She nodded. “It would be a stranger who might need to kill her to keep her quiet, you know. Sad to say, plenty of parents sexually molest their kids and the kids don’t tell anyone. And fathers...have plenty of opportunities. Your dad wouldn’t have had to take her outside in the middle of the night.”
Zach stared at her, stunned by her simple logic. As a kid, he wouldn’t have had any way of knowing that what she said was true. As an adult...had he still been letting himself think like that kid? Could he investigate with his emotions so tangled?
After a minute Tess said tentatively, “Bran could be afraid you’re out to prove your dad did it. If you tell him what you just told me, it might help.”
He gave a humorless laugh and shook his head. “I was the jerk the last time we talked about this. I like to think I’m a reasonably mature human being. But with him...”
“You fall back to reacting like you did when you were both kids.”
She saw a lot more clearly than he did these days. Or ever? And...should he worry about the fact that he’d never had this kind of talk with a woman before? Or anybody?
Shaking off both thoughts for later consideration, he said ruefully, “Sad but true. We were good friends, but we fought a lot, too.” Because it felt necessary to hide the mess he was inside, he grinned crookedly. “No way was I going to let him be the boss of me.”
Tess wrinkled her nose even as she laughed, letting him see her as a girl, freckled, almost plain, but...luminous.
“It happens to all of us,” she said. “Every once in a while, Dad and I squabble and I realize I’m mad for no good reason at all. I have my triggers and he probably does, too. He has trouble accepting my independence, for one.”
Zach nodded. If he ever had a little girl, he might be the same. No, would be the same. He’d be scared to death something would happen to her. A good reason not to have children.
As much to divert himself as her, he said, “I guess Bran and I have a ways to go.”
“But you have the chance now,” Tess said gently. “I’m sorry you’ve had to spend so much time protecting me. It’s probably kept you from getting as far as you’d hoped with your investigation.”
“Sheila died twenty-five years ago. What’s a few more days or weeks at this point?”
She looked worried but nodded her acceptance.
“Back to your problem,” he said abruptly. It was past time to remember he was in this to protect her. She wouldn’t be here otherwise. “I have an idea, but I’ll need your permission.”
“An idea?”
“I’d like to install some hidden cameras around your house to try to catch one of these bastards in action.”
Tess didn’t as much as blink for a minute. “How would you hide them?” she asked.
“You’ve got a lot of shrubbery out there. Trellises that would be good camouflage. I’m thinking, if your neighbor gives us the okay, of hanging one on his eaves pointed at your bedroom window.”
“But at night, would there be enough light to make anything out?”
“They’ll have infrared. Wouldn’t hurt if you leave on more lights, too. They’d assume they’ve got you scared. Front and back porch lights, for starters, but maybe a bathroom light or hall light, too. Leave curtains or blinds open on any other windows on that side of the house.”
He couldn’t blame her for not wanting to plan for another episode like the last one, but she took only a moment to decide before nodding.
“It’s a good idea. But if they’re watching the house and see you doing the installation...”
“I doubt they’re watching the house twenty-four-seven. Tomorrow is Sunday. I can head over to Mt. Vernon or Burlington to buy the cameras.”
She nodded.
“Unless you intend to work Monday, I might wait until Tuesday to install them. I can use my lunch break. With you at work, there’s no reason for them to be hanging around your place.”
“I...was planning to take Monday off. Thank you,” she said, holding herself with a dignity that told him how much effort it was costing her. “And let me know what the cameras cost. As soon as I get home, I’ll call Chad next door. It might be just as well if I tell him what’s been happening, anyway.”