Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Nothing solid?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Did you talk to Sterling?” I asked, pretty sure Avery had been Sterling’s second phone call after she’d gotten her info on Matthew, if not her first. Avery nodded.
“What she gave me was helpful,” I said, “but so far, it’s not enough. Not yet. Can you wait for the rest until after dinner? I need to talk to Griffen and Hawk.”
She smiled up at me, curling her palm over my thigh under the table. “I can wait. Thanks, West.”
“For what?” I asked, temporarily distracted by her hand on my leg.
“For being you, I guess. I hate all of this. This whole situation sucks. But it’s temporary.” She squeezed my leg. “Because we’re going to figure it out.”
“Absolutely,” I promised, a little staggered by her trust. “I’m not going to let you down, Avery.”
“Not even a question, West.” She leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder for a second. “Any crazy tourist stuff happen today?”
I told her about a toddler who’d gotten his hand stuck in a candy jar in the general store because he wouldn’t relax his fist-full of gummy bears long enough to pull his arm free. I loved the way she laughed, tipping her head back, the sound full-throated and joyful.
I’m sure there was conversation around us as we ate, but I didn’t hear it—happy to end my day sitting next to Avery. After dessert, a wild berry crumble, I nodded to Griffen. He raised his chin in return.
“What was that?” Avery asked, looking between us.
“Meeting in Griffen’s office,” I explained.
She smiled and shook her head. On the way down the hall, her hand slid into mine, and she tugged. I looked down to see her eyes hesitant, her smile a little tentative.
“Keep an open mind, okay?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, sudden nerves tightening in my stomach.
Avery didn’t answer, just nudged me ahead of her into Griffen’s office. Hawk was already there.
“What did you find out?” Griffen asked, ignoring his desk, to sit on the sofa closest to the fireplace. Avery and I sat opposite him, while Hawk remained standing. “Did you get anything?”
“Not enough to make a solid arrest, but enough that I know Holt’s our guy,” I said, and filled them in on the investigation so far.
“You can’t arrest him with that?” Avery asked.
Hawk answered before I could. “He could probably get a judge to sign off on it. But West wants more than just enough to make an arrest. He wants something rock solid. Grab Holt too early, and he could spook and hide his trail.”
I nodded. “I’m going to arrest this guy, Avery, but I’m going to do it when I know I won’t have to let him go, when I know he can’t snake free. He could have killed you. The last thing I want is for him to be on guard.”
“He thinks I’m under arrest, right?” Avery asked.
“Technically, you are. You’re just not sitting in jail.”
“But Matthew wouldn’t expect me to stay in jail,” she said. “There’s no judge in this part of the state that wouldn’t grant bail to a Sawyer.”
“Unless you murdered another Sawyer,” I said, thinking of Ford.
“Good point,” she agreed. “You were at Wild Haven. How bad is it?”
“It’s bad,” I said. “The structure is going to need to be rebuilt. Some of the equipment may have made it.”
“That sucks,” she said, looking down at the rug beneath her feet. “Bob doesn’t deserve to be caught in whatever this is with Matthew. How could he do that?”
No one answered her question. Griffen stood, paced to the tall French doors, and looked out into the dark gardens behind the Manor. When he turned, I didn’t like the look on his face. He had that same hesitance I’d seen in Avery, and beneath that, a resolve that made me sit straighter.
“What?” I asked.
“We have an idea,” he said, “but you aren’t going to like it.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
AVERY
Itook a deep breath through my nose to calm my racing heart, soothed as I always was by the piney, stringent scent of hops. I wasn’t in my own place—the hops room at Bear Run was far bigger than my storage closet. But still, the scent soothed me. I needed it.
A half hour ago, I’d been fired up, ready to put our plan into action. Now that I was here, in this too-quiet, dimly lit room, I was having second thoughts. Too late. I was in it. No escape.
And then it really was too late, as the door swung open, and Matthew walked in.
He stopped short when he saw me. “Avery?” Quickly, he shut the door behind him, turning the lock. “What are you doing here? I thought Chris—” He shook his head. “Did anyone see you come in?”
“No,” I said, trying to look scared and desperate, knowing I was better off if Matthew felt like he had the upper hand. I tucked my hair behind my ears and wrapped my arms around my chest.