“Did you hear me? Jo’s dad warned us.”
Hawk’s brows lifted. “That’s telling.”
“Who is this guy?” Cole asked. “You’ve spent more time with him than I have.”
“Not really. People work. They live their lives. I didn’t see him that much.”
“Are you telling me that you saw Gizmo enough, he knows and trusts you on the scariest day of his life? You saw him more than Jo’s dad?”
Hawk shrugged. “I met Gizmo twice. Once was all it took for him to trust me. I never had a long conversation with Ray.”
“You never needed your vehicle repaired?”
“Once. Remi’s twice. The other mechanic took care of it.”
Cole watched as the volunteer fire department put out what was left of the fire, and two deputies stood back, talked, and looked at the devastation.
“And you never suspected anything was off with him?”
“Dude, there’s a lot off about people around here, but no, he’s just the local mechanic and auto-body guy. He knowshow to fix cars inside and out, from what I’m told. Been here for almost thirty years, if not more.”
“Well, apparently, he’s much more than the local mechanic,” Cole said.
“That aside, we have another problem.”
“Well, what is it?”
“A reporter showed up at Cedar Trails looking for Jo. Her safe haven is blown.”
And I just sent her there.
12
Breathe.Just breathe.Jo tried to focus on the road. Think about Mrs. Crawford in the back seat. Anything to avoid the awful images seared in her mind of her beautiful haven blown to bits.
Her father’s text. What did it mean? What did it all mean? Anguish squeezed her insides. Why hadn’t her father told her his real name? Maybe he was the danger Mom wanted her to run from all along—because how would she know? Mom hadn’t even told her about him.
Nausea erupted, but she held it together because she was delivering a scared woman to Cedar Trails. If Jo had been driving alone, she might have just pulled over and lost it on the side of the road. Or she would have stayed with Cole.
“Jo, honey, I’m sorry about your house,” Mrs. Crawford said. “It can be rebuilt, but you’re alive, and I’m praying for you.”
The woman sounded like she’d composed herself and found the strength needed to make it through this, and she’d found it in her faith.
If only Jo could be so strong. “Thank you.”
Jo finally steered the Yukon up the long drive to Cedar Trails. On this dark and stormy night. She chuckled through her tears and swiped at her nose. She’d been flirting with Cole. Actually flirting with him when the outside world came crashing down on them. Jo shoved thoughts of Cole away.
Remi was already running from the lodge and toward Jo when she swerved into a parking spot. Jo hopped out and assisted Mrs. Crawford. The woman hugged her long and hard. Remi joined in, the three of them ignoring the cold and rain.
“Let’s get inside and out of this weather,” Mrs. Crawford said. “Remi, dear, Jo’s going to need your attention.”
The woman’s words surprised her. She’d gone through it too, except, well, her house was still intact.
“I’m fine,” Jo lied.
She wanted to be anywhere but here at the moment. This place only reminded her of Pop, who had brought her to Hidden Bay to begin with. She started toward the lodge, but Remi held her back. Mrs. Crawford kept moving, unaware that Jo remained by the Yukon.
“Jo, there’s a reporter here, hanging around. I tried to get rid of him, but he’s going to stay until he finds you and talks to you. I just wanted to warn you to be on your guard. Maybe you can just wait in my office.”
