Hidden Talents

operations.”
    “Shit.” Lloyd stared at her. “It's absolutely out of the question. You can't do it, Serenity.”
    “I don't see why not,” Caleb said from the doorway. “I'm going to help her, and I'm very good at what I do.”
    Lloyd threw him a disgusted glare. “She can't do it until I've finished my fieldwork here. Don't you understand? If Serenity introduces a major change into the local economy, it will significantly alter the existing social structure. All the basic institutions will change or be modified in some way. It's bound to happen.”
    “So what?” Caleb said. “It's called progress.”
    “So, I don't want anything changing here in Witt's End until I've finished my research,” Lloyd howled. “How far have these plans gone?”
    “We're almost through the initial planning and product evaluation stages.” Caleb looked thoughtful. “I've selected the mailing lists. Catalog's going to press next month. I think you could say we're well on our way.”
    “Christ, you've got to stop right now.” Lloyd shot to his feet and turned on Serenity. “You're going to ruin everything.”
    Serenity finished pouring tea and leaned back against the counter. “Lloyd, let's get something straight here. I've got plans, and I don't intend to put them on hold so that you can study my hometown like a bug on a pin. It would take you weeks, maybe months, to do your interviews and observations. And that's assuming you'd get cooperation from the residents, which you won't.”
    “I will if you help me,” Lloyd said quickly. “They'll listen to you, Serenity. You're the key. I realized that six months ago. If you ask them to cooperate with me, they'll do it.”
    “But she isn't going to ask them to cooperate,” Caleb said. “Are you, Serenity?”
    “Nope. I've got more important things to do.”
    “Your mail order business project can't be more important than my research,” Lloyd shouted. “I've got a career riding on this.”
    “And the financial security and well-being of a lot of people here in Witt's End is riding on my business plans,” Serenity retorted. “Go find some other town to study, Lloyd.”
    “How can you act like this after all we meant to each other?”
    Serenity eyed him, exasperated. “I think it's time for a reality check here, Lloyd. We weren't exactly close. You tried to turn me into one of your dippy research projects, and when I realized what you were doing, I told you to get lost. Now you've expanded your scope to include my entire hometown. I'm telling you the same thing now that I told you last time. Get lost.”
    “Damn it, I'm going to do this study, Serenity.”
    “Fine. Go ahead and do it. But don't expect me to help.”
    “I don't believe it. You can't do this to me. I'm going to find a way to get this paper written.” Lloyd swung around on his heel and stalked toward the kitchen door.
    Caleb politely got out of his way and stood watching impassively as Lloyd grabbed his Outback hat and slammed out of the cottage.
    Serenity sipped her tea and listened to the car engine roar to life in the drive. She met Caleb's eyes. “Before we were so rudely interrupted, I believe you were saying something about going through Ambrose's files?”
    “Yes, I believe I did bring up the idea.” Caleb walked over to the counter and picked up a mug of hot tea. “Care to come along?”
    “Wouldn't miss it for the world. When?”
    “Tonight. Late.”
    “Why don't we just ask Jessie's permission to go through Ambrose's things at our leisure?”
    “Because as far as I'm concerned, Jessie and everyone else in this town is a blackmail suspect until proven otherwise. But that's only one of the reasons why I don't want to tell anyone about our plans for another serious bout of breaking and entering.”
    “There's another reason?”
    “Yes.” Caleb looked at her, his eyes cold and intent. “Think about it logically, Serenity. If someone ever does conclude that Asterley's fall down those stairs was not an accident, guess who would instantly become one of the chief suspects?”
    Serenity gave a start. Tea sloshed over the side of the cup, burning her fingers. “Me?”
    “Yes. You.”
    “Oh, my God. I hadn't thought of that.”
    “You've got a prime motive. Asterley was trying to foil your plans to get rich in the mail order business.”
    Serenity's eyes widened. “No one would ever believe that. Not for a single moment.”
    “I'm not taking any chances. We're not telling