Josh sat in his official FWC truck outside Delilah’s trailer and stewed. Where was she? He’d been sitting here long enough that mosquitoes buzzed through the open windows and humidity coated his skin like glue. The more minutes that ticked by, the more irritated he became, which was ridiculous, since they hadn’t planned to meet and she certainly had no obligation to keep him apprised of her whereabouts. The fact that he’d been looking forward to seeing her just made him more annoyed.
He opened his truck-mounted laptop and typed Delilah Atwood into the database. He found a birth certificate, which surprised him, given that she had probably been born at home and John Henry would have seen no reason to deal with government documents. Perhaps the midwife had filed it.
He also learned that Paige, the last name she’d been using here, was actually her middle name.
He found her listed on the university website and on one social media site. There were only a few dozen posts, mostly regarding the monkeys or the latest anthropology research or nature photos. Clearly, she wasn’t someone who lived her life online. He focused on the few personal photos, which showed Delilah with several other women in various locations. She always looked slightly uncomfortable and held herself stiffly, like she wasn’t sure how to act or where to look from that side of the camera.
The short bob was new. Given what he knew about the Atwoods, maybe it was part of her break from her family. All the online pictures showed shoulder-length, deep-brown hair with hints of red. Either way, she had an unconscious sensuality that tempted a man to get closer, to want to touch.
He also checked the background of any group photos, looking for Robert Black. She claimed she didn’t know him, but maybe he’d known her? Followed her? It was a long shot, but he had to check, though he wasn’t really surprised when he found nothing. No sign of her in any of Black’s social media accounts, either.
Her truck roared up, and she hopped out and hurried toward the camper almost before the vehicle came to a complete stop. He intercepted her before she disappeared inside. “Delilah. I need to ask you a few more questions.”
She tried to rush past him, head down. “Sorry, now is not a good time.”
He stepped in front of her. “It won’t take long.”
She bristled but stopped. When she finally aimed a quick glance his way, his questions vanished. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
She shook her head, but he saw the devastation in her face. Something, or someone, had upset her. Badly. “Talk to me, Delilah. I can help.”
“I wish you could. Please. It’s better if you just leave me alone.” She marched up the steps.
After she unlocked the door, she turned and stopped him with a hand on his chest. He automatically gripped her upper arms, and attraction crackled in the air as they studied each other. His heart pounded, and he wondered if she could feel it under her palm. She snatched her hand away as though she’d been burned. “I can’t spar with you right now.” Her voice was a desperate whisper.
“I won’t take much of your time, but I have to insist.” And maybe, afterward, he could get her to tell him what happened.
Her blue eyes shot sparks, but he wouldn’t look away. Finally, she sighed and stepped into the camper. He followed and waited while she cranked the windows open, which didn’t help much, since there was no breeze.
When she perched on the edge of the futon, he sat at the small dinette across the room, unwilling to crowd her any more than necessary.
“We were able to ID the victim you found on Saturday.”
When she looked up, her expression held nothing more than polite curiosity and a flash of pity.
“His name was Robert Black, and he lived in Tallahassee.”
“I’m very sorry for him and his family. Do they know yet?”
“Yes, his parents have been notified. He wasn’t married.” He waited a beat, then asked, “You sure you didn’t know him?”
Her head shot up in surprise. “I’ve never seen him before in my life. Except, you know, the other day.”
He leaned forward and braced his forearms on the table. “As Wells alluded to, we found notes and photos that suggest he was also studying the monkeys.”
“I’ve never met him. I didn’t know there was another researcher out here.”
Josh rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Delilah, it wasn’t a bear that killed him. He was murdered.”
All the color drained from her face. “Why would somebody kill him? Wait. Does that mean the bear just showed up to investigate?”
“We don’t have those answers yet, but we’re working on it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “And since I am also studying the monkeys and happened to find him, you think I had something to do with this.”
It sounded as far-fetched coming out of her mouth as it had when he’d thought about it earlier. But he had to tug on the string, however thin, that connected Delilah to the victim and see where it led. “All I know is that your paths intersected in the forest. Had you met him in a class somewhere maybe? A coffee shop on campus?” When she simply shook her head no, he asked, “Do you own a hunting knife?”
Indignation flashed across her features before she reached into the backpack she never seemed to be without. She pulled out a knife, its sheath the kind typically worn on a belt. “This is the only one I have.”
It was about the right length, but the murder weapon had a smooth edge. He scanned it anyway, checking crevices for signs of blood, but knew he wouldn’t find any. “Mind if I take this with me? I’ll see that you get it back.”
Delilah sighed and then waved a hand. “Fine.”
He blew out a breath, frustrated by the distance she seemed determined to keep between them. “You know I’m just doing my job, right?”
“I know. But it doesn’t make me like you very much.” She smiled slightly when she said it, and he smiled back.
She’d picked up his business card and was turning it over in her hands.
“You should keep that with you. You never know when you might need an annoying cop.”
They both stood, and the space suddenly seemed too small. She took a step back, and her hips hit the dinette table. He reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear but pulled his hand back at the last second. Their gazes collided, and he watched her eyes dart to his mouth and back again before she looked away. The fact that she was as attracted to him as he was to her did not help. He stuck his hands in his pockets to ensure he didn’t do something dumb like yanking her into his arms. He was working a case. Still, he couldn’t help asking, “Are you okay?”
She sent him a rueful smile. “I will be. My day did not go at all the way I had hoped.”
“Something to do with your sister?” He had no idea what was going on in her family, but he’d bet money Aaron or John Henry had fired those shots last night, though he’d be hard-pressed to prove it.
“I needed to speak to my father today. And my brother,” she added. “But apparently, they wanted no part of that.”
“Why didn’t they want you talking to your sister last night?”
The silence lengthened. Finally, she said, “I want Mary to come live with me. Based on the less-than-enthusiastic response, I guess John Henry doesn’t like the idea.”
Which confirmed the shooter had been one of the two men. What kind of crazy family was this, where people discussed things with weapons instead of words? “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”
She cocked her head as though he was some sort of unfamiliar species and then shook her head and sent him a sad half smile. “No, but thank you for asking.”
His cell phone buzzed with an incoming text from Hunter. “I have to go. If you can think of any connection at all between you and Robert Black, I hope you give me a call. Day or night.” He looked over his shoulder from the doorway. “I don’t know what’s happening here, Delilah, but I hope you’ll decide to trust me enough to let me help.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, a battle raging in her eyes.
He had no idea if what was going on with her family was connected to Robert Black’s murder, but he planned to find out.
Which meant he was sticking close. She clearly wasn’t used to anyone helping her or standing beside her, but that was about to change.
Nobody was showing up with a gun again while he was around to prevent it.