Having visitors wasn’t normally a good idea, but one, Jo needed the support from her friend, and two, Cole needed the support of his brother. After the day they’d had, Hawk and Remi had come to the house intending to stay tonight. Hawk would assist Cole in providing extra security detail.
Jo and Remi moved to the living area and spoke in too low a tone for Cole to make out what they were saying, but they effectively left Hawk and Cole to finish setting up dinner. Cole plated the Asian chicken and noodles and vegetables for each of them, then set the plates on the table.
Hawk grabbed enough bottled water for everyone out of the fridge.
“Have you learned anything more about today?” Hawk kept his voice down.
“No. I’m letting Allison dig into it. She has the image. Jo mentioned trying to complete the sketch, but she’s been through so much already. I can’t ask her to do that.” But he had a feeling she might attempt it on her own. She had the ability to create extraordinarily accurate images, so maybe he should encourage her to complete the image. He suspected she might attempt to combine the eyes she’d drawn with the lower half of the gunman’s face. He’d considered that as well. Allison would reach out to her forensic artist contacts and send Cole something soon.
Hawk’s gaze narrowed as he scrutinized his brother. “But there is something else you haven’t told me. What is it?”
Cole and Hawk weren’t twins, but Hawk’s ability to read Cole always surprised him. It shouldn’t.
“Naomi told us that Mason knew Jo’s mother before.”
“Before? Before what?”
“That’s what we want to figure out. She then tried to tell us to look something up, but she was incoherent, and we couldn’t make out the words. But Jo and I are on the same page in that we think her father’s intentional disappearance is related to her mother’s murder.”
“Wait. You don’t think he—”
“No. Not that he murdered her. But that something happened. Mason was on that ferry to talk to Jo, and he was murdered. It’s even possible the attack today was meant for Naomi. She and Mason could have been the ones targeted.” Cole detailed the rest.
“But the bomb,” Hawk said.
“Jo could be in the crossfire of whatever this is. Whatever is going on, I think it’s possible that Jo could be her father’s kryptonite.”
Brows furrowed, Hawk nodded. “I think you’re right. She is her father’s weakness. She could be used against him, if that’s what is going on here.”
“She remains in danger no matter the reason.”
His back to Jo and Remi, Cole ran his hand down his face. Remi approached and slid her hand around Hawk’s arm. Cole couldn’t help that he was a little jealous of his brother’s ability to finally move forward in a relationship.
Cole wanted that too, but at this moment, he couldn’t see a way forward, even on the other side of this danger, especially after the debacle moments earlier. Jo sat at the table, and Cole focused on this moment in time with Hawk and Remi and Jo—the people to whom he was closest in this world.
“I appreciate you bringing dinner,” she said. “But ... honestly, I’m not all that hungry.”
“You need to eat,” Cole, Hawk, and Remi said simultaneously.
Eyes wide, Jo stared at them. “Well, I’d better try. I get the feeling someone might shove the food down my throat if I don’t.”
“You’re too thin as it is, Jo.” Remi smiled. “I figured you wouldn’t have an appetite, and I told Brad.”
Cole watched her as Remi and Hawk talked about their day—anything to avoid talking about Cole and Jo’s day. Remi shared that the storm system coming through had brought spectacular displays at the storm-watching lodge. Then Jo told Remi the best way to fix the door that always got stuck in Cabin 8. But behind all the conversation, Cole suspected they all tried to ignore the growing sense of dread.
After dinner, Hawk and Cole cleaned up the dishes while Remi and Jo sat on the sofa and drank tea.
“Sheriff Thatcher wants to stop by tomorrow and bring his new detective, Braden Sanders.”
Cole shook his head. “I don’t know about one more person involved or coming to the house, Hawk. Today, after everything else, was over the top. Besides, we already have too many agencies with the proverbial finger in this pie.”
“I already told him to come.”
“You did that without talking to me first. I’m running this protective detail.” Cole dried his hands, then snapped the towel.
“The other option is we go out in the world to meet them.”
“Why does he need to meet?” Cole asked.
