Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman Page B

wooden cross will do fine.”

    Because you don’t have any more money , Ivy thought.

    “As soon as everything’s arranged, I’d like to ride out there and see it with you.”

    “I hate talking about this!”

    “I know, but we have to. I’m getting worse. I need your help to get these details finalized while I still feel up to it. The more we talk about it, the easier it will be. I’ve already talked to Pastor Myers about the graveside service.”

    Ivy put her hands over her ears. “Lu, I can’t handle this.”

    Seconds passed, then Lu gently took her arm and pulled it down. “Pastor Myers says it’s a beautiful spot. Either your parents are big tithers, or the pastor is a very compassionate soul. I’m guessing a little of both.”

    “It’s not like he’s handing you the moon. It’s just a plot in his churchyard cemetery.”

    “Pretty nice since I’m not a member. And you’d be surprised what a plot would cost if we had to go looking. This is a gift.”

    Ivy sighed. “You deserve better than a wooden cross to mark your grave.”

    “It’s enough. If it bothers you, plant some flowers—maybe some alyssum. They’re easy.”

    “I’m not going to handle this well.”

    “Yes, you are. You’re braver than you think.”

    “You keep saying that. I’m not.”

    Lu’s deep brown eyes grew wide. “You kicked a cocaine habit, no? And you came back here to make peace with the past, whichwill probably mean going to jail and being separated from your son for a while. And now you’re preparing to bury your closest friend. If that doesn’t take courage, I don’t what does.”

    Ivy wiped away a tear trickling down her cheek. “You always see something in me I can’t find. How do you do that?”

    “It’s easy. When I look at you, I see light under the door.”

    “What does that mean?”

    Lu just smiled.

    “You’re not going to tell me?”

    “No. But you’ll feel me smiling in heaven when you figure it out.”

    Brandon Jones walked down the main hall of the administrative offices of Three Peaks Christian Camp and Conference Center and knocked on Jake Compton’s open door.

    “Come in,” Jake said.

    Brandon went in and sat in the blue cushy chair he had threatened to take home with him because it was so comfortable. “Did you and Suzanne have a nice weekend?”

    Jake nodded, his eyes fixed on the newspaper. “Yeah, we did. Have you been following the murder investigation? The Courier is usually pretty folksy, but this discovery of the kid’s bones is big news.”

    “Yeah, I guess the dead kid was in Ivy Griffith’s graduating class.”

    “That’s what Elam said.” Jake folded the newspaper and pushed it aside, then got up and closed the door and sat in the chair next to Brandon. “I came in Saturday to tie up a few loose ends. My computer was messing up so I used yours. Hope you don’t mind.”

    “Not at all.”

    Jake linked his fingers together. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

    “About what?”

    “You still hanging around Buzz Easton?”

    “I rode down to Durango with him on Friday and helped him paint the inside of his new souvenir shop. Is that a problem?”

    “I don’t know. You tell me.”

    Brandon studied Jake’s face and decided he looked angry. “Is this about my being with Buzz? Because I was under the impression that what I did in my free time was my business.”

    “There’s pornography on your computer, Brandon. That makes it my business.”

    Brandon felt his face get hot and the words seemed to be stuck in his throat. Finally he said, “What specifically are you talking about?”

    “I accidentally deleted an e-mail message I meant to forward to myself. And when I got into your delete box to retrieve it, I saw an e-mail from Buzz. I opened it and saw the porn link.”

    “You opened my e-mail?” Brandon said. “For crying out loud, Jake!”

    “Look, I know a lot more about Buzz than you do. I tried to warn you to stay