Season of Danger. Jill Elizabeth Nelson

       “I didn’t say you should tell her. I said you should convince her. Big difference. Besides, she never listens to me. You know our Tess.”

       “Oh, that’s right. You’re the grouchy bear.”

       “That’s Hans. I’m just too bossy.”

       Sean chuckled. “How you three headstrong siblings managed to reach adulthood without mangling each other is still a mystery to me.”

       “Let me guess. She fainted because she’s still afraid Tanner’s killer is going to resurface. Death does that to her. Every time she hears about a death, she’s suspicious it’s another covered-up murder that didn’t reach the ears of the media.”

       Sean didn’t reply. He didn’t have to. Tess had no idea how well her brother understood her. Instead of saying a word, Sean reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He held it out for Gerard.

       “What’s this?”

       “Changed the locks to Admin. Again.”

       “Why?”

       “Someone got in, tracked some stuff into the hallway. It was too late to call you. Whoever it was tried to force Tess’s office door open. Why she would think anyone would know that was her office…” Sean shrugged.

       Gerard glanced again at Stud’s shrouded figure. “She thinks there’s a connection.”

       “But food poisoning?”

       “What do you think?”

       “As I pointed out to her, the M.O. isn’t the same, but as she pointed out to me, a killer might not always use the same M.O.”

       “This isn’t like Tess, you know. The paranoia, the fear, the guilt. I’m her brother. I know her. At heart, she’s a warrior.”

       “Yeah, I know. That’s what bothers me.”

       “Megan hasn’t heard back from the lab yet, right?” Gerard asked.

       “She gave them a lot of work.”

       Gerard picked up the phone and pressed a speed-dial number while Sean tidied the clinic and changed paper on some of the cots.

       “Tess, put Megan on the phone for a minute, would you… Yeah, Megan, you haven’t received any results from the lab about our fatality?” Gerard asked. “Would you call them while I hold on this line?”

       Sean stepped to the wall of windows and stared out at the street. He remembered Megan talking about patients who would walk over and close the shades, not knowing that the windows were mirrored glass—no one could see in.

       But he could see out fine, and as he and Gerard waited for any kind of report on Stud—or any other patients, for that matter—he watched the front entrance to the mission store. He recognized a blonde woman with a ponytail and glasses. She was part of the crowd in the clinic when Stud died, and she was noticeable because she carried a large leather carrier slung diagonally over her shoulder and she dressed a little more elegantly than most people who entered the doors of the secondhand store.

       What was someone like her doing at the mission? Obviously, she hadn’t come as a volunteer. Sean knew her from somewhere. But where?

       “Nothing?”

       Gerard’s voice distracted Sean, and when he looked toward the woman again, she was walking quickly down the street.

       “Then I need you to request a toxicology panel. You’ve got them on hold? Good. Tell them how quickly we’ll need it. Yeah, yesterday would’ve been nice.” He gave further details, thanked her and hung up, then turned to Sean.

       “You honestly think someone could have poisoned our people?” Sean asked.

       “Tess seems to think it’s possible. I think she suspected the death two weeks ago, though she never said anything to me about it.”

       “Yes, and you were just complaining about Tess’s paranoia.”

       “I was also telling you that she isn’t like this. When the probable has been ruled out, it’s time to start looking for the improbable.”