Vanish in Plain Sight by Marta Perry Page B

some misunderstanding, but that won’t wash. Something’s going on, and like it or not, it involves us.”
    “I don’t like it.” Trey held up his hand to forestall an angry comment. “But you’re right. Even if we could steer clear of the whole thing, you know as well as I do that Mom won’t.”
    Link nodded, his momentary anger fizzling away. He and Trey were alike in this. They both wanted to protect their mother from any more hurt. “Any ideas as to how we keep Mom from getting involved?”
    Trey looked harassed. “I’ve been trying to figure that one out since Dad died, without much success. But she does seem to assume you’re keeping an eye on Marisa. Maybe that’ll help.”
    Keep an eye on Marisa. Stay close to her. “I’ve got a house to renovate, remember?”
    “You’re the one who found that suitcase, remember?” Trey turned his question right back on him.
    “I should have thrown it in the trash without opening it.”
    “You really believe that?” Trey gave him a questioning look.
    “No.” He bit off the word, thinking of that photograph of Marisa and her mother. “But maybe we’ll all be wishing that before this is over.” He noddedtoward the door. “I could use something cold to drink. You?”
    “Sounds good.” Trey followed him toward the door, still frowning, his mind obviously on the problematic possibilities. “You know Mom feels responsible. I wouldn’t put it past her to be scurrying around trying to find things out about Allen, and stirring up a lot of gossip while she does.”
    “She’s got your wedding to look forward to,” Link said. “And don’t think Libby and I aren’t grateful for that.” He grinned, thinking of his twin. “Maybe it’ll distract Mom from both playing detective and our single state.”
    “I wouldn’t count on that.” Trey smiled, his eyes softening at the mention of his and Jessica’s wedding. “Once Mom smells orange blossoms, she’ll try to get the whole lot of us married off.”
    Link shoved the door open. Just inside he stopped, senses alert. He put out a hand to keep Trey from moving.
    “What?” Trey said, his voice quiet.
    “Somebody’s been in here.”
    Trey looked around the barren room. “Are you sure?”
    He nodded. “The box on the workbench has been emptied out. I didn’t leave it that way.” He might be careless about some things, but not his equipment. “And there’s insulation pulled loose from that wall.” He pointed to the section next to the fireplace.
    “We’d better have a look around.” Trey picked upa length of wood from the workbench, hefting it like a bat. “I’ll check upstairs.”
    It was a matter of minutes to check the house, empty except for a few pieces of furniture Link had been meaning to have a dealer come to evaluate and Uncle Allen’s books, which would have to be sorted. No one was in the house, but some books had been pulled from their shelves and a marble-topped table moved across a bedroom.
    “Nothing missing?” Trey asked when they reached the family room again.
    “Not that I can tell.” He shrugged, annoyed with himself. “I guess I should have locked up when I left to run to the hardware store this morning, but I figured I’d only be gone a half hour or so.”
    Trey frowned absently at the fireplace. “Could have been somebody who was just curious. Talk’s been going around, probably getting exaggerated as it goes.”
    “Maybe.” That was as likely as anything, so why did he have so much trouble buying it? “I suppose I still should tell Adam.”
    “Yes.” Trey growled the word.
    Link understood his feelings. No matter how much either of them wanted to be clear of this situation, they couldn’t ignore it. Barbara Angelo’s presence, whatever her relationship to his uncle, would certainly have been less complicated than her disappearance.

CHAPTER SIX
    “I DON’T SUPPOSE I could convince you to go home and let the police handle this situation.” Eileen Davies,