Tommy sobered but his eyes still gleamed. “Yeah, sorry. It’s kind of scary because he and Dad have the same cardiologist, right?”

The mayor sighed. “Right, and my heart is fine now, so stop worrying about it.”

Tommy shrugged. “Anyway, I guess Jason’s doing an okay job trying to take over.”

Davie snorted. “Yeah, but without Haylee, he’d be bankrupt.”

“You just like Haylee,” Tommy scoffed. “Older women for you, dude.”

“She’s like, I don’t know, twenty-two? Maybe? That’s not older. I’m seventeen,” Davie protested, his hands flexing.

Laurel craned her neck. “My uncle Blake mentioned your company to me when we were discussing turning a barn into a home. Are you taking new clients?”

Huck didn’t outwardly react, but it was an odd question from her at any time, much less during an interview.

Tommy shrugged. “No clue, but I know Jason needs money. Give him a call.” He studied her face. “Your eyes are very cool.” His buddy nodded.

“Thank you,” she said.

Davie smiled. “Are they your real eyes or contacts? Totally sick.”

“They’re mine,” she said. “Tommy? Are you dating Dr. Ortega’s niece?”

Okay. This had turned odd now. Huck remained quiet to see where she was headed with this.

Tommy shrugged. “Kind of. We hang out sometimes, but that’s all. It’s nothing serious.”

“I see.” Laurel turned back around to face the mayor.

The mayor cleared his throat. “Why don’t you put the casserole in the fridge and grab something to eat?” It was phrased as a question but most certainly was not.

The boys cleared out.

Teri shook her head. “I’m sorry about the interruption. Are there any other questions for me? I’m rather tired.”

“Yes,” Laurel said. “We’re almost finished. I just need a little more information. Was there any indication that your sister was frightened of anybody?”

The mayor frowned. “No.”

“Yes,” his wife said instantly. She held up a hand as if to stop the mayor from speaking. “She was, Saul. She’d been getting hang-up phone calls, and she was certain somebody was following her. In addition, little things at her house were misplaced, as if somebody had been inside her home when she wasn’t there. I told her to install a security system, and I know she’d planned to do so after her writer’s retreat.”

The mayor sighed and shook his head. “Teri. Your sister was a very talented writer, which means she had an extremely active imagination. You know that. She’s always had issues.”

“Issues?” Huck asked.