He crossed to the window and scanned the tree area outside. Nothing. At least, nothing that he could see.
The thud of footsteps behind him had Colt turning to see Noah and Randy stepping into the room.
“Someone’s been staying here,” Colt said quietly. “I think they snuck out when they heard me come in.”
Randy didn’t seem fazed. “Probably Milo.”
Colt frowned. “Who’s Milo?”
“He’s a drunk. He has a home, but he gets kicked out almost every night. We find him squatting in rundown or out-of-the-way places around town.”
“I assume you call the sheriff,” Noah said.
“Nope. He eventually leaves. Good guy, just doesn’t know how to limit his liquor.” Randy snapped his notebook closed. “I think I’ve got everything. I read in an email there’s an old hunting shed on the west side. Are we doing anything with that?”
Noah shook his head. “It’s a mile into the forest above the bouldering cliff. Access isn’t great, so we’re leaving it for now.”
“Easy. I’ll put the quote and timeline together and get back to you.”
“When would you be able to start?” Colt asked.
“We’re just finishing a big job now, so if you give me the go-ahead, pretty much right away.”
Noah smiled. “This feels too easy, Randy.”
The older man chuckled. “Wait until we start. So many problems will pop up you’ll be begging me for easy.”
They headed back outside. When they reached the cars, it was evening and officially dark.
Colt shook Randy’s hand. “Looking forward to working with you.”
Randy laughed again. “You say that now. Just wait.”
When Randy left, Colt turned to Noah. “We really doing this?”
“I’m more excited than I was before. I love getting my hands dirty.”
He did too. But then, he’d never been scared off by a bit of hard work. And right now, he needed a distraction from Indie. “Guess we’re reopening the Wilderness Adventure Park.”
“You sure you don’t mind putting the money in for the startup?”
Colt grinned. “What the hell else am I going to do with that trust fund?”
“Gamble? Buy a private jet? An island?”
“Not really my thing.” He squeezed Noah’s shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
He headed back to his car. He was about to start the engine when his phone rang. His muscles locked when he saw the name on the screen.
Indie.
“I don’t thinkthey’re in here,” Clara called, voice sounding far away.
But she couldn’t bethatfar. The freestanding shed on the back of her property was only six by six. Although, there were a hell of a lot of boxes in here. Boxes of stuff she’d shared with Colt. Photobooks. Bed sheets. Little trinkets that he’d given her.
“I didn’t think they were either, but we checked every inch of the house,” Indie said, rummaging through one of the stacked boxes. “I thought I put the rings in a box, sealed it up in my closet, but they weren’t there. Maybe I accidently put them in here.”
But she really hoped she hadn’t. They were far too expensive for that.
