In the truck now, Denver started to text Sophie. But halfway through typing it, his phone rang. The number wasn’t one he had saved, but the Hawaii area code caused him to answer before it went to voicemail. “Hello?”
“Denver Grant?”
“Speaking.”
“Cort Perkins.”
Denver’s hired PI. “Calling with news, I hope?”
“I’ll shoot you an email with all the details, but figured you might want the highlight reel over the phone.”
Denver glanced though the specialty grocery store’s window, hoping Liam would still be a few minutes. The first person he intended to tell about the man he hired was Sophie. She deserved that much since he went behind her back. “You find him?”
“Sure did. In a cheap hole-in-the-wall bar, drinking even cheaper whiskey.”
The hair on the back of Denver’s neck raised. He had a suspicion where this was headed. “You talked to him?”
“Amazing what a desperate man will divulge for a couple free drinks. I fact-checked everything I’m about to tell you. The colorful details I can’t confirm. Well, that will cost you extra if you want those.” Cort cleared his throat.
As a mystery writer, Denver knew all too well where speculation could lead, and often used it as a tool in his books to lead characters and readers alike off course and down rabbit holes. He wanted to offer Sophie closure, not create more questions. “Just the facts.”
“Blake Kassels was fired from the hospital and stripped of his medical license. He had a problem showing up to work sober, turns out. Nearly botched a surgery and is being sued for malpractice. Luckily the guy lived, but he’s been suffering complications ever since.”
Though Sophie didn’t mention much about Blake, she never hinted he had a drinking problem. Maybe it wasn’t a problem at all until he broke up his marriage. Being sued might explain why the lawyers weren’t eager to return Mr. Jenkins’ call. They likely already had their hands full.
“His new wife filed for divorce two months ago and is requesting full custody of her kids. Their beachfront mini-mansion is in the middle of foreclosure proceedings. Credit cards are maxed out. Every debt collector on the island wants to hunt him down.”
“So, he’s broke.”
“The man’s broker than broke. Living-out-of-his-car broke. He’s only got that because it’s paid off.”
Denver hated what all this meant: that Sophie would no longer receive that thousand-dollar monthly stipend. Her chances of moving out of the lodge and on her own anytime soon were nonexistent. She’d be crushed.
But she’d have answers. Closure.
“Thanks, Cort. Anything else?”
“Kassels gave me his card, at the bar. Phone number’s valid. Did you want it?”
Denver wasn’t sure he could be trusted with it considering all the things he wanted to say to that man, but he had to try. The number would never be for him. As much as he hated to think of Sophie calling her ex-husband, she deserved to make that decision for herself. “Yeah, send it.”
As Liam pushed a cart full of groceries toward the truck, Denver ended Cort’s call. A couple of days after Sophie’s marathon, Denver would turn over the information for her to do with what she wanted. If she felt the need to call, he’d support her. If she wanted to light that phone number on fire, he’d support that too.
“Sorry that took so long,” Liam apologized as he emptied the bags in the back seat, declining Denver’s offer to help. “I’ve never even heard of some of these ingredients. I tried to find them myself, but broke down and asked for help. Don’t tell Tessa.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Good. Guess we better go get your girl a ring.”
* * *
Sophie
Sophie stepped back into the den’s doorway, admiring the miracle she’d managed to pull off. The room screamed moose and six-year-old. She hoped Caroline loved it. She also hoped that after showing her sisters the potential this room had to offer, even sans new furniture, they would reconsider letting her take on the venue project.
The idea had emerged into a big dream since it took root only yesterday, and Sophie hadn’t been able to let it go. She wanted to be the lodge’s event planner. They could start by renting the room for smaller parties. Someday, they might even host weddings in the backyard.
For the first time in her entire life, she had something of her own to cling to.
