She hadn’t realized she was shaking. She didn’t want to look too deeply into why she was trembling. Being alone with Adam or catching Vera? “Vera,” she managed to say.

Adam looked at her in concern, then opened a cabinet, poured a clear liquid into a tiny glass and held it out to her. “Drink this in one gulp.”

She didn’t think about what she was doing, just threw back the drink. Then she started coughing. “What was that?”

“Tequila.” He ushered her to the big leather couch and sat her down. “Now tell me what happened. Has Vera or anyone else been hurt?”

“No.” The drink was relaxing her. “I saw where Vera goes. When she was a kid, she used to disappear. No one could find her. Mom always wanted to call the police, but Dad said she’d be back.” Kelly looked up at him. “I think Dad knew. He must have seen—”

Adam sat down beside her and took her hand in his. His big, warm hands. “Kelly,” he said slowly, “tell me what you saw.”

She told him everything in detail, and described where she was.

Adam leaned back against the sofa. “I think there was a house there. A tornado took it.” He looked at her. “When I was a kid, the men used to say the place was haunted. I think that’s why Dad never did anything with that piece of land. He just let it grow.”

“They probably heard sounds from Vera. You have to see the place! It’s flat. You can walk over it and not see it.”

Adam was frowning. “By now that floor should have rotted. My guess is that Vera repaired the door and the roof.”

“How? When?” Her head came up. “And why?”

Adam’s jaw was clenched. “I don’t think she did all that just for a place where she could read Little Women in peace, do you?”

“No,” Kelly said. “You think...?”

“Yeah, I do.” He got up, went to the phone in the corner and picked up the receiver.

“Are you going to call Vera?” Kelly sounded afraid. “She’ll be really angry that I ratted on her. She’ll—”

“If I thought she’d tell me the truth, yes, I’d call her. Before I confront her, I need more information.” He dialed a number, listened to the ring, and it was picked up. “I need to talk to Coach. Tell him it’s important. This is Adam Hatten.”

He looked at Kelly. “This is the KU head coach we saw that, you know, night. If there’s any protesting going on, he’ll know about it. He keeps close tabs on his players to make sure they don’t get into trouble. Hi, Coach!”