We hired seasonal workers each year, and Will had helped in the past.
“No. He got a full-time job at the co-op,” Josh said. “We hired him to replace Bob last year. He was handling deliveries and managing the storage warehouse.”
“So he was here on the farm for pickup?” Gabe said. “Do you know when exactly? And you’ve got cameras, right?”
Josh straightened, his muscles going rigid. “We have them, mostly near the main house. But one of them may have caught the truck coming up the road.”
“Okay. Get the footage.” Gabe drained his coffee and checked his watch. “Here’s the plan. Our focus for now is damage control and helping the police do their job. The sooner they lock up the person who did this, the sooner life here can go back to normal.”
“Agreed.”
“I’m issuing a mayoral statement at noon and have a couple of interviews scheduled for later. This is a terrible tragedy for our town and Will’s family. We can’t forget that.”
My chest ached at the thought of what his family must be going through.
“Jenn and Josh,” he continued, “inventory statements and delivery and tracking info. And get a list of everyone who could have touched those pallets.”
“I’ll see if we can pull footage from the co-op cameras too,” Josh said. “We’ve technically got legal counsel, but I’m not sure how much help he can be here.”
“Keep the circle tight,” Gabe warned, his expression stony.
“Jasper.” He turned to me. “Keep an ear to the ground at work, learn as much as you can from those who responded to the scene.”
Jess exhaled over the line. “After this is over, I’m going to buy the baby the tiniest Carhartt overalls, and we’ll do cute photos in the barn. Consider yourself warned.”
I smiled at the mention of Vincent. Of course he’d need overalls. He’d be a farm boy like me. Or would he? The realization hit me like a brick to the head. He was my son, but he probably wouldn’t live with me. At least not right now. He wouldn’t get to grow up on this land like we had.
Gabe pocketed his phone and picked up his briefcase. “We’ll get through this,” he said firmly. “Just be careful. Things will work out.”
He took a step back, but before he turned toward the door, he pointed at me. “And you need a paternity test.”
Anger flared in my chest again.
Maybe they didn’t believe Evie, but I did. We barely knew each other, but I trusted her. And I’d held that baby. In my bones, I knew he was mine.
Fists clenched, I worked to formulate a reasonable response. Tensions were running high, and despite the way their demands pissed me off, they just wanted to protect me.
“Paperwork is protective,” Jenn said. “Tell him, Jess.”
“Brian can help,” Jess said.
Jess’s boyfriend, Brian, specialized in family law in New York but had recently gotten licensed to practice in Vermont too.
“He can talk to you when you’re ready.”
Gabe clapped me on the shoulder. “In the meantime, I’ll draw up some papers. There is no rush, but it’s the right thing to do.”
My gut churned. Nothing about this felt right.
The only thing that felt right was getting back into my car and driving to the hospital.
After Gabe left, I stepped into the mudroom, needing a moment. The house smelled like woodsmoke and maple, and Josh’s and Jenn’s voices sawed through the door of the small room while they argued about murder, manifests, and liability.
As if the universe knew I needed an update, my phone lit up in my hand.
I reread the text I’d sent when I got home, then I smiled at Evie’s response.
Jasper:
