“What do you mean?”Christian asked, voice lower now.
“Losing Hank like that,” Damian said.“It still grates.I don’t blame Flossy or Amka, but I don’t like that there’s a video of Hank dying floating out there.”
The idea made Christian want to punch somebody.“Ditto.”
“We’ve got to find that footage,” Brock said, fingers tapping the side of his coffee cup.“Fast.”He grimaced.“The fact that Jarod’s laptop and phone are missing doesn’t look good for Amka if the troopers learn about the blackmail.”
“I’ll use EVE’s resources,” Damian said.“Our tools can track digital movement, even off-grid.But if Teller was telling the truth, and someone else has the video?They’ll upload it.Sooner rather than later.”
Chapter27
Behind the bar, Amka checked through a list of supplies she’d need for the coming week.Now that the plane route occurred at least every other day, she didn’t have to plan so far ahead.She read the paper again, fighting to stay focused.Jarod was dead.While she didn’t want to be selfish, what did that mean for her?Sure, she didn’t believe he deserved to be murdered.But what about the video?
Who had it and when would they either upload it to a social media site or turn it over to the DA in Anchorage?
Should she give Flossy a heads-up?She didn’t want to alarm the elderly woman, but she also wouldn’t want to be surprised by this.
Of course, that might be the least of Amka’s worries.The troopers obviously considered her a suspect in Jarod’s death, and she couldn’t fault them.They’d personally witnessed her punch him the night of his death.
Her focus kept shifting from Jarod to the night with Christian.It had been incredible, but he hadn’t exactly waxed poetic that morning.However, he was living a much more stable life than she’d known.Maybe he’d stick around town, not that he’d mentioned building his life with another person.Oh, he wanted her.Maybe even liked her.Although, she was crazy to be thinking about the future right now.About romance.Her life was a disaster.
Lucas nursed a beer at the far end of bar, his fingers flying over his laptop.It was nice to see him writing and not putting out fires.She checked to make sure he didn’t need a refill.Not yet.
Helene Stanford walked up from her chair by the dartboards, briefcase over her shoulder and her dark hair up in an intricate braid.She sat on a stool and plunked her case on the one next to her.“I was hoping we could chat now that the lunch rush has ebbed.”
Amka forced a smile for the insurance adjuster.“Of course.”At this point, she should start charging the woman rent.“Where are you staying?”
Helene drew out a legal pad from her case.“I secured a room at Flossy’s BnB, so I was fortunate.Got the last one for the week.”She smiled, her gaze remaining serious.“I’ve been hanging out here as well as Friday’s grocery store.Just watching you all while waiting for the forensic reports about the fire, which could be weeks out.”She glanced around, pausing at seeing the four Osprey brothers speaking quietly at their table by the fireplace.“The local sights aren’t bad, either.”
Amka could attest to that.“This is also a great place to catch up on the local gossip.”
“Yes.”Helene tapped her pen on the paper.“The town is abuzz, and that group of influencers just add to the rumors.From what I can tell, folks around here don’t think you and Jarod Teller make a good couple.You don’t make sense to most of the people who seem to know you.”
“I don’t know what to say about that.”It was so weird to hear Helene speak about Jarod in present tense.Frankly, it was a miracle that Dutch and the state troopers had been able to keep a lid on the murder.They were probably trying to get past the week while the influencers were in town.
Helene just studied her.“Don’t you think it’s an odd coincidence that your fiancé’s motel and your storage building both burned down?With the insurance payout, Mr.Teller will be able to build a luxury hotel instead of the rather ramshackle one that was there, and you’ll be able to build something much nicer than the storage building.Property values have just increased in Knife’s Edge, and more people are visiting.Plenty of tourists.Did you set your fire, Amka?”
“Of course not.”By the looks of it across the room, Christian had just shifted in his chair.He’d been inside more than an hour, and that was probably his record for the tavern.Now she knew he could stay inside his cabin for a night.Well, most of a night.Both times she’d stayed with him, he’d been gone long before she’d awakened.She didn’t have an excuse this time to get him outside, but considering he was sitting with his brothers and not the troopers this time, he probably didn’t need help.
Helene cleared her throat.
Amka jumped, tearing her focus away from Christian.She had to stop thinking of him in that shower.Who knew sex could be that wild.And freaking amazing?She swallowed.
“Are you all right?You’re flushed,” Helene said.
“I’m fine.The idea of being accused of arson is insulting.”And terrifying.
Helene sat back, today looking official in a black blazer with a white T-shirt over jeans.Her lipstick was a pretty light pink that most women couldn’t carry off.“I’m just doing my job and don’t mean to cause you any concern, but I have to investigate.In addition, my boss has asked me to look into the motel fire again.Do you know where Mr.Teller is right now?”
Being autopsied in Anchorage.“I don’t,” Amka lied.“But he often takes off on fishing or camping trips, so it’s not a surprise.”
“Can you call him?I’d really like to speak with you two together.”
“Already tried.”She might as well keep lying.“He must be out of service range, which is usually the case around here.”Amka’s palms began to sweat.“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from him, and I can give his number to you as well.”
Helene scribbled a couple of notes that were impossible to read from Amka’s position.“I already have it in my files but thought you’d know of his whereabouts.”She looked up.“The obvious crime would be that the two of you successfully burned down his motel for insurance money and then tried it again with your storage building.”
“But the motel burned because of faulty wiring,” Amka protested.
