The door behind them opened and she snapped out of her daydream. Unless Blake had a girlfriend he hadn’t mentioned, the chance of his children enjoying the backyard was many years away.
“What do you think?” Blake asked.
Elizabeth smiled. “Tell me what you think first.”
He looked back at the house. “It’s perfect.”
An odd sense of disappointment settled inside her. If she could have afforded this home, she would have bought it for herself. “What about the garage?”
“It’s okay for now. There’s plenty of room to add an extension.”
“It’s not as upmarket as the last house. It has fewer bedrooms and half the living space.”
Blake shrugged. “There’s enough room for me. Even if I had a family, we could still live here. The price is okay, too. Melody is sending me through the latest valuations on the properties in this area. She’s confident that any renovations will add value to the property. From that perspective, it’s a good investment.”
Elizabeth didn’t care about the home’s investment potential. She would have gladly spent her life savings on the house and wouldn’t have regretted it. Except she’d spent every last cent she owned on the old motel building.
She turned toward a bird chirping in the trees. “The backyard is lovely. I like that the house is smaller than the last one.” She glanced at Blake. “It’s a great home.”
Blake nodded and looked at Sam.
“It’s an awesome house. It’s close to town, but not too close. It has a private, fully fenced yard, security gates, and great cell phone coverage.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “I didn’t think to check my cell phone.”
“Occupational hazard.”
Blake ran his eye along the roofline. “I’ll make an offer and see what happens.”
“That was quick,” Elizabeth said. “Are you sure you don’t want to think about it?”
“If I think about it, someone else will buy it. I’ll find Melody and see what I need to do.”
Blake walked inside the house, already focused on the next phase of the buying process.
Elizabeth sighed. By the end of the day, Blake might own his first home in Bozeman. And she would have to pretend that he wasn’t living a few miles away.
Chapter 7
On Wednesday afternoon, Elizabeth sat in a spare room in her brother’s office building. For the last two hours she’d been filling out grant applications. “I don’t know if I’ll be given any money,” she said to Sam. “I haven’t lived in Bozeman for long.”
“You were a criminal defense attorney. That must count for something.”
“It isn’t enough. When the trustees review the applications, they’re looking for people with a connection to the community. Someone who has a track record of providing great programs. For all they know, I could be a fraudster.”
“What about your work at the Family Center?”
“I was only working there part-time. Because of what’s happened with Anton, I’ve told them I won’t be available for a while.”
“That makes sense.” Sam picked up the pages Elizabeth had already filled out. “You need to provide reference letters. All the funders need to do is read those to know what sort of person you are. And that’s assuming they haven’t driven past the old motel and seen the progress you’re making.”
“I’m asking for five thousand dollars from this foundation. It’s a lot of money for a small non-profit.”
“They’d be crazy not to help, especially if your builder can finish some of the work before Christmas.”
Earlier in the morning, Elizabeth and Sam had visited Paul to see how things were going at her clinic. The roofing contractors were working hard, replacing tiles and sealing joints that hadn’t been maintained in years. A window company had replaced eight panes of glass and were moving through the building, checking each of the window frames.
The clinic already looked so much better. With the trash gone and more sunlight streaming through the windows, it felt like they were finally making progress.
Sam frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m getting a case of the nervous jitters. There’s so much work to do. If there are any big issues, my budget won’t stretch enough to fix them.”
“You’ll find a way to make it work.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I hope so.” She stared at the other three applications she’d filled out. Hopefully, some of them would be successful. At this stage, even five hundred dollars would make a difference. She bent her head and kept writing.
“Does anyone want a drink or something to eat?” Daniel stood in the doorway. “I’m going to Angel Wings Café for a coffee run.”
Sam shook her head. “Not for me, but thanks for asking.”
“Elizabeth?”
“No, thanks. I brought my herbal tea bags with me.”
Daniel’s nose twitched. “I don’t know how you can drink that stuff.”
She smiled at her brother. “You drink almost as much of my super fruits tea as I do.”
“That’s because it smells okay. If I had to drink chamomile tea each day, I’d be sick.” He looked at the envelope in his hands. “I almost forgot. This arrived in the mail for you.”
Elizabeth had changed her mailing address so that everything was sent to Daniel’s post office box.
“Thanks.” She read the senders name and address.
“I’ll be back soon. Everyone’s meeting in the staff room in fifteen minutes if you’d like to join us.”
Elizabeth left the envelope of the desk. “That would be great. I should be finished with this grant application by then.”
A frown crossed Daniel’s face. “You wouldn’t need to apply for funding if you let me help.”
“I want to do this on my own. Being able to live in your loft is all the help I need.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that. I’ll see you soon.”
After her brother left, Elizabeth kept writing. By the time she finished, her fingers were starting to cramp. “This is the most writing I’ve done in a long time.”
“I wonder why they don’t use electronic forms,” Sam said as she peered at the pile of papers. “It would make everyone’s life a lot easier.”
