From the Shadows (Buckhorn, Montana #2) - B.J. Daniels Page 0,77

meant risking her heart.

Eight minutes later, she was waiting in the garden room when she turned at the sound of footfalls and saw Finn. As always, her pulse did a jitterbug just under her skin.

He was wearing the black T-shirt and jeans like the first day she’d met him. Both fit him like an expensive glove. But it was his smile that was her undoing. She couldn’t leave. Not yet. “Hungry?”

“Always,” she said with a laugh. It really was so good to see him. They stepped out the side door and took the path toward town. She knew they could be seen from the hotel, but she didn’t look back.

It was one of those Montana presummer days that made people flock to the state in carloads. Not a cloud in the vast deep blue sky, the sun bright and warming, the air fresh and cool, it was the kind of day that Casey would always associate with Buckhorn, she thought as they neared town.

“I’ve been thinking that maybe I should contact the marshal,” Finn said. She must have looked as surprised as she felt because he hurried on. “First Claude supposedly leaves. Now Devlin is missing. Yesterday, his belongings were still in his room when Jason checked. But this morning, everything is gone, including his car.”

“Maybe he just decided to leave,” she suggested. “Or maybe he wants us to believe he did.”

Finn frowned. “You have his number? Would you mind trying it?”

She pulled out her phone, found Devlin in her contacts and listened to the call go through. It rang four times before it went to voice mail. “Devlin, when you get this, please call me. It’s important.” She disconnected. “I left it vague enough that—”

“That message should make him call. He’ll think you changed your mind about selling to me,” Finn said and smiled. “I’m probably worrying unnecessarily.”

“Well, you can quit worrying about me,” she said.

He shook his head. “Not happening.” He studied her. “You’re in danger here. If someone knows about the diary and is worried that you read it...” He rushed on as she tried not to flinch, but he’d seen her reaction. “The killer might think that Megan named them in the diary and that you know.”

She realized that she had to tell him. “The first night, someone left a message in my room. I know what you did. I didn’t know who until I saw the taco-salad grocery list. Jen said Jason had made it out.”

“Jason?” Finn swore. “Casey, maybe he’s just trying to get your attention. Or maybe Jason is the killer and wants to know if you read Megan’s diary. Unless he’s just spitballing and doesn’t know who took the diary. Is it possible he wrote that message on some of the other bathroom mirrors?”

She hadn’t thought of that. “Maybe he was just goofing around trying to scare me, trying to scare the others.” She shook her head. “That would be so like him.”

He shook his head. “Still, I don’t like this.” He raked a hand through his hair in obvious frustration before his gaze settled on her. “As much as I don’t want you to leave, I’m glad you’re getting out of here.”

Casey nodded as they headed down the main drag. The two of them had become close. Maybe too close, given that they were from two different worlds and about to return to them—as if from other planets.

The town was starting to come alive, signaling that summer wasn’t far off. There were more cars, campers and motor homes than yesterday. Every year the season began earlier, her grandmother had always told her. It used to start after Memorial Day and end just before Labor Day. The added tourists also signaled that it was time for her to return to California and put the hotel, this town, this life, behind her. Put Finn behind her, too?

They’d almost reached the café when Finn got a call. “Do you mind going on ahead of me?”

“Can I order you something?”

“Cheeseburger and fries and—”

“A chocolate milkshake,” she said, finishing for him.

He grinned and gave her a wink. “You’ve got my number, girl.”

Didn’t she, though, she thought as he took the call and she entered the café. She’d barely given the waitress their order when he came in looking excited.

“The inquiries I made about Megan’s car accident?” he said, keeping his voice down. The café was busy, but no one seemed to pay them much mind. The patrons must all be tourists. “My source found a connection