Silent Warning. Kathleen Long

nice to meet you.” Marge nodded thoughtfully, measuring Kelly. “Frank said you looked like Rachel. He was right.”

      “I’ve heard that most of my life.” Kelly smiled. “I take it as a compliment.”

      “You should.” The skin around Marge’s eyes softened. “Rachel was a lovely girl. Such a shame.”

      “Horrible accident.” A deep ache blossomed in Kelly’s chest. She straightened, feeling a renewed determination to get to the bottom of what had actually happened.

      “Well.” Marge looked over both shoulders and leaned toward Kelly, dropping her voice to a whisper. “I heard it was drugs.”

      Kelly pasted on a shocked expression. As much as she hated gossips, she might have hit the jackpot with Marge Healey.

      “Margie,” Frank snapped.

      Marge shrugged. “I was shocked to hear it. Not that I’d ever speak ill of the dead.”

      Frank cleared his throat, his expression amused. “You need to know anything in this town, Margie’s your gal. Dead or not, she’s got the latest dirt on everyone.”

      Sadness flickered through Kelly. Had Rachel changed so much these people wouldn’t question drugs in her system? It didn’t seem possible. “I don’t believe she’d use drugs.” She directed the comment to Marge, hoping for an explanation.

      Marge pressed her lips together, shooting a glance at Frank.

      “The thought is she got hooked while she worked at the institute,” he said.

      “The institute?” Kelly frowned.

      “Serenity Pain Institute.” Marge gave a shake of her short hair. “She didn’t last long. Last I heard she was a freelance reporter.”

      “We called that out of a job in my day.” Frank fell silent as his gaze landed on Kelly’s serious stance. “Are you enjoying it here?” He patted Kelly’s arm, obviously trying to change the subject. “As much as you can under the circumstances.”

      “I am. But, I can’t help admitting I’m concerned about Rachel’s death. Do you think one of her stories got her into trouble?”

      Frank and Marge exchanged a quick glance. Kelly’s pulse quickened. She’d obviously struck a chord.

      “Now why would you ask that?” Marge gave a tight smile. “Someone been putting ideas in your head?” Marge touched her fingertips to Kelly’s shoulder. “Don’t go looking for trouble where there is none.”

      The woman’s comment didn’t sit well. Kelly’s instincts screamed that trouble was exactly what Rachel had discovered, and as the result of her work.

      “You folks are monopolizing this young lady’s time.” A deep voice rumbled from behind her, pricking the hairs on the back of her neck to attention.

      She turned, chilled instantly by the coldest pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen.

      “Vince Miller.” The man extended a hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

      Chapter Four

      The woman on the other end of the phone let out an exasperated sigh.

      “I know it’s a tall order,” Dan said. “But I need a list of your employees whose first names start with ‘S’. Someone left me a message and I couldn’t make out what they said. It’s urgent I reach whoever it was.” He mentally crossed his fingers. If the woman bought his version of the truth, she just might help.

      “You do know it’s after hours and I’m the last one here,” she replied. “I was just locking up. Why don’t you call back tomorrow?”

      Dan glanced at his watch. Five forty-five. He had to get going to meet Kelly at the chamber. The last thing he wanted was for her to be alone with Miller without him close by.

      “I apologize, and I appreciate your time. I do.” He thought for a moment then asked, “What about Shakespeare? Anyone named Shakespeare?”