There’d been no chemistry. He’d felt like he was on a date with a friend. Now here he was having feelings for a woman who was an actual friend. A woman who was still in love with her dead fiancé.
Josh wouldn’t let himself get involved with another woman who had unrequited feelings for another man. It had taken him a while to recognize that Amber hadn’t gotten over her ex. Looking back, the signs had been there from the beginning, but he’d ignored them. Their chemistry had been off the charts, and he’d fallen hard for her. It wasn’t the same with Em. They had too much history. They’d been friends too long for his feelings for her not to be complicated. He hated complicated. He glanced at the keys in his hand and thought about getting in his truck and driving away.
A car pulled in behind him, blocking his escape. Todd got out of his vehicle. He nodded at the flowers. “Nice to see you putting in the effort.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve heard about your dates with Em, bro. They’re not up to your usual standards. Just because you guys have been friends since you were kids doesn’t mean you can skate by. I have a vested interest in you two going the distance. Since I’m pretty much the only one, I can clean up big time. I’ve already got my eye on a sherpa-lined leather peacoat. So do a bro a solid and don’t mess this up.”
“There’s a betting pool on us?”
“Yeah. I’m surprised you haven’t heard about it. A couple of your HFFD coworkers were at Highland Brew the other night and started it.”
It was probably the new guy. Cody. They’d worked together the night before, and he’d been overly interested in Josh and Em’s dating life. When Josh shared that their two dates had consisted of hanging out at Seaton House, Cody had fist bumped one of their coworkers. His reaction now made sense.
Josh’s phone pinged, and he pulled it from his pocket. It was a text from Em, wondering where he was. He replied that he was on his way. “If you’re looking for Em, she isn’t here. We’re having dinner with Jenny and Steve.”
“Do you mind if I tag along? I want to run a few things by Em.”
“I’m guessing you were looking for a free meal to go along with the advice.”
Todd grinned. “She has a freezer full of casseroles, and I didn’t think she’d mind sharing.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t, and just as sure Jenny won’t mind feeding you.”
“So, the flowers aren’t for Em, are they?”
“Em isn’t exactly a hearts-and-flowers kind of woman. She’d be happier if I bought her a couple doughnuts and some Sour Patch Kids.”
“True that,” Todd said as they walked along the side of the gravel road. He nodded at Seaton House when it came into view. “This place sure has someone riled up.”
Josh shared Em’s thoughts about the letter writer.
“Yeah, she called me earlier.”
“Do you think Jenny and Steve have reason to be concerned?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to Em about. They weren’t the only ones who received letters. I just came from Abby’s and the Three Wise Women Bookstore.”
“Same type of threat?”
“Pretty much. ‘Stop promoting the book or else.’”
“We both know that’s not going to happen,” Josh said, glancing at the house as they walked by. As far as he knew, pest control had gone in today, and Neil hoped to have the roof and exterior work completed within a couple of weeks.
Todd nodded. “Abby has an event planned at Seaton House Friday night, and she’s adamant about not canceling. The owners of the bookstore feel the same way. Some members of their families tried to dissuade them, but they felt better when Abby mentioned Em would be there.”
“I’m surprised Em’s going,” Josh said. “She spent last week trying to shut down Abby’s podcasts at the house.”
“I was surprised too. Em’s not exactly a fan of the woo-woo, and a medium is going to try and contact May and Clara.” Todd grinned. “Then again, maybe it makes sense that Em would go. If there’s a chance the medium makes contact with the Seaton sisters, she’ll want to interrogate them.”
“So you know she’s investigating their murders?”
“Yeah. I would’ve been worried about her if she wasn’t. The chief won’t be happy about it though, especially now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Em didn’t get a letter but a call came into the station warning her to drop the investigation or she’ll be sorry. The voice was distorted so it was hard to tell if it was male or female, but we’re running it through speech recognition.”
If anyone could handle themselves, it was Em, but that didn’t mean Josh wasn’t concerned for her safety. Something he knew better than to share with her. “She’s been careful to keep the fact she’s looking into the case quiet but she told me she spent the afternoon at the library. Do you think the caller could’ve been there?”
“It wouldn’t be hard for someone to guess what she was up to. Every article she looked up on microfilm was related to the Seaton sisters. I’ll get a list from Em of who was at the library and take it from there.”
“How worried should I be about her?” Josh asked.
“She’s one of the best investigators I’ve ever met, and between you and me, her talent is wasted here. But she’s also cocky, and not that I’d ever say this to her, she’s overly confident in her ability to handle anything and anyone on her own. And when I tell her she should be careful until we figure this out, I can almost guarantee she’ll laugh in my face.”
“I bet she won’t. She’ll brush aside your concerns, for sure. But she won’t laugh in your face,” Josh predicted as he knocked on Jenny and Steve’s door.
Forty minutes later, Todd muttered at Josh, “I should’ve taken you up on your bet.”
They were sitting at the kitchen table with Em, Jenny, and Steve. Charlotte had just gone to play fetch in the backyard with Gus, which was why Todd had no doubt felt comfortable sharing an update on his case and suggesting Em be careful. She’d laughed in his face.
“I understand why you might think this is funny, Em,” Steve said. “I’m sure, as a police officer, you’ve been threatened before, but this is new to us. I’m worried about my daughter and my wife’s safety. And our baby’s.” He rested a protective hand on Jenny’s stomach.
Em’s face went blank. The laughter in her eyes vanished as if someone had flipped off a switch. Josh wondered if she was remembering how protective Brad had been of her and their unborn child, how he’d insisted she stay in the vehicle, not wanting any harm to come to them. Josh wanted to take her hand. But he didn’t think she’d welcome his comfort or sympathy.
“Are you forgetting the threats I received when I first started my program at Georgia U, Steve?” Jenny pushed back from the table. “Anyone want seconds, or are you ready for coffee and dessert?”
She’d served an apple chicken stew with homemade bread for dinner.
“I forgot about that,” Steve admitted sheepishly. “But, honey, they weren’t the same as this.”