready for where that might lead.
*
The next morning, Grant and Kate grabbed breakfast in town, then kept an early appointment at the sheriff’s office.
“So, how are you getting along?” Grant asked Jace as they sat in his office.
“You mean, how are the investigations on the timber thieves and Paul’s death? Frustrating, to say the least. I’ll have a lot to report to the sheriff when he gets back.”
There was an edge to Jace’s voice. He looked as if he hadn’t slept, but Grant himself hadn’t slept well, either, with Kate so close. “I’m sure you’re doing all you can. You’ve had a lot piled on you fast.”
Jace nodded and sighed. He rocked a bit on his swivel chair, which creaked. He was about six years younger than Grant, so they hadn’t really crossed paths in school or on local sports teams. Like Gabe, Jace had gone away to serve in the military.
Frowning, ticking things off on his fingers, Jace told them what was happening. “I’ve reached out to sheriffs in surrounding counties to find out if any other huge, designer-wood-type trees have been pirated. I know you covered tristate lumber mills. And I gave a heads-up to the highway patrol to keep an eye out for anyone moving a tree—or huge logs—on the interstates. It’s a no-go so far on all that.”
“But then, with our hills and hollows around here, it could be hidden in our area,” Grant said.
“Hills and hollows instead of hills and hollers—sometimes, you all talk like an outsider, Grant.”
Kate spoke up. “As someone born here who feels like an outsider, Deputy Miller, I’ve been impressed to see how Grant seems to get along with those from this area and outside.”
“Yeah, true,” he said, shifting his weight in his chair so hard it groaned this time. “Anyhow, about Paul’s death. The coroner is releasing his body to his wife today. I don’t know how she’s going to pay for his burial.”