Page 9 of Out of Time (Undaunted Courage #3)

“It may not be too bad.” Certainly not as bad as trying to deal with what could turn out to be explosive secrets.

It was a shame he couldn’t just be upfront with Natalie. Explain his concerns. They were friends, and she’d always been the soul of discretion.

Yet she had promised her father she’d translate the journals, and she wasn’t going to let this opportunity with the professor slip away.

Not that she would tell the world about whatever they found.

But Cara Tucker was a wild card. Who knew what she would do with any damaging information they might come across?

“That’s not what your expression says.” Becky leaned over and twined her fingers with his. “You’re as nervous about the interview as I am, aren’t you?”

“I’ll admit I’d rather not do it.”

“What if we say something wrong?”

“There’s nothing wrong to say. Dan is a fine young man. There are no dark secrets in his life.”

That’s why no dark secrets from the past should be used to sully his background and reputation.

Nor would they be.

All he had to do was convince Natalie to let him take the last few journals for safekeeping so she and the professor couldn’t peek ahead.

And before they got to those— if they got to them—maybe those final journals would mysteriously disappear.

Or have water or fire damage. A regrettable loss to be sure, but not sufficient to undermine the value of the work Natalie and the professor were doing to preserve Paw Paw French.

Paul took a slow sip of his lemonade, the peaceful view at odds with the roiling in his stomach.

He liked Natalie, and the professor appeared to be a nice person too. He meant no one any ill will.

But in the end, his son came first.

AS HIS CELL VIbrATED in his pocket, Brad eased onto the edge of the narrow road, pulled out the phone, and skimmed the screen.

Brian.

No surprise. His brother would never let this day pass without reaching out, as Mom and Dad had earlier.

He set the brake and pressed talk. “Hey. Mom and Dad beat you this year.” He tried without much success to inject a teasing note into his voice.

“They’ve always been one step ahead of me. You too. Remember when we were about nine and made a very bad decision to try jumping our bikes over the ditch behind the vacant lot down the street? I never did figure out how Dad got wind of that and showed up in the nick of time.”

“I guess parents have a sixth sense that alerts them when their offspring are in danger.”

At least most of them did.

His stomach knotted.

“I hear you. The folks okay?”

“As far as I could tell. I wish they lived closer, but I get why they moved to a warmer climate after Dad retired. Florida seems to suit them.”

“I agree. Tell me how you’re doing.”

“Hanging in.” He rolled down his window and rested his elbow on the edge.

“You working today?”

“No. One of the perks of being the boss is that I don’t usually have to clock in on Sunday unless we have a hot case.”

“What’s on your agenda for the rest of the day?”

“Nothing special.”

“Why don’t you meet up with a friend for coffee? Or dinner?”

“I’m not in a socializing mood.”

A beat ticked by, and when his brother continued, his tone was more somber. “I don’t like you being by yourself on such a hard day. You’re not sitting at home with the shades drawn, are you?”

Brad drew a deep breath of the fresh air wafting in the window. “No. I’m outside.” Close enough. “It’s sunny here. The heat’s let up a little.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You doing any gardening these days? You used to enjoy digging in the dirt, making things grow.”

Yeah, he had. Once upon a time.

He glanced at the bouquet on the seat beside him. “Not much. The gardens are pretty ragged, but I do plan to deal with a few flowers today.”

“That would be good for you and for them.” Several seconds passed. “I wish I could have been there today.”

“It’s a long commute from upstate New York.”

“Tell me about it. But you know I’m there in spirit, right?”

Brad’s throat clogged. “I know, and I appreciate it.”

“Do me a favor. Stay outside in the sun. Go somewhere quiet and peaceful. Maybe take a walk or drop in on someone you know. Would you do that?”

He gave the scene out the window a sweep.

It didn’t get much more peaceful and quiet than this large green expanse dotted with headstones. And he was about to visit people he knew.

“I can do that.”

“Good. I’ll call again in a week or two.”

“Sounds great. Tell everyone I said hi—and thanks for remembering.”

“Always. Love ya, bro.” Brian’s voice choked as he ended the call.

Vision misting, Brad picked up the bouquet beside him, slid from behind the wheel, and pocketed his keys.

And as he slowly crossed the lawn ... as memories of the tragedy from three years ago played again through his mind .

.. a tsunami of guilt and grief and loneliness crashed over him, leaving him feeling as lost as he had on a backcountry hiking trip during his college days after his compass went missing.

It also left him with the disquieting question that had been surfacing with increasing regularity in recent months.

Where did he go from here?