Page 22 of Smokescreen

Reid’s gaze narrowed as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You’re right. There are some people like that. But you won’t see me on that list. I find that reprehensible.”

Olive felt another burst of admiration for the man, something she wasn’t expecting. But his attitude was refreshing, and she was glad to know he was grounded.

But she did have one more question.

She lowered her fork, trying to approach the topic gingerly. Yet she couldn’t afford to be too polite. “Reid . . . I saw you outside arguing with a man about an hour before the fire. What was that about?”

Surprise washed through his gaze. “Oh, that? It was nothing. That was Mark, our maintenance supervisor. He likes to think his ideas are better than mine, and I have to correct him every couple of months. Again, it’s just another day on the ranch. Nothing to be concerned about.”

Olive wished she believed that. But her gut told her Reid wasn’t telling her the complete truth.

Before she could ponder that thought too long, a creak cut through the air.

She and Reid glanced at each other.

She was nearly certain the sound had come from a footstep . . . a footstep from someone standing on the other side of that door listening to their conversation.

CHAPTER 9

Reid jumped from his seat and rushed to the door. Olive stayed on his heels.

He pushed the door open, and Olive held her breath.

No one stood on the other side.

But they’d both heard that footstep with the telltale creak. Someone had been here and quickly fled.

Reid walked through the butler’s pantry and into the kitchen. Olive followed.

But there was no one around.

Whoever had been there had known they’d been exposed.

Olive’s stomach clenched at the thought.

Reid sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Whoever it was is quick.”

“Yes, they are.” They started back to the dining room. “Who do you think it was?”

“It’s hard to say.”

She knew by the look on his face that he was bothered by the intrusion. And rightfully so.

When someone was sabotaging something, the lengths they would go to were unsettling, to say the least.

“Let’s finish eating,” he said, his jaw stiff as he nodded toward the table. “Keep the talk casual for now. In the future, we can find a more private place to discuss things.”

“But whomightit have been?” she whispered. “Who has access to the house?”

He let out a harsh breath as he sat back down. “That’s a hard one. Hannah and Miriam, of course. I have another house cleaner who comes in three times a week and an assistant cook who comes in two days a week. Cooper comes and goes, along with about five other guys who help extensively here at the ranch.”

Olive twisted her neck as she let that settle. “That doesn’t really help us to narrow this down, does it?”

“Not to mention the fact that I usually keep the door unlocked during the day.”

She gave him a look.

Reid shrugged. “What can I say? We’re in the middle of nowhere. Up until recently, it seemed perfectly normal. I really don’t want to have a life where I have to constantly watch my back and worry about locking up behind me all the time. That’s not the way life is supposed to be out here.”