“No idea yet.”
“So, you think someone simply killed Friedmont to get him out of their hair?” Mitch asked.
Trace nodded. “Either that or they knew about the email. For now, we have to hope and assume the developer didn’t know the guy turned this information over to Keegan.
“It could be a coincidence. If whoever was being blackmailed by Friedmont stopped paying, the man might have gotten nervous and sloppy and decided to get back at his financer by turning him in. If the man in any way threatened the developer or gave any indication he was antsy, these guys are rich enough to have him eliminated without blinking an eye.”
Keegan agreed. But his unease that had been growing all day—ever since that damn black shadow decided to visit his bedroom in the dead of night—increased tenfold.
Mitch read his mind. “I think we need to operate under the assumption whoever killed Nolan Friedmont knows about the email. Which makes all of us moving targets now by default. Whoever it is could have dozens of eyes on us as we speak. There could be moles within the construction crew even.”
Trace looked at Mitch. “You’re right. We need to be diligent. Nobody should be at this site alone at any time. Work in groups. I wouldn’t even drive to and from here alone. It’s too risky. For now, I’ll start coming with Keegan.”
“I’ll pick up Mitch,” Corbin said. “We don’t live far apart.”
Mitch furrowed his brow. “I’m not too keen about leaving my mate and the kids alone either.” He glanced at Keegan.
Keegan suddenly felt the sting of that insinuation. He held up a finger to hold everyone at bay a second while he checked on Melinda. “You okay, hon? Did you make it to the shop?”
“Yep. It’s all good. The girls are teasing me relentlessly in between customers. I need to do an inventory this afternoon. I might be late.”
“Nope,” Trace interrupted. “You need to have someone in the shop with you at all times today. At least until one of us comes to get you. Got it?”
“Okay, caveman. Are you two together?”
“We are,” Keegan added.
“I take it things aren’t going well.”
“Not particularly,” Trace communicated. “And I don’t want you taking any chances until we catch whoever killed the man we found by the lake.”
“Got it.”
“We’re serious,” Keegan said. He didn’t know Melinda well enough to be sure she would obey their “caveman” attempt, and he cringed inwardly to think she might simply placate them. “And don’t talk about this to anyone. If anything happened to you…”
“I’m fine, Keegan. Nothing’s going to happen to me. I won’t leave the shop. I’ll make sure one of the girls is here with me. Promise.”
Keegan blew out a breath and met Trace’s gaze across the table. When he turned to Mitch, he found his boss with a similar glaze over his eyes. The man was communicating with his mate also.
Corbin chuckled. “Everybody got their woman on the same page now?”
Keegan shook his head. “You laugh all you want, Archers. Payback’s a bitch.” The second Corbin bit the dust, Keegan intended to be on him relentlessly.
Keegan stood. “Listen, I’ve got about ten thousand things that need my attention, so if you’ll excuse me.” He turned to Trace. “Make yourself at home. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll make sure my people know you both have the green light to snoop around anywhere you feel the need.”
Corbin stood next. “I’m pretty sure our uniforms speak for themselves. People don’t usually give a man with a badge and a gun much trouble.”
“He’s got a point, Keegan.” Trace gathered all the papers back and stuffed them in his file. “Go do inspector stuff. We’ll comb the site.”
•●•
Trace popped his head into Keegan’s office that afternoon to find him leaning on his elbows, staring at his computer screen, hands threaded into his hair. It had come loose from the usual ponytail he wore and hung around his shoulders. “You okay?”
Keegan jumped in his chair, grabbing his mouse and clicking the button several times while he answered. “Yep. All good.”
Trace narrowed his gaze and came fully into the room. “Not buying it. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing new.” Keegan sat back, but his hands were shaking as he set them on his thighs.
Trace hesitated and then decided he must be overreacting to the general stress. If Keegan had some new issue to discuss, he would do so.
“I’m going to get Melinda.”