Page 16 of Between the Lines

The café in Beechwood was narrow and bright, with mismatched chairs and a chalkboard menu that listed the daily specials. It was a small spot just past the marina that most people didn’t even know existed. Paige liked it for exactly that reason. It was out of the way and few people from the Colony came here.

Graham was seated by the window when she arrived, his phone face-down on the table and a mug of coffee beside it. He stood when he saw her, kissed her cheek, and pulled out her chair. “Good morning. You look lovely.”

“Good morning to you.” She was right. She was already smiling.

“Cracking choice,” he said as she sat. “I always forget about this place.”

“So does everyone else in the Colony,” she said. “That’s why I like it.”

They ordered as soon as the server came. Omelets, toast, coffee for her and a refill for him.

Paige waited until the server disappeared into the back before she spoke. “I didn’t want to talk about this at the Colony,” she said. “Too many ears.”

Graham’s attention sharpened, though his expression stayed neutral. “Oh?”

“I met a woman yesterday,” Paige said. “At the fitness center. Her name is Darcy Lane.”

“I see. And?”

“And it seems she knows things she shouldn’t,” Paige said. “About my marriage. As in the real reason it ended.”

Graham leaned back slightly, concern in his eyes. “How did she know?”

“No idea and she didn’t explain,” Paige said. “She did a lot of hinting. Talked like…like it was obvious that she’d know.”

“I take it the real reason it ended is a rather closely guarded secret then,” Graham said.

“It is. At least, I’ve tried to keep it that way.” She appreciated that he let the subject go at that.

“Did she threaten you?”

“Not directly,” Paige said. “But it felt like she was. At least it felt like she was trying to show me she had something to hold over me.”

Graham nodded once. “I don’t care for that.”

“Neither did I and Maude agrees with you,” Paige told him. “I went to see her yesterday.”

“Ah,” he said. “You’ve deployed your researcher.”

Paige smiled faintly. “Exactly. I asked her to dig into Darcy online. Quietly.” She leaned forward. “I deserve to know, don’t I?”

“Completely. How did Maude do?”

“She found her,” Paige said. “On Facebook. The woman’s got ties to Atlanta. And according to Maude, Darcy’s been watching my TikToks longer than I realized. Before she ever moved here.”

That earned a pause. Graham’s gaze stayed on Paige, but she could see the calculation behind it. “That suggests some kind of intent,” he said finally. “Some sort of plan.”

Paige sighed, giving him a little nod. “Yes.”

The server arrived with their food. Paige waited until the plates were set down and the server had gone before continuing.

“She hasn’t done anything obvious,” Paige said. “And I don’t want to assume she’s dangerous just because she made me uncomfortable.”

“Yes, but if she made you feel that way, your instincts are telling you something. That feeling is valid,” Graham said. “Not proof, mind you. But not something to be ignored. That’s how one gets blindsided.”

Paige smiled at that. “You sound like you’re briefing me.”

“Old habits,” he said.