Free Silent Witness by Patricia H. Rushford

raised her arms and stretched from one side to the other. “I’m not sure whether to go for a walk or take a nap, but I do know I need to get some of these kinks out of my muscles.”
    â€œWhy don’t we take a walk and you can help me work on this mystery.”
    â€œI’m not sure there is a mystery,” Gram said, grunting as she dropped into a crouch and stretched one leg out behind her.
    Jennie propped herself against the wall and folded her arms. “Well, what if Tim is right? What if the bomb threat was meant for Sarah? What if the murderer is afraid the dolphins will help Sarah get better? What if the killer followed them out here? Sarah could be in real danger.”
    Gram switched legs and kept stretching. “Jennie, I know you’re concerned about Sarah. And you’re right. If Ramsey is not the murderer, and if Sarah was indeed a witness and gets well and is able to remember what happened, then yes, she could be in a great deal of danger. And from what we’ve heard, so could her stepfather. But there’s nothing to indicate that that’s the case. You heard Maggie …” Gram straightened and started running in place, “… there’s been no attempt on Sarah’s life—or Carl’s.”
    Logically, Gram was right and Jennie told her so. “I know I should just forget about it and have a good time, but I just have this feeling …”
    Gram stopped running and ran her arm across her forehead to push back her hair. “Whew,” she panted. “It’s too hot for this sort of thing. I think I’ll have to go to plan B and take a nap.”
    â€œGram …”
    â€œI know, Jennie, I’m not ignoring you. I’m just not certain what to tell you. If there is a problem here, and the real murderer is still at large, I don’t want you involved. I also know that you aren’t about to forget it. You’ve got too much McGrady in you.” She sighed. “Okay, we’ll look into it. I’ll see if I can get copies of the police reports and talk to whoever was in charge of the investigation. Just promise me you won’t do anything that could put you in danger, and if you learn anything, you’ll keep me posted.”
    Jennie pushed off from the wall and went to give Gram a hug. “I promise. Thanks.”
    While Gram rested, Jennie took a shower, then settled down to read in a shaded hammock that stretched between two palm trees. After a couple of pages, the book dropped to her side and she fell asleep.
    Jennie drifted in and out of consciousness, aware of the sweet musty scent of wet grass, of waves lapping on the nearby beach, and of the gentle breeze as it rocked the hammock. Something brushed her arm. A fly. Jennie brushed at it. “Go away,” she mumbled. She felt it again. This time it brushed her cheek. Irritated, she lifted her hand to flick it away and came in contact not with a bug but a human hand.

9
    Jennie screamed and bolted upright, almost falling out of the hammock.
    â€œHey, take it easy.” Scott grabbed her arm and the hammock to steady her.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing? You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Jennie swung her legs over the hammock’s edge and hopped out.
    Scott chuckled and spread his hands open innocently.
    â€œYou sure are jumpy. I was just trying to wake you up gently.”
    â€œI wasn’t sleeping.” Jennie brushed by him and headed for the house.
    â€œYeah right. You were snoring.”
    Jennie stopped short and spun around, nearly bumping into him. “I do not snore.”
    â€œOkay, so you don’t snore. Do you want to know what else you don’t do when you’re sleeping?”
    Jennie gave him her best drop-dead look.
    â€œHey, take it easy. You were lying there so peaceful—like, I couldn’t resist teasing you a little.”
    Scott’s grin was infectious and Jennie