Jenna was the last person Sam expected to show up at the lab, especially after Phil had basically booted her out. He had no idea how she’d made it past security, unless Phil had left her name with the guard. It was one more thing to investigate.

“I hope you don’t mind me stopping by,” she said, half out of breath. “When I called the Center to speak with you, they patched me through to your boss.” As she breezed by him, her floral scent tightened his groin. “He said I was welcome to stop by anytime.”

The matchmaker would hear about this. Only Chance knew about what happened with Sam’s wife and why he didn’t want or need another relationship.

Jenna leaned over the pile of bones on the gurney, her hands clasped behind her back. He didn’t have time to socialize, and he certainly didn’t have time to think about her or her scent. “I hope you don’t mind if I work while you look around. I have a lot to do.” He thought that came off well—welcoming, but not inviting. A non-scientist would become bored in less than five minutes. She’d be saying goodbye in no time.

Jenna frowned and nervously ran her finger through her hair. Damn. He hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings, but he wasn’t convinced he’d proven himself to Phil yet, and time was of the essence. Alienating her wasn’t his goal either. Jenna might be able to help with what went on in Botanica’s back room.

“No problem.” She strutted over to the computers. “What’s this?”

The superimposed X-ray over one of the skulls gleamed a bright blue. “I was trying to match some dental X-rays to the skull in the cauldron.”

“Cauldron?”

“The pink shrink wrapped item you saw the other day when you were here.”

“Oh.” She bent over the computer screen. “Those two look like they match.”

Apparently the fact the cauldron contained a skull didn’t seem odd. He supposed it made sense since she worked in the business. He walked over to where she stood. “I thought so at first too.” He tapped the screen. “See how the teeth don’t line up precisely.”

“Yes.”

“Means those two are the wrong people.”

When she continued to study what was on the screen, he moved back to the gurney and slid his magnifying glass over the cranium.

“Now, what are you looking for?” He almost jumped. He hadn’t noticed she’d stepped close. Too close in fact.

“I’m trying to identify the victim’s age.”

She eased back to give him room. “How can you tell that from just a skull?”

He debated suggesting he explain at a later date, but since she seemed so interested, he didn’t want to extinguish her enthusiasm. The teacher in him had kicked in. “See these cracks in the skull?” She nodded. “The smoother they are, the older the person. This one is no teenager.”

Jenna leaned back as if someone had pushed her. “Male or female?”

“I can’t tell yet.” The color in her face had gone from slightly pink to death white. “Are you okay?”

She looked up and he could have sworn her eyes were watering. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Do you want to sit?” He nodded to the stool.

Her smile faltered. “No, I’m good.” She pointed to another skullcap. “And this one?”

She might sound fine, but her clenched fists told him otherwise. “This person was late twenties to early thirties.”

Jenna’s brows pinched together as if she were trying to do a complex mathematical formula in her head. “I can’t imagine the connection between those two. How did they end up in the same melting pot, so to speak?”

He had to hand it to her. She was clever. “I have no idea, nor is it my job to figure that out. I’m just here to find the identity of the people.”

“Any evidence of trauma?”

Her question surprised him. Even taking into account all the CSI shows, Jenna’s deathly serious tone set off an internal alarm.

“On the older one, yes.”

Sam’s stomach let out a loud grumble. Jenna grabbed his arm and tugged, as if the previous conversation had never existed. “I’m famished too. What do you say we get something to eat?”

“You go ahead. I’ve got work to do.”

She leaned closer and poked his arm. Her large, brown eyes searched his face. She was such a tiny thing, and her clean scent raced to his groin. Stupid body.

“You are human. Right? You have to eat sometime.”

Before he answered, a series of beeps, indicating someone was entering his lab, interrupted them.

Jenna’s eyes widened and her mouth half opened. “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I should go and let you do your thing.”

Carla Pendowski, the computer guru never made a lab visit—at least not to his lab, but he was glad she’d chosen that moment to enter. The tech glanced over at Jenna. “Hi, I’m Carla.”

“Jenna Richman.”

Carla turned toward Sam, winked, and held out an envelope. “I have a letter addressed to you. It looked important so I brought it right over.”

He looked at Jenna. “Give me a sec, and I’ll walk you out.” Though if she got in through the security doors without his help, she probably could get out. He took the #10 envelope with his name typed in large bold letters, set it down, and pulled off his gloves. There was no return address or stamp. “Who’s it from?”