“Maybe the trusts don’t realize how much time it would save.”
“And trees,” Sam added. “You must have filled out forty sheets of paper.”
Elizabeth slipped the application she’d been working on into a folder. “I’ll double-check the forms later, then mail them before I go home.” She picked up the envelope Daniel had given her. “I wonder what this is about.”
Sam grabbed her hand. “Do you know who it’s from?”
“The return address says the Amanda Harrington Foundation. I’ve never heard of them.”
Sam’s frown deepened. “I don’t think you should open it. We’ll take it to Fletcher Security.”
Elizabeth carefully placed the envelope on the desk. “It doesn’t look dangerous.”
“That’s the whole point. Most people would have torn it open and not worried about what’s inside.”
“Do you think Anton could have sent it?”
“Maybe or I could be over-reacting. Either way, I don’t think opening it here is a good idea.” Sam looked around the office. She picked up a plastic bag that had been left on another desk. “You’d better let your brother know where we’re going. He’ll be worried if we’re not in the staff room when he gets back.”
Elizabeth followed Sam out of the room. As soon as they were in her truck she called Daniel. He didn’t have any idea who the trust was, either. After everything that had happened, a mystery envelope was the last thing she needed. And if the look on Sam’s face was anything to go by, it was the last thing she needed, too.
When they arrived at Fletcher Security, John Fletcher, Sam’s boss, met them at the back door.
“I hear you’ve got a suspicious envelope for us?”
S
am showed him the plastic bag. “It’s in here. Where would you like me to take it?”
“Gus is waiting in the lab. Follow me.” John opened the door. They walked along a corridor and into an elevator. “I called Daniel. No one in his office feels unwell. How about the two of you?”
Sam shook her head. “I’m okay.”
“Me, too,” Elizabeth said.
“That’s good. If anything changes, let me know right away.” The elevator stopped on the second floor. At the end of another corridor, John turned right. “Gus is in here.”
Elizabeth walked into a long, narrow room. Running along one side was an internal window. Through the thick glass she could see the lab. It was full of expensive looking machines, refrigerators, and cabinets holding all sorts of jars and containers.
A man wearing a HazMat suit walked toward them. He frowned at the bag in Sam’s hand. “Couldn’t you find something a little more airtight?”
“We were in an office.”
Gus peered through the bag. “At least the seal on the envelope isn’t broken. Checking it could take a while.”
“That’s okay,” Elizabeth said. “We can wait.” If there was anything dangerous in the envelope, Fletcher Security was the best place to be. Not only would they be safe, but the rest of Bozeman wouldn’t be exposed to any toxins.
Gus pressed a button on the wall and entered the lab.
John pointed to some plastic chairs. “They’re not the most comfortable seats, but it’s better than standing. Can I get you a drink?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m okay, thanks. How long do you think this will take?”
“Gus will scan and test the envelope for explosives, then check for any toxic residue. If there doesn’t appear to be anything to worry about, he’ll open the envelope. It could take up to an hour to check everything.”
That wasn’t as long as Elizabeth thought it would take.
John looked at Sam. “Have you had any contact with Anton de Bresney?”
Sam shook her head. “None. I don’t know whether the police investigation is keeping him away or if he’s gone home.”
“I asked your team to search for any information about the Amanda Harrington Foundation. As soon as they’ve finished, they’ll email the report to me.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Hopefully, it’s legitimate and not something Anton dreamed up.”
“That’s what we’re all hoping,” John said. “If you need me, I’ll be in my office. Gus will call me after he’s opened the envelope.”
Elizabeth resisted the urge to shake John’s hand. If there was something on the envelope, she didn’t want to pass it to him. Instead, she wiped her hands on her jeans. “Thank you. I hope we haven’t wasted your time.”
“It’s never a waste of time when you receive something you weren’t expecting. If either of you feel unwell, there’s an emergency button on the wall.” John pointed to a black button. “Don’t hesitate to use it.”
Sam nodded. “We won’t. Thank you.”
After John left, Elizabeth sat on one of the chairs. This wasn’t how she thought the afternoon would end, but it was better than the alternative.
If Anton had placed something in the envelope, she needed to seriously rethink her future. It was bad enough that he was targeting her. To put other people’s lives in danger was unacceptable. If the only way she could stop him was to disappear for a few months, that’s what she would do. Even if it meant postponing the opening of her clinic and disappointing a whole lot of families who needed her help.
Forty-five minutes later, Elizabeth sat in the reception area of Fletcher Security not knowing how she felt. The good news was that the envelope hadn’t contained any explosives, powder, or other dangerous substances. But it had contained something that totally confused her.
While Sam said goodbye to her boss, Elizabeth called her brother. “Hi. It’s me.”
“Is everything all right?”
