Page 76 of Frost and Venom

“I own a gun,” Guadalupe confessed.

“So did Paul Rafferty,” Raine pointed out. “You can’t count on that. You probably know this man. He acts like a friend. It wouldn’t be the first time we were all deceived.”

“I have spare rooms,” Harlow said. “You know my house inside and out. We could make you comfortable there.”

“Or mine,” Shabina chimed in. “You’ve been there; you know how large it is. Plenty of room. You could have your own private entrance.”

Harlow flashed Shabina a warning look. Rainier was not going to give access to their home to anyone, especially someone under suspicion for making death threats. Truthfully, she wasn’t just under suspicion; they knew for a fact that she was the person putting the threats into Harlow’s mailbox. They’d caught her on camera.

Harlow didn’t want Guadalupe staying in Shabina’s home. Or Raine’s. This was her mess, or at least the fallout from her parents’ devious lifestyle. She had become certain Guadalupe was that young, frightened girl the senator had taken advantage of and then dumped over the border right into cartel country, alone, with no money and pregnant. If that was so, it meant she was the mother of Harlow’s sibling. Never once had she talked about having a child. In her real estate office, she didn’t have a single photograph of any member of her family.

“You’re all so generous,” Guadalupe whispered. “I can’t thank you enough, but I’ve lived alone for so many years, I wouldn’t know how to share a house even for a few days.”

Raine nodded. “I understand completely. I’ve done the same, lived alone since I was eighteen, and you get used to doing everything exactly the way you want it. No one is messing with your things, touching your devices, listening to phone calls. I get it. But in the end, Guadalupe, despite my objections, I knew Rush was right when he said I couldn’t go home alone. I hated that he was right, but the risk of losing my leg was too great to ignore him. In this case, your safety is a huge concern. If we all ignore the warning signs and something were to happen to you, we would be as guilty as the killer.”

Harlow knew Raine had deliberately used the word killer to emphasize they believed a person was behind the deaths. They wanted Guadalupe to take the intruder very seriously.

Guadalupe stroked her throat, the first nervous gesture Harlow had ever observed her make. “It’s just that…” She broke off abruptly and then shook her head. “I really, really appreciate all of you being so kind and concerned, but I believe I can handle things by myself.”

Harlow realized it would be futile to continue. They weren’t going to get anywhere.

Raine leaned toward Guadalupe. “May I make one suggestion?”

“Of course,” Guadalupe said.

“Let me contact Rainier and have him go to your yard and look to see if he can track this man. He might find what he was doing.”

Harlow thought Raine was brilliant. Well…she was, but right then, even more so. She waited, holding her breath.

Guadalupe hesitated. “I think that would be all right. I can’t get there right away. I did some digging on that piece of property you’re interested in, and I’d like to fill you in.”

“Rainier wouldn’t go into your house, Guadalupe,” Shabina assured. “He’s good at tracking in the woods. He’ll be able to see prints in the dirt of the man’s shoes.”

“He should take Wilder with him,” Harlow suggested. “He’s amazing when it comes to tracking. It was kind of a survival training for him when he was a kid.” She wasn’t giving away anything about Wilder’s childhood. Many people taught their children survival skills early in the woods. She had learned those skills from the women at the table.

To Harlow’s relief, Guadalupe nodded. “Yes. I think it would be good for someone to check it out. I should have thought of that.”

Raine immediately typed something on her laptop that they couldn’t see. She was always so fast, Harlow sometimes thought she had magic fingers.

“I’ve sent Rainier and Wilder a message, relayed what happened to you last night, and they will check out your property immediately. Rainier offered to send a couple of security guards to your house.”

Guadalupe gasped and shook her head. “No, no. I can’t have that. I really can’t.”

She was so adamant that Harlow feared they had struck some kind of trigger. Guadalupe had gone through so much, and having a man creeping around her home had to be frightening. It was clear she didn’t want any men around. Now that she thought about it, she had never seen Guadalupe out to lunch or dinner with a man. As a real estate agent, she showed properties to men, but otherwise Harlow couldn’t think of a single time she’d seen Guadalupe out dancing, eating or flirting. She was a beautiful, vibrant woman.

“Just thank Rainier and decline,” Guadalupe said.

Raine nodded her assent, but her small teeth bit down briefly on her lower lip. She only did that when she was up to something. Harlow wished she could see what Raine was typing. Most likely, she advised Rainier to have someone looking out for Guadalupe. The guard would have to stay out of sight if that happened because Guadalupe was adamant and meant every word she said.

“Tell us what you found out,” Stella said. “I’ve thought so much about what we could do with that property. At first, the idea was just sort of daydreaming, but the more I thought about it, the more I could really envision a house big enough for all of us. When we want to vacation together but don’t have the time to go on a big trip, it would be perfect for us.”

Stella sounded as if she meant every word. Harlow found herself nodding in agreement, although she wasn’t so sure they could pay equal shares in the investment. She had money saved, but purchasing a piece of property she didn’t have much use for, worrying about permits and contractors—she just didn’t deal with those things. But Stella did. She always managed to have both of her resorts in top shape at all times. Harlow knew it had taken a tremendous amount of work for Stella to turn the resorts around and make them into thriving businesses.

Harlow could see Stella owning an Airbnb. She had such a good sense of business. She not only had turned the dilapidated resorts around, but she had also helped several of the businesses in Knightly get on their feet.

Harlow nearly groaned aloud. She wasn’t a businesswoman. At all. She was a good nurse, maybe even an amazing nurse, but her love was her photography. Her art. The sculptures she was just beginning to think she was able to sell. Not owning houses and renting them out. But if that was a dream Stella and the others had, she would find a way to help out. She knew if they purchased the house together, they’d have fun. They always did.

“Tracking down the owner of this property has been a wild ride,” Guadalupe said. “The mystery of finding who actually holds the title has made me feel like I’m following a little bread trail. Just a few crumbs here and there.”