Lamp oil.
Cleaning spirits.
Copper fittings.
“Why is a cattle feed supplier selling bathhouse parts?”
Cole stared.
That was strange.
Maybe innocent.
Maybe not.
Then Lila found the invoice.
Replacement vent plate.
Delivered five days earlier.
Signed:
E. West.
Earl.
Cole stood.
Lila grabbed his wrist.
“Wait.”
He looked at her hand.
Then her.
She released him.
“Sorry.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“Don’t apologize.”
Lila forced herself back to business.
“You confront him, he lies.”
“Yes.”
“You scare him, he runs.”
“Probably.”
“You break his jaw, we learn nothing.”
Cole’s mouth twitched.
“That was not my first plan.”
“It was at least fourth.”
“Third.”
She sighed.
“We watch him.”
Cole crossed his arms.
“I hate watching.”
“I know.”
“Doing is better.”
“That attitude is probably why Daniel complains.”
“He always complains.”
“Because he loves you.”
Cole stared.
“Stop saying that.”
Lila smiled.
Then the office door opened.
Earl stood there.
Neither had heard him approach.
His eyes moved to their faces.
Then the ledgers.
Then Lila’s hand still resting near Cole’s chair.
Something unreadable crossed his expression.
“Mr. Bennett.”
Cole leaned back.
“What?”
“South fence down.”
Daniel appeared behind him.
“No, it isn’t.”
Earl turned.
Daniel’s expression was cold.
“I rode it an hour ago.”
Silence.
Earl smiled weakly.
“Must’ve heard wrong.”
Then he looked toward Lila.
For the first time, she saw fear.
Not of Cole.
Of her.
That was worse.
He left.
Daniel stepped inside.
“Subtle.”
Lila looked at Cole.
“You were right.”
Cole frowned.
“About?”
“Someone knows I’m involved.”
That afternoon Lila received another note.
This one was not under her bedroom door.
It appeared inside her account book.
She opened between two pages.
Only four words.
STOP COUNTING THE DEAD.
Her hands went cold.
Cole found her staring at it.
“What?”
She handed it over.
His expression became dangerous.
“Who entered?”
“No one.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I left for lunch.”
“Office locked?”
“Yes.”
“Key?”
“With me.”
Cole looked toward the window.
Closed.
Then desk drawer.
Nothing disturbed.
Lila whispered:
“Someone has another key.”
Cole stared toward the hall.
House keys.
Master keys.
Earl.
Mrs. Keller.
Daniel.
Cole himself.
Perhaps three others.
The circle widened.
That was the problem with betrayal.
Once one lock failed, every key became suspicious.
Lila sat.
Cole remained standing.
“I want you out of the house.”