While she was waiting for the results from Gus’ tests, Daniel had called three times, wanting to know if she was okay.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, not really sure where to start. “I’m still at Fletcher Security with Sam. The envelope didn’t have any suspicious powder inside.”
“That’s great.”
Even over the phone, Elizabeth could hear the relief in her brother’s voice. “You’ll never guess what was inside the envelope.”
“Anything is better than what it could have been.”
That was true. All the horror stories she’d read about Anthrax and mail bombs had made her hands shake as she’d sat in the waiting area.
“What was in the envelope?” Daniel sounded worried.
“It was an invitation to attend a meeting with the Amanda Harrington Foundation. They heard about my clinic and want to know how they can help.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“It would be if I knew who they were. Have you heard of them?”
“Where are they based?”
Elizabeth read the address at the top of the invitation. “Chicago.”
“I don’t recognize their name. Have you looked at their website?”
“I can’t find one. John Fletcher has asked his staff to find out more about them.” Elizabeth looked up as Sam walked toward her. “I have to go. I should be home in about forty minutes.”
“Don’t rush. It’s just started to snow.”
“I’ll be careful. See you soon.” She ended the call and stood beside Sam. “All ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Thanks for waiting.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I wish I didn’t have to wait. Having a bodyguard isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
Sam sent her an understanding smile. “Don’t worry. After we’ve found Anton, you’ll be able to do whatever you want.”
“Do you think we could do one of my favorite things now?”
“As long as it’s legal, I can’t see why not.”
“It’s totally legal, but not very good for me. Wednesday is red velvet cake day at Angel Wings Café. Can we stop there on the way home?”
Sam zipped up her jacket and smiled. “I’m not going to stand in the way of you and cake. Let’s go.”
Elizabeth folded the envelope and slid it into her jacket pocket. Tomorrow she would do a little investigation of her own, but for now, cake would definitely make her feel better.
Blake parked his new truck inside Daniel’s garage. After spending the last two hours test-driving different vehicles, he’d finally found a truck he wanted to own. It ticked every single box on his ‘must have’ list, and then some.
Daniel walked into the garage. “You’ve been busy.”
“Thanks for the recommendation. I didn’t bother going any further than the Ford dealership.”
Daniel took a closer look at the truck and let out a low whistle. “It’s the F-150 Shelby Raptor. I didn’t think they had any in the showroom.”
“It arrived this morning.” Blake ran his hand along the gleaming black paintwork. “The timing was perfect. I bought the house on Cottonwood Road, too.”
“That didn’t take long.”
He took a bottle of champagne out of the truck. “I made the owners an offer they couldn’t refuse. Is Elizabeth here?”
Daniel shook his head. “She’s driving home from town. Did she tell you where she was this afternoon?”
Everything within Blake stilled. Daniel’s frown told him the news wasn’t good. “I haven’t spoken to her today.”
Daniel opened the door leading into the house. “The coffee pot’s hot. You’re going to need a drink when you hear what happened.”
“Is she all right?”
Daniel took one look at Blake’s face and stopped walking. “She’s okay. An envelope arrived in the mail for her. Sam thought it might have contained some kind of powder or explosive. They took it to Fletcher Security to be checked.”
Blake took a deep breath
and exhaled slowly. He was going to have a heart attack if Daniel didn’t tell him what was in the envelope. “What did they find?”
“Nothing dangerous. It was a letter from a foundation.”
Relief crashed through Blake, leaving him lightheaded.
“Are you okay?”
“I will be.” Blake walked into the kitchen. He needed a strong black coffee.
“You wouldn’t know anything about the letter, would you?”
“What was the foundation’s name?”
“The Amanda Harrington Foundation.”
Blake cleared his throat. “I might have made one or two phone calls to people I know.”
“You must have made a big impression on whoever you called. The trustees have invited Elizabeth to their next meeting. They want to know more about the clinic.”
“That’s great.”
Daniel watched him pour coffee into a mug. “Who is Amanda Harrington?”
“My grandmother,” Blake said softly. “She died when I was twelve.”
Instead of being surprised, Daniel seemed relieved. “Elizabeth won’t be happy, but thanks for helping her.”
“I didn’t do much. The trustees meet once a year to allocate funding to different community projects. I told them about the clinic and they wanted to talk to Elizabeth.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m grateful.” Daniel frowned. “But you might want to call John Fletcher. His company is looking into the foundation to make sure they’re who they say they are. If he connects you with the foundation, Elizabeth might not go to the meeting.”
“Do you really think she wouldn’t go?”
“My sister won’t accept help from us. If she thinks you’re involved with the foundation, there’s a high chance she won’t accept help from them, either.”
Blake rubbed his forehead. “I’ll call John in the morning.” As he drank his coffee, he thought about his grandmother. She would have liked Elizabeth. They had the same sense of humor, the same desire to right the wrongs of the world. His grandmother had done that by supporting organizations who wanted to make a difference in their communities. Elizabeth did it by fighting for justice.
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