LITMIR.BIZ

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The report Layla had assigned to Tammy had yet to be done, and Tammy’s slacking off on her duties had increased to the point where the other students were complaining. Low morale was the last thing Layla needed to deal with.

      Layla had confided in Gavin, telling him of her own issues with Tammy including Tammy’s ongoing affair with the head of Layla’s department and how Tammy was blatantly using that affair to do whatever she wanted...as well as avoiding the things she didn’t want to do.

      Finally answering Gavin’s question, Layla said, “There’s only one thing I can do about Tammy and that is to release her from the team and brace myself for the backlash from Dr. Clayburn. She isn’t a team player, she lacks respect for everyone and she isn’t pulling her own weight. I refuse to give her more chances than I would give anyone else, no matter who she’s sleeping with.”

      Gavin nodded. He thought Layla was making the right decision by releasing Tammy from her team. He’d known Tammy had been trouble from day one. “So you’ll start digging on Friday?”

      “Yes. We got delayed when one of the supply shipments was late. We haven’t had any other problems, but I wanted to ask, did you ever talk to that guy to see if he was the one who moved my marker?”

      “Yes, and Clete said he didn’t move anything. So what happened to your marker is still a mystery.”

      “It doesn’t matter since we’re moving ahead. I’m excited.”

      He pulled her tighter into his arms. “So am I. I can’t wait to see what you find.”

      She pulled back and stared up at him. “And now you think I will find something?”

      “Yes. I told you I’d gotten a good reading from Flip’s camera. I’m sure you’ll find something, I’m just not certain it’s the loot you’re looking for.”

      She smiled up at him. “Well, I am certain, Mr. Blake.” She then pulled his mouth down to hers.

      * * *

      Hours later, the ringing of his cell phone woke Gavin. He looked down at the woman plastered to his side. The phone had awakened her, as well. He glanced at the clock and saw it was three in the morning. Who would be calling him at this hour?

      He reached for the phone on the nightstand before it could ring again. “Hello.”

      He heard the words his foreman said and was out of bed in a flash. “We’re on our way.”

      Layla sat up. “What’s wrong, Gavin?”

      He glanced over at her as he reached for his clothes. “That was Caldwell. The old barn is going up in flames.”

      * * *

      It didn’t take long for them to both make their way to the south pasture.

      “Arson?” Gavin asked, staring down Cornerstone’s fire marshal. He knew Josh Timbales well since the man had been good friends with Gavin’s dad.

      “Yes, Gavin. Arson. And the person didn’t even try covering their tracks. You could smell kerosene a mile away.”

      “But who would do such a thing?” Layla asked, staring at the building that was now burned to the ground as well as the charred remains of the equipment that had been stored inside.

      “I don’t know,” Josh said to Layla. “My investigative team has been called in as well as the sheriff. Hopefully they will come up with some answers.”

      In the meantime... Layla turned to stare at her students who were huddled together a few feet away. They’d gotten word about the fire and had rushed from town. She could see the disappointed looks on their faces. They’d worked hard and now this. “I need to talk to my team,” Layla said, and walked off.

      Gavin watched her go. He could feel her anger and disappointment. He turned a livid gaze to Josh. “No matter what it takes, I intend to find the person responsible for this.”

      * * *

      Layla approached the group. Before she could say anything, one of her students, Wendy Miller, spoke up. “Is it true what the firemen are saying? Did someone deliberately set fire to the barn?”

      Layla drew in a deep breath. “Yes, the fire marshal has ruled it as arson. The sheriff is on his way.”

      “Looks like you have an enemy, Dr. Harris,” Tammy said with a smirk. “Well, with no equipment for the dig, that means we’re free to leave and return home, right? I didn’t like this place anyway.”

      Layla had had enough. “Yes, you can leave, Tammy. I was going to release you from the team in the morning anyway. Have a safe trip back to Seattle.”

      Fury shone on Tammy’s face. “You’re dropping me from the team? You can’t do that.”

      “I just did.”

      Tammy lifted her chin. “It really doesn’t matter because there won’t be a dig team. Once Dr. Clayburn calculates the cost of all the equipment that was destroyed in the fire, he will call off the dig.”

      “The college probably insured the equipment. It won’t take long to get more in here,” Donnell said angrily. He stared at Tammy suspiciously. “And just where were you tonight, Tammy? I was in the hotel’s lobby and saw when you came in rather late. It wouldn’t surprise me if you torched this place.”

      From the looks on the faces of her other students, Layla could see they were thinking the same thing. Evidently Tammy saw it, as well. She backed up, away from the others. “I was with someone, so I have a concrete alibi. But I plan on giving Dr. Clayburn a call to tell him everything.”

      “And how do you have his phone number?” another student asked, making it pretty obvious all of them had an idea.

      “That’s none of your business,” Tammy snapped. And then she angrily walked off.

      Layla turned back to her students. “I will call Dr. Clayburn in the morning myself. Regardless of what Tammy says, I doubt he will shut down the project.”

      Although Layla said the words, she truly wasn’t so sure of that.

      * * *

      The next day, an angry Layla slammed down the phone. She could not believe the conversation she’d just had with Dr. Clayburn. She could not believe the audacity of the man.

      “What’s wrong, Layla?”

      She turned and saw Gavin. She hadn’t heard him enter the cottage. She saw the care and concern in his expression and she loved him even more than she already had. He had been so understanding and supportive. Incredibly, he’d been more concerned about the loss of her equipment than he had for the loss of his barn.

      Last night they had both talked to the sheriff, whom she’d discovered was a high school friend of Gavin’s. Sheriff Roy Wade was just as determined as Gavin to find the person responsible for the fire. And after checking for footprints, Gavin mentioned the ones around the burned barn were the same ones he’d seen when her marker had gone missing. It was obvious someone was trying to sabotage the dig. But who, and why?

      She drew in a deep breath. “That was Dr. Clayburn.”

      “And?”

      She blew out a frustrated and angry sigh. “Tammy got to him first. She probably called him last night like she threatened to do. He really didn’t want to hear anything I had to say.”

      Gavin crossed his arms over his chest with a furious look on his face. “You mean to tell me he’s taking a student’s word over yours?”

      Layla frowned. “Remember Tammy isn’t just another student. She’s also the man’s side piece. I didn’t want to believe it before, but I definitely believe it now. The influence she has over him! If I didn’t know better I’d think there’s more to it, that she’s blackmailing him with something.”

      Gavin dropped his arms and

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