Forbidden Ground (Cold Creek #2)(65)
He looked almost smug, but she’d fix that. Her old competitive drive took over. “Mica in this area and in the woodlot near the mound? That’s great! So the Adena in this area could easily have used that mica to adorn their clothing or masks. I can’t wait to see that vein, if you’ll show me. You might know about potting soil, but I’m telling you the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Aztecs—and Adena—valued mica. So, you’ve given me another great piece of evidence that something important is in that mound. But can you explain how beat down these hosta plants are?”
He frowned at her, at the foliage. “Beat down by yesterday’s rain, maybe, or the guy who washed the outside windows a week or so ago. Kate, I know this sounds like the same old song, but wildlife, especially deer, eat a lot of the plants here. They could have stood there grazing.”
“Well, they haven’t eaten these recently. They looked stepped on not chewed up.”
“Look, I’ve got to get into work early since Brad’s going to start covering for Todd, and I need to explain that to the staff. I had coffee, so I’ll just grab toast and juice, but I’ll be back about eleven to pick you up to go to Keith’s so you can talk to Lee.”
Still clutching the mica chips in her hand, she tried to keep up with his long strides. “Grant, I’m sorry I seem so paranoid. And I appreciate your taking the time for this lunch when I know you’re extra busy at work. I’ll go in to help with breakfast. Does Brad need something, too?”
“He never came home last night. I thought he’d be trying to toe the line since he’s going to manage the mill. I just—with two of my friends hurt—I just hope he’s all right. If he’s not stone-cold sober, I’ll put Keith in as foreman, despite what I promised Brad. And, Kate,” he said, turning back to her. “Please don’t go looking for the seam of mica yourself. It’s hidden by overgrowth. And don’t get too excited about the mica connection. You’re clutching at straws.”
“Sometimes, I think that’s all I have, and here this fantastic mound is, sitting within view...and reach.”
“I want to be out of here in ten minutes,” he said, opening the back door for her then following her in.
She muttered under her breath as she washed the mica chips and her hands, then got the juice out of the fridge. The mound might be in physical reach, but it seemed so far away—sometimes as far away as Grant.
*
On the way to Keith Simons’s house, Kate hit Grant with another surprise. “Oh, by the way,” she told him, “I put the box with my mask in the basement. It’s better down there than under my bed—humidity, dust and all.”
He turned to her as they drove up the road on Black Mountain. “Where in the basement?” he snapped much louder and harsher than he’d intended.
“Just on the Ping-Pong table. I can move it, if that’s a problem.”
You are a problem was his first thought, but he managed to keep his mouth shut. She frustrated and infuriated him, even as he was trying to be her host and protector. She was a woman who could cause him all sorts of trouble—hurt Todd and Brad, too. Man, she ticked him off yet he was tempted to just grab her, kiss her, put his hands all over her and...
“No problem,” he muttered. “I was just surprised. I’m on edge after having to tell everyone about Todd and explain Brad taking over today....”
“So he did show up?”
He was grateful that she went for his change of subject. Again, he could picture those Beastmaster masks—her phony one and his authentic one—getting together down in the dark...breeding more masks, more trouble. Damn, he was getting as off base as she sounded sometimes with her fears about Adena demons peering in windows. But considering what had happened to Paul, when there were no prints to suggest a home invasion, and then Todd, of all people, falling from a tree...
“Was Brad sober?” Kate asked, yanking him back to reality.
“Ah—yeah. And ready to go, there before I was. It went unspoken that he’d obviously spent the night with Lacey somewhere, but he’s welcome to her. And he volunteered to stay at the mill during the lunch break, go around and talk to the guys, so that Keith and I could both be away. I explained to Brad why we’d set this up for you, so he didn’t think Keith and I were plotting something behind his back. I hope this new responsibility will settle Brad down, bond the two of us again.”
“Sometimes I wish something would make me feel that way about my father. I was awful to him when he was here, but I just couldn’t help it.” She sighed. “So Keith’s wife’s name is Velma. Do they have kids at home?”
“Two in high school, but they sent them to camp for the first time this year. Keith came into some money from an old Desert Storm buddy who died and didn’t have a family. It sounds like he and Velma have been spending money like it was water—a new truck, furniture, not sure what all. And, of course, having Lee, so Keith tells me, not repair but replace their fence.”
“Maybe Keith will try to help out his sister and brothers, though not much he can do for the one in prison. It’s a real blessing one of them seems on the right path, to stick with you, not blame you and Gabe for the troubles of the others.”
“Yeah, I never did understand that guilt-by-association stuff when Gabe’s the one who arrested Keith’s brother, not me. I need all the help I can get right now. And I appreciate your helping out Nadine financially and Amber with her kids. And reaching out to me,” he said, putting his hand on her knee.