Page 5 of Beneath Still Waters

Why agree or disagree when he didn’t know Connor? After Connor had told her she was welcome to stay while she healed, then proceeded to give her a ton of rules to follow, she wasn’t at a place where she could see how great it was. Not yet. “I guess you’ll see when you come in to talk to him.”

About twenty minutes later, Ferd pushed inside and Duke followed. This would be bad. If Connor didn’t immediately assume things that weren’t true and never would be, Lacy would. Lacy could think whatever she wanted. She’d be wrong, but she could think it all the same.I’m allowed to talk to people who happen to be men, especially as an officer.And if talking to Duke was the only way she’d be allowed to look at this case, then she’d be talking to him.

Lacy whipped around, her eyes wide. “Where in the world have you been? We’ve been calling for two hours.”

Ferd tensed and stopped, Duke plowing into her from behind. If Lacy could be that abrupt, so could she. “We found a dead body. Duke needed a little help getting to it.”

She heard his softharrumphfrom behind her.

Lacy froze for a few seconds, her mouth slightly ajar and eyes wide. “A body? Where?”

Duke stepped around her. “While we were running, we came across a boat washed ashore.”

“Bailey?” Lacy flinched.

“Yeah,” Ferd confirmed.

“He’s been so erratic lately. He came to Wayside three days ago, walked right into my office, complaining about seeingstrange men around the lake. I thought he’d maybe started his daily consumption a little early and honestly didn’t give it any attention. Guess I should’ve.” Her lips thinned and she blinked a little too rapidly.

“No, it wasn’t your fault. If he had any issues, he should’ve brought them to the police. I would’ve been told if he had.” Duke finally stepped forward to her side.

“I wonder if he wasn’t trying to warn us?” Ferd’s internal thoughts found their voice.

“Warning us about what?” Lacy asked.

“Strangers in the area. You didn’t experience it, because you were never new around here, but I have. When Mom and I came five years ago, no one in town wanted to let us become part of the community. We were outsiders. Thankfully, The Haven is a community all on its own. Now Mom has lots of friends from church, but it took a year. People notice strangers around here.”

Duke glanced between the two but didn’t offer a speculation. Ferd almost wished he would. Then again, if he’d never come to Piper’s Ridge as an outsider, he may not see it. Duke stood up straighter as Connor walked into the kitchen.

“There you are. Ever heard of a phone?” he grumbled, then locked onto Duke. “What’s he doing here?”

“Connor, it’s fine.” Lacy moved to Ferd’s side. “He brought her home. They found something while running. I’m glad he was there.”

That wasn’t exactly what I said.

“What happened?” Connor shifted his focus to Lacy.

“It’s Bailey. He’s gone.”

Connor slammed a fist on the counter. “I tried to get him help.”

FIVE

Ferd yanked open the heavy wood door to the only and best coffee shop in town, Sacred Grounds, and spied Anna in the corner. Anna bounced to her feet and hugged her immediately. Her soft, dark hair brushed against Ferd’s cheek as she squeezed Ferd close. Connor had never hugged her like that. Likely, he’d only ever hugged Lacy with that much emotion.

“It’s so good to see you! It’s been, what, almost three years?” Anna slowly sat back down and moved her steaming mug out of the way. She waved to Clem at the counter.

Ferd sat down and glanced at the other people in the comfortable wooden booths and padded chairs in small bunches around the seating area. No one looked immediately recognizable. She’d get some time to finally catch up with Anna.

“I’ve been home for three weeks. Where have you been?”

“Lo, Miss Delferdia,” Clem laid a small square drink napkin down on the table. “Your usual latte?” He said her name in a sing-song way, almost making it palatable.

“Clem, it’s good to see you. Sorry I haven’t stopped in sooner.”

He grinned. “Didn’t think you’d remember me.”

“Of course I do. I’d love a latte, thank you.”