Page 6 of Enigma (Pros and Cons Mysteries #6)

T he October heat continued to build as Olive made her way up the concrete walkway to Lloyd’s neighborhood. She’d told the hospital she was stepping out for lunch, though she had no intention of eating.

Six hours of sitting in a waiting room felt like torture when she could be doing something useful—something like investigating.

She started with the house directly across from Lloyd’s, where an elderly woman was watering plants on her front porch. The woman looked up as Olive approached, her expression cautious but not unfriendly.

“Excuse me,” Olive began.

The woman turned off her hose. “Are you here about Lloyd? I saw all the emergency vehicles earlier.”

“Yes, I’m the one who found him,” Olive said. “I’m trying to understand what happened. I wondered if you noticed anything unusual around his house recently? Anyone who didn’t belong in the neighborhood?”

The woman set down her hose and studied Olive more carefully. “You’re not police.”

“No, I’m a private investigator. Lloyd’s son asked me to look into this.” It wasn’t exactly true, but it wasn’t entirely false either.

“Well . . .” The woman glanced around as if someone might be listening. “Since you asked . . . Lloyd has been acting strange lately. More nervous than usual.”

“How so?”

“He was always looking over his shoulder when he walked to his car. Checking his mailbox three or four times a day like he was expecting something important. About a week ago, he asked me if I’d seen anyone watching the neighborhood or taking pictures of houses.”

Olive’s pulse quickened. “What did you tell him?”

“That I hadn’t seen anything like that. But he seemed . . .” The woman paused, searching for the right word. “Disappointed, maybe? Like he was hoping I’d confirm something he already suspected.”

“Did he say why he was concerned?”

“Just that he’d been getting some strange phone calls and wanted to make sure everyone was being careful.” She lowered her voice. “Between you and me, I think Lloyd was scared of something. Or someone.”

As the neighbor spoke, Olive became aware of a prickling sensation between her shoulder blades, the familiar feeling of being watched.

She kept her expression neutral while continuing the conversation, but her peripheral vision caught movement from a car parked about half a block down the street. Out of an abundance of caution, she would keep her eye on the vehicle—just in case.

“Did you see anyone at his place earlier today?” Olive asked. “Before the emergency vehicles came?”

“I saw a car in his driveway around eight or nine, but I was inside all morning. Wish I could be more helpful.” The woman glanced at her watch. “I should get back inside. This heat isn’t good for my plants or me.”

Eight or nine? That was before Olive arrived.

“Do you remember what kind of car?”

The woman frowned and shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. It was a gray sedan. But I couldn’t tell you what kind.”

Olive thanked her and walked back toward the street.

The woman’s testimony proved someone else had been at the house. Maybe some local security cameras had picked up something. Surprisingly, she hadn’t seen any at Lloyd’s place.

Olive paused on the sidewalk as the sensation of being observed grew stronger.

She turned casually, as if checking for traffic.

Her gaze found the same car she’d spotted half a block away—a dark blue sedan parked beneath the shade of a large oak tree.

The car’s engine was running—she could see the faint shimmer of exhaust in the heat—but the windows were too tinted to make out the driver.

Olive needed to figure out who was behind that wheel.

Olive started toward the sedan, her pace deliberate but not aggressive.

She wanted to get close enough to see the license plate or catch a glimpse of whoever was inside.

The car was positioned with a clear view of both Lloyd’s house and the neighbor she’d been talking to.

She’d made it halfway when the sedan’s engine revved.

The driver quickly pulled away from the curb.

Olive broke into a jog, trying to get close enough to read the plate, but the car turned the corner and disappeared before she could make out more than the first two letters.

The whole interaction had taken less than thirty seconds, but it confirmed what Lloyd’s neighbor had told her. Someone was watching Lloyd’s house, and they were professional enough to have an escape route planned.

Olive stood alone on the quiet suburban street, acutely aware that she might not be as alone as she appeared. She walked quickly back toward her rental car and checked her mirrors constantly as she drove back to the hospital.

Whatever Lloyd had gotten himself involved in, it was still happening.

And now she was part of it, whether she wanted to be or not.