And last night at Blackwood Prime, one fool of a cameraman followed Joy and Elena into the parking lot, asking about Sarah. Elena snatched the guy’s press pass and told him that if he showed his face again, he’d be leaving town with fewer teeth.
Nobody’s telling stories. Not the good, not the bad. Nothing.
Folks just say, “Mind your own business,” and keep walking.
Wildflower Canyon might love its gossip, but it protects its own when the wolves start circling, especially now when they know the truth, know how they failed Sarah.
Even when Noelle tried to pipe up at the Horseshoe, loud enough for a couple of reporters to hear, Eunice—queen of the place and not someone you argue with—stepped right into it. Near about physically shoved Noelle back down into her booth and told her to “Shut it before she embarrassed herself further.”
Sarah doesn’t quite believe it yet—she still braces forthe town to turn on her like it did once before. But I can see her easing, little by little. Every door held open, every smile at the diner, every person who won’t answer a reporter’s question—that’s Wildflower Canyon’s way of saying they’re sorry, and that she belongs here.
When Hugh summons us, she’s more than nervous. She’s downright anxious.
Sarah sits stiff-backed in one of the hard chairs in Hugh’s office, her hands clasped tight in her lap, her knee bouncing like she’s got ants under her skin.
Hugh’s there, which makes sense. But Kaz Chase? That one throws me. He’s propped against the wall, at ease in a way that feels intentional, like he’s meant to be here.
And that’s what gets me—I can’t read him. He’s not loud or showy like the other rich tech bros who roll through Wildflower Canyon in shiny cars. He moves differently. He’s measured.Alwayswatching.
And Hugh…hell, Hugh treats him like he’s part of the team. Says it’s ‘cause Kaz hascontacts.
“I wanted to talk to you before the whole freakin’ town does,” Hugh says flatly. There’s a vein throbbing in his temple. “We got Gilbert. Kaz spotted him over at Black Canyon, gave us the heads-up. Brought him in this morning.”
And what the fuck was Kaz Chase doin’ all the way in Gunnison National Park?
Sarah’s eyes widen. “You caught him?”
“The Feds have him. He moved county lines andstate lines and what have you, so he’s theirs.” Hugh shifts, and his chair groans under his bulk. “The story he’s spinnin’….” He shakes his head as if he’s tired and pissed all at once. “Says he was takin’ orders from Violet Mercer.”
Sarah grips my hand tightly and places it on her knee to stop it from bouncing off her chair.
“He admitted to tampering with the feed,” Hugh goes on. “To the fire. To the dead dog…and yes, it was roadkill, and writing the note.” He looks squarely at Sarah. “He says Violet paid him to do it.”
Sarah whispers, “I understand going after me, but…why Blue Rock?”
“‘Cause she wanted me to sell,” I reply dryly.
“But it’s all so…brutal,” Sarah remarks sadly.
She’s right. Paying off girls accusing her husband of rape is one thing; trying to murder someone by setting their house on fire is another, an escalation.
The woman’s lost her fuckin’ mind.
“Violet is colder than a snake in the snow,” I snap.
Hugh points a forefinger at me. “What he said. I’ll tell you straight—I don’t think Gilbert was the mastermind. Just muscle. Someone to get his hands dirty while she stayed pretty and polished.” He shrugs, worry etched on his face. “But we don’t know for sure ‘cause Violet Mercer has lawyered up.” He rubs his face.
I turn to Kaz. “And what’s your role here…besides tellin’ Hugh where to find Gilbert?”
Kaz looks amused. “I just help out where I can. Have a lot ofcontacts, you know.”
I don’t know, I want to say, but he did find Gilbert, so….
“You guys keep your guns close and each other closer, alright?” Hugh instructs.
“And between Mav and me, we’ll make sure that someone’s watchin’ your backs.” His gaze flicks to Sarah, then to me, and something about the way he says it makes the hair rise on the back of my neck.
Sarah arches an eyebrow. “Between you and Mav?”