“What do I look like? A snoop? I didn’t open it.” She shot Jenna a conspiratorial smirk. He figured woman did that kind of thing. What did he know?

He ripped open the short end and emptied the contents on the counter. A tri-fold letter fell out. When he reached out to pick it up, Jenna stopped him.

“Maybe you should use gloves.”

Who was this woman? “Why? Do you think the envelope is tainted with anthrax or something?” He chuckled, but she didn’t return the smile.

“Well, it’s been done before.” If only she knew how much he respected her insight, she wouldn’t have acted insulted.

Carla planted a hand on her hip, her brows raised. “Ever hear of fingerprints?”

Sam shook his head and smiled. “You women. Why must you think in such sinister terms?” Both of the women’s eyes widened. He must have overreacted. Being near Jenna made him lose his tight reign on logic.

“You don’t know where the envelope has been,” Carla chimed in.

“Fine, but how do you know it’s not from a female admirer?”

Carla chuckled. “I haven’t seen you glance at a female since you’ve worked here. Until now, I hear.”

God. He didn’t need Jenna thinking she was the exception to the rule. “You girls win.” Sam pulled on a clean pair of latex gloves and picked up the letter. He read the short message, not quite understanding why anyone would have sent it to him—or what it meant.

As Jenna peeked over his arm. “Who’s it from?” she asked in a sultry whisper.

“I have no idea.”

“Read it out loud.”

He cleared his throat. “Beware the bones you seek to identify. I will curse you if you disturb their souls.” He tossed the letter on the table. “That’s dumb.”

Silence passed between Carla and Jenna until a small sound eked out of Carla’s mouth.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Her eyes glistened. “It’s a curse. You should put the bones back into the cauldron and tell Phil you refuse to work on the case.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “You believe in that black magic stuff? This is a joke. I wouldn’t be surprised if Phil sent this because I have the cauldron.”

“I don’t think so.” Carla wrapped her arms around her waist, and her large, gaudy ring caught in the mesh of her shawl. She tried to pull it out, but that seemed to make things worse.

Jenna shot over to Carla. “Stand still. I’ll help.”

As Jenna freed her, a tear dripped down Carla’s cheek.

“Carla, did something happen to make you fear spells?” he asked. There was more to the story than some witch’s spell.

She spun around and punched the door open button. “I can’t talk about it.” She ran down the hall.

Had Jenna not been with him, he would have followed her. Perhaps Gina could offer some insights on Carla’s odd behavior. The women in the lab seemed to stick together.

When Sam turned back to Jenna, he caught her reading the note he’d left on the counter. Fortunately, she had the sense not to touch the paper with her bare hands. She too was acting as if this threat was for real.

She glanced up. “Could you make a copy of this? I have a friend who might be able to help with the meaning?”

“Not a problem, but I don’t believe I’m in harm’s way.”

“Think about it. You receive a cauldron full of bones. How many people were even aware you’re working on this case?”

“Besides you?”

She opened her mouth, and then shut it. “Yes, besides me.”

“The Tampa Police Department. They recovered the cauldron. And Phil, my boss, who assigned me to the case, along with his assistant, Gina.”

“How about the owner of the cauldron? Where did the police find these bones?”

“In a storage shed on Dale Mabry, why?”

“Do you know for sure the owner didn’t see the police take possession of the cauldron? Or follow the cops to this facility?”

He liked her sharp mind. Sam didn’t think like a criminal, but Jenna apparently did.

She ran her fingers through her hair. From the softening of her face, the silky texture gave her pleasure. His mind jumped to doing the same thing until she dropped her hands.

“It’s worth looking into, but how did they know I was the one with the cauldron. I’m not the only forensic anthropologist at HOPEFAL.”

Jenna’s right shoulder jutted forward. “Do you know if the police checked the logs for who entered the storage area last?”

“How should I know? I just analyze bones. I’m not a detective, nor do I interface with the cops. That’s Phil’s job.”

She rolled her eyes. “You can lower your shields, Scottie.”

Okay, so she nailed him. It just wasn’t a topic he wanted to discuss. Bottom line, the cops had failed his wife, and he didn’t trust them.

She snapped her fingers. “Could someone here at the lab have leaked the information?”

He stared at her wide-eyed, innocent face. To his knowledge, no outsider other than Jenna had been in his lab. Could she be the leak? “I wouldn’t know.” But he sure as hell would find out.