AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kaden sent her a worried frown. “If there’s more than one person involved, it’s impossible to count anyone out.”
Lia nodded slowly. “Marla would be the most obvious person to be driving Cord’s truck if he was at the hospital with Wayne.”
“Marla Walsh. The receptionist?”
“And Cord’s mother,” Lia said. “She could have followed us from the plant and waited until I left to try to lure you into the alley so she could attack you. And Cord who came back to leave the note and steal the files.”
“She would also be the most obvious suspect in Burke’s death.”
Lia wasn’t as convinced as Kaden that Marla Walsh was an obvious suspect. “She has a connection to Ryan Burke, but why would she want him dead? And why steal your files?”
He considered his answer. “She could have been working with Burke and Armstrong to get rid of Vanna,” he finally suggested. “She might have been bribed to turn a blind eye to Burke’s shady business over the years. And if she feared the men were going to crack under pressure, she might have decided to get rid of them.”
Lia still wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t have a better suggestion. They might as well investigate the possibility of a Hurst connection. Anything was better than sitting around doing nothing.
“The farm is close to where I saw Vanna.” She headed toward the door. “Maybe we should drive out there and check it out.”
“Agreed.” Kaden was swiftly behind her, pulling on his coat.
“We could also stop by the extension office,” Lia suggested. “I don’t think there’s much left, but it’s on the way.”
“Okay.” Kaden pressed a hand against his stomach as it gave a loud rumble. “And lunch. Definitely lunch.”
Lia grimaced as a queasy sensation washed over her. The mere thought of food was repulsive.
“We’ll run by Bella’s when we’re done,” she promised, unable to bear the thought of cooking.
The silver eyes shimmered in anticipation. A familiar reaction to the mention of Bella’s pizzas.
“Deal.”
Chapter 20
Kaden walked around the derelict structure. The wooden slates were peeling and several windows had been busted out. He planted his hands on his hips and shook his head.
“This isn’t what I was expecting.”
Lia remained near the Jeep, wisely avoiding the heavy snowdrifts that made each step a challenge.
“I warned you it was in bad shape.”
Kaden shook his head. It wasn’t the decaying state of the place that came as a surprise. It was the wide, covered porch and detached garage.
“It looks like a house, not a place of business.”
“I think it was. My grandpa knew the old owners. They defaulted on their loan and the university bought it from the bank. It was before my time, but my grandpa always thought his friend got a raw deal,” Lia told him. “The extension office took over the front room and dining area to use as an office.” She pointed to an open field, which had several old greenhouses in various stages of decay. “There were gardens, and I think they used to do classes in the evenings in the garage.”
“What kind of classes?”
“Conservation, farming, gardening . . . stuff like that.”
Kaden peered into the broken window at the back of the house. “The kitchen area looked like it was converted into an apartment. There’s a set of bunk beds pushed against a wall, with a dresser on one side and a desk on the other.”
“It’s possible it was used by visiting interns,” Lia suggested.
“Like Vanna.”
Lia nodded in agreement. “Yes.”
