If You Know Her: A Novel of Romantic Suspense

he took the little index card.
    The word
glaze
was written in neat block print at the top.
    Most of the words on the card might as well have been a foreign language.
Silica, feldspar, quartz
. But there was one word that jumped out at him. One word that all but imprinted itself on his brain.
    Ash mix
.
    His hand clenched spasmodically.
Don’t jump to conclusions—don’t
. “Ash mix, could be a lot of things.”
    Kent shook his head and pointed to a magazine that lay open on the workbench. “He’s got an interview in there—it’s a recent one, just came out last week. Somebody asks him about his glazing techniques. Apparently he has a gift for coming up with ones that others can’t duplicate. He says he has a unique way of mixing hisglazes. Cutting the wood ashes with a special mix of ashes that is unique, and only his.”
    Kent bent over and tugged open a drawer, revealing another large metal box, similar to the ones they’d found hidden in the kiln. There were only ashes in this one, but precious few, clinging to the cracks and crevices of the box.
    “In the article, it also says that his special mix has been depleted, though, and he anticipates it may be a long while before he can get the right ingredients again. He even says he may never be able to get the
right
ingredients—says he may not be able to use that glaze ever again.” Kent swallowed, his eyes glassy, but the rage was starting to burn through now. Rage. And horror. “People who have those special pieces should treasure them … each one is unique, each one glows with its own soul, its own voice … its own life.”
    Staring into that metal box, Ezra’s blood roared in his ears.
    Slowly, he shifted his eyes upward, staring at the neatly organized row of pots and vases lining the shelf just above the workbench. Some truly did seem to glow.
    “My God,” he whispered.
    “You believe this crazy shit?” Ethan muttered, shaking his head and staring out the window at the big old white farmhouse. Lena had spent a lot of money having the place fixed up. Fresh white paint gleamed in the soft light of the late evening sun. The shutters were dark red, but nobody could glimpse anything inside the house.
    The curtains were drawn, hiding everything inside.
    “I mean, seriously, Keith. This is
nuts
,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “Carter Jennings? A fucking killer? You don’t believe that, do you?”
    “I know I don’t want to,” Keith said quietly. Carterwas blood to him—very convoluted and distantly related, but still, family was family.
    But the job was the job and when he’d taken the call from the sheriff, he’d heard the urgency, the sincerity in King’s voice. The man wouldn’t have them out here on some crazy ghost chase.
    “Ha! See, I knew I wasn’t the only one.” Ethan smirked and leaned his head back against the headrest, sighing. “Damn it, this is going to screw Sheriff King up bad.”
    Keith slid him a narrow glance. “You didn’t hear me very well. I
said
I didn’t
want
to believe it. That doesn’t mean I
don’t
believe it. I’m going to withhold judgment there. But the sheriff wouldn’t make this call without good reason.”
    The crackle of the radio kept him from hearing anything else that might have been said.
    “This is Dispatch … got a report of suspicious activity … Deb Sparks …”
    Ethan and Keith, as one, groaned.
    Keith answered. “We’re already busy at the moment, Dispatch. You’ll have to send another unit.”
    “No one close—sounds urgent, heard her screaming.”
    “Fuck.” Ethan rolled his eyes.
    Keith groaned.
    Ethan said in a low voice, “It’s just Deb. I can leave you here, swing by, flash the lights. It will make her feel better while the other car gets closer. We’re spread thin here as it is, with most of the team out at Carter’s workshop.”
    “Against protocol.”
    “And what if there really
is
a problem?” Ethan gestured to the house. “There
isn’t
one here.”
    The radio crackled again. “Closest car I have reports ETA in ten minutes.”
    “We’re three minutes away.” Ethan glared at Keith.“You either get out and keep an eye on the place on foot, or you come along for the ride.”
    Keith glared at the younger deputy as he reached for the door. “You know I’m going to write your ass up for this.”
    Ethan flashed him a grin. “Go ahead. But I figure King’s going to be in so much damn trouble for the shit storm he’s bringing down with