Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Shabina held her breath.
“I can’t locate their whereabouts at any of the times Scorpion struck in the countries he murdered in.”
Shabina forced air through her lungs. “I appreciate you trying,” she said.
Vienna didn’t—and couldn’t—know about Rainier and the danger he was in so Shabina couldn’t ask questions of Raine in front of her. She wanted as many details on the two men claiming to be Interpol agents as fast as possible. She would have to warn Rainier to stay away from her. They would need to cut all ties. It was the only way to ensure his safety.
The thought of never seeing Rainier again was devastating to her. She knew he wouldn’t ever love her the way she loved him. She accepted that. But never seeing him again? Knowing when she was at her very worst, she could never call for him? That was one more thing to cross off her “to live for” list.
It didn’t help her uneasiness that Raine couldn’t rule out any of them from being associated with Scorpion or his mass murders.
Patsy collected the dishes, and Vienna ordered coffee with orange cranberry scones. Raine ordered tea and said she’d eat Vienna’s scones. Patsy clucked at Shabina as she cleared away the uneaten zucchini sticks and smoothie.
“Vaughn is going to lecture you,” she cautioned.
“I know.” Shabina tried to sound as if she were laughing it off. “I’m getting used to his lectures.”
“I forgot to tell you,” Vienna said, as Patsy walked away. “Harlow called this morning and said Edward came around to her studio. He had a sketch book with a few drawings he’d done of birds. She said she was shocked at how good he was. He told her he hadn’t drawn since high school, and he was struggling with proportions. He had really good photographs, she said, and she didn’t think his drawings were that far off, but he was very critical of them and frustrated. She thought Stella was the best person to talk to. You know she’s an excellent artist, even though she never shows her paintings to anyone but her closest friends—and Sam.”
“Oh no,” Shabina said softly. “Another reason for Bale to be angry at me. I did notice Edward was really paying attention during the bird-watching tour. He asked questions even when Bale made fun of him. At one point, it was pretty clear Bale was annoyed with him for being interested. I had no idea Edward was an artist.”
“Like I said, Harlow indicated Edward said he hadn’t drawn anything since high school. She was even more impressed with his work because of that,” Vienna said.
“Bale would really feel as if he were losing control of his boyhood friends if Sean refused to do what he wanted and then Edward acted in the least friendly way toward you,” Raine said.
“I wouldn’t say he was friendly,” Shabina objected. “Just not hostile.”
“To Bale that would be the same as friendly,” Raine said. “That would be a betrayal, in his opinion. In his eyes, you’re stealing Sean and Edward. Jason already left him. I would say Bale is getting desperate and will do just about anything to assert his dominance over those men and everyone else around him. He’s spiraling. I wouldn’t want to work for him.”
“He’d make a terrible boss anyway,” Vienna stated. “I can’t imagine what he’s like now, when he’s acting so out of control.”
“Once I’ve collected all the evidence against him for harassing and threatening you,” Raine said, “I’ll have you swear out a complaint and ask for a restraining order. We can bypass the judge here with just cause. Fortunately, some of his harassment occurred on federal land and earns him a federal charge.”
Shabina shook her head. “If I get a restraining order against him, Raine, and I’m at the Grill for a night out with all of you, he won’t be able to go into the building. That isn’t going to sit well with him.”
“That’s his problem, not yours,” Vienna said. “He brought that on himself if it happens. You didn’t ask him to treat you like dirt or threaten to burn down the café.”
“Or threaten to shoot your dogs,” Raine added.
Patsy returned with coffee, tea and scones. Just as she set Vienna’s coffee and Raine’s tea on the table with the scones they’d ordered, Vienna’s alarm went off. As head of Search and Rescue, she was nearly always the first to be called when someone went missing. She frowned as she read the text.
“One of the members from the trail rehabilitation crew, Charlie Gainer, didn’t make it back to camp last night. The other crews searched for him through the night and most of this morning, but they haven’t been able to find him. They’ve asked for help.” She was already getting to her feet.
Her eyes met Shabina’s. Shabina could see the apprehension. The dread. Shabina tasted fear in her mouth. She didn’t want to think it was too late for Charlie Gainer, but that dark roiling in the pit of her stomach told her he was most likely the latest victim of the murderer. Why? Why Charlie Gainer? Was he murdered because he knew something about Scorpion? The thought was terrifying.