you. I took a peek earlier and it’s that Special Agent Roberts I met at Hayes’s apartment. You won’t find him a bother.”
“Sure, I don’t mind. It’s always amusing to notice those big, tough guys’ reaction to Harley. First, they’re all mushy and then they want to go climb the nearest tree.” She was leashing Harley as she spoke. “I particularly liked Metcalf’s…”
“You definitely have a sadistic streak.” Kendra heard Olivia laugh before she looked back down at the text of the book she’d been reading when Harley and Olivia had burst into the room. She didn’t like the idea of either one of them being back here when everyone else was being shunted away to safety, but it was hard not to feel the warmth and comfort Olivia always brought with her. Just looking up and seeing her working at the library table reminded Kendra of the hours they’d spent here as children. Only then it had been a world of darkness for both of them. But there had also been music and whispers and talking about the magic of the books they had just been reading…
* * *
11:10 P.M.
Kendra carefully closed the library door behind her and moved silently down the hall toward the office reception area. All she needed was to have Harley hear her leaving and start barking.
But Lynch was there at the door, pulling her into the office area and then out into the driveway. “You called, I came. Silent as the proverbial mouse.” He smiled down at her. “But I admit it was amusing to see you creeping down that hall like a teenager on her first date.”
“Well, I would have been much more careful if you’d been that first date. Mom was very selective, and she would have considered you in the bad-boy category.” She breathed in the cool night air and added, “But thanks for taking the trouble to be quiet. Olivia’s sleeping on the couch and Harley’s curled up at her feet. I didn’t want to wake either one of them.”
“Believe me, I didn’t either. I spent entirely too many hours on that cliff path today with Metcalf’s guys and four dogs. I was ready to come down when you called.”
“They’re still up there?” Kendra lifted her gaze to the lights still burning in the trees bordering the cliff path. “I didn’t expect Metcalf to be that long.”
“Neither did I. But he doesn’t want to disappoint you, so he’s making sure that he’s done everything possible.”
“And did you find anything?”
Lynch shook his head. “Zilch. Nothing at all suspicious.” He tilted his head. “You?”
“Not really. Olivia and I have gone over at least half those reference books and we haven’t found anything that would connect Dietrich to Oceanside or any reason why he staked out the property.” She rubbed her temple. “Though I’ve gotten terribly bored reading about the history of the Woodward family and their great generosity in giving the property to the foundation. All the society reporters of the era worshipped at their feet. I was getting discouraged and hoping you were having better luck.”
“Sorry.” His gaze was searching her expression. “I wish I could have given you what you wanted.”
“You can’t give me what’s not there.” She tried to smile. “And maybe I just wanted to get some air and see a fresh face. Even Olivia was getting discouraged, and she curled up on the couch and nodded off.”
“Oh, I’ve got a very fresh face.” He reached out his hand and touched her cheek. “But what we might need is fresh information. Maybe it’s time I took my turn at doing a little research myself instead of trailing after Metcalf and all his grim, determined followers.”
“What? I assume we’re not talking about anything as boring as what Olivia and I have been going through?”
“Not my cup of tea. I think I’ll go after Laurent again and then get in touch with my less-than-legal contacts in Sonora, Mexico, and see what I can find out about Cardona’s deal with Dietrich. That might lead somewhere.”
She grinned. “Definitely somewhere more interesting than the high-society write-up of the last cotillion ball the Woodwards threw before they turned the property over to the charity foundation.”
“Ouch. No wonder you were getting frustrated. I’ll see if I can go a bit deeper and find something to keep you awake.”
Her smile suddenly faded. “I didn’t mean to saddle you with this. You seemed reluctant to go back to question Laurent before. I just wanted to see you