Walking on Her Grave (Rogue River Novella, Book 4) by Melinda Leigh Page A

eyes. “I’ll see you soon?”
    “Definitely.” As much as he wanted her to stay, he’d let her go. She wasn’t ready to move back in with him yet. He would have to wait.
    Since the house felt as empty as a cavern without Carly, Seth showered and dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt. His cell vibrated before he reached the front door. He didn’t recognize the number on the display.
    “Hey, is this Harding?”
    “Yes.”
    “This is Everett from sanitation. My wife said you wanted to talk to me.”
    “I do. Can I stop by in the morning?” Seth shoved his keys into his pocket.
    “Sure. What’s it about?”
    “I just need a statement.” Seth went out onto the porch. “Did you see a woman coming out of Mike Bell’s house last Friday morning?”
    Everett whistled. “Oh yeah. Katelyn O’Rourke. That was the shock of the year. I didn’t expect to see a hottie like that with Mike. It wasn’t a one-time thing either.”
    Seth locked his door. “What do you mean?”
    “I saw her walk of shame yesterday morning too.”
    Seth froze. “What time?”
    Katelyn had lied to Seth. She’d been at Mike’s house the morning of his disappearance.
    “About five thirty,” Everett said. “About what time are you stopping by?”
    “You know what? Something’s come up. I’ll call you back, Everett. Thanks.”
    “Hey, no problem.”
    Seth bypassed his SUV and got into his county vehicle, which he should have returned on Friday but hadn’t. Driving through town, he called Zane. The call went to the cop’s voice mail. He must still have been tied up with the forest fire. The Solitude PD station would be closed on a Saturday evening. Seth left the police chief a detailed message. “If I can find Katelyn, I’m going to take her to the sheriff’s office for questioning.”
    He stopped at the offices of O’Rourke Properties but the lot was empty, the door locked. He turned the car out of town. He’d try the O’Rourke house out on the river. If Katelyn wasn’t there, he didn’t know where else to look for her. In that case he’d go see his wife and daughter and try again later. If he found Katelyn, he’d call Carly and let her know he might not make it over tonight, but there was no point disappointing her until he was sure.
    Katelyn hadn’t told him she’d seen Mike the morning he disappeared, which didn’t necessarily mean she’d killed him, but it proved she was a liar. Seth and Zane had assumed the two men at the campground had been working for Walt. But was that the truth? Was there any way Katelyn could be behind everything?
    Seth turned onto the private road that led through ten acres of woods to the O’Rourke residence. All cedar and glass, the house looked down on the Rogue River from a grassy hill. He steered around the circular driveway past a three-bay detached garage. The wooden steps creaked under his athletic shoes.
    Faye answered his knock.
    “Seth.” She opened the door wide. “Zane stopped earlier to give me an update on the fire. Are you all right?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He followed her down a short hallway to the kitchen. The slab of granite on the center island was big enough to park a car on. The kitchen opened into a great room. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of the Rogue.
    “What can I do for you this evening?” Tonight’s cardigan was pink, and she clutched the edges as if she were freezing. Her color would have made chalk look dark.
    “Are you feeling okay?”
    “I’m not dead yet.”
    “I’m actually here to see Katelyn. Is she home?”
    “No. I’m sorry. She went to the store.” Faye checked the time on her watch. “But I expect her any minute. You’re welcome to wait. Can I get you some coffee?”
    “I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
    “No trouble at all. I just made a fresh pot.”
    “Okay, then.”
    “When Zane stopped, he said he thought those two men squatting on the old campground had been Walt’s partners.”
    “That’s one