She smiled a little sheepishly.“I know.I’m sorry.I just… I’m going to be digging into him a little bit, but I thought I’d come to you first, so it didn’t feel… shady, I guess.”
“Well, that’s considerate.”He smiled at her, no hard feelings.
That was the problem with Sam.He understood her.She was a damn good investigator, stubborn and thorough, and a decent human being.
Except for the whole shacking up with Bennet thing.
“Just… one more question,” Sam said into the companionable silence.“You don’t have to answer, but… how did he die?”
“Hunting accident.I’m not exaggerating when I say he was a careless man.They never even found his body.”
Jake watched her eyes narrow.Keying into something she thought was interesting to whatever she was investigating.“Never found… then how do they know it was a hunting accident?”
“He used to go hunting with some friends.They’d camp and probably drink and do dumb shit.This particular time, two of his friends came back.Said he’d accidentally discharged his weapon while cleaning it, then taken a spill off the side of the trail they were on.They tried to lead emergency services up to where they’d been, but the weather turned and, in the end, they never found him.”He watched Sam carefully as he relayed this information.
He started to put it all together, because he was a detective.Because he knew who his father had been hunting with, and the two men who’d come down the mountain saying Dad had died up there.
And he knew who Sam hung around with these days.
“This is about the Harringtons.”
Sam blinked.But she didn’t betray anything else.Still, he knew.Heknew.
Jake leaned forward.“Gerald Harrington.My dad.And Daryl Everly.They were on that hunting trip together when my dad,allegedly, accidentally shot himself and fell off a cliff.Twenty-five years ago is a long damn time.What are you looking into, Sam?”
*
Sam couldn’t chastiseherself for not predicting this because… well,what?She was surprised she’d never heard anyone talk about a hunting accident involving Jake’s dad.
Then again, she’d been all of four when it had happened, and there were plenty of hunting accident stories to scare kids with around these parts.
She hadn’t expected him to connect the dots because she hadn’t known he’d have the dots to connect.So she had to hide her surprise, and the way this was all… weird.
“I’m aprivateinvestigator, Jake.I can’t tell you.But it’s nothing nefarious.Nothing about your dad’s hunting accident.I’m just trying to get a clear picture of a few guys.I suppose they did an investigation back then?”
“Sure.Never could find any reason to believe it was suspicious.Especially when Dad was such good friends with Gerald Harrington and… Daryl.Daryl Everly.”Jake leaned forward, fixed that hard detective gaze on her.“When are you talking to him?”
Sam wanted to groan, but she couldn’t let her frustration show.“Jake, I’m not telling you that.”
He leaned back, drumming his fingers against the table.“And if I can help?”
Tempting, but the more people knew what she was doing, the more chance it got back to Glenda.Sure, she liked to hermit up in that cabin well and good, but she wasn’t totally isolated with Jill bringing her into town sometimes to shop or go to medical appointments.
“Thanks for the offer,” Sam said, pushing to her feet.“But I’ve got it handled.”There would have been news stories about the accident, and as much as she’d like the police report, that might have to wait in order to keep Jake out of this.
Jake, who frowned at her, but didn’t push.Didn’t demand.He sat there, not making a move to leave.
Maybe she should let it go, keep her nose out of it.But she’d come here for two reasons.“Hey, do me one favor?”
Jake’s response was easy.“Sure.”
She leaned back down so they were closer to eye level than they were with her standing and him still sitting.
She made sure he met her gaze, and she made sure she was calm and clear.“Leave Nate alone.”
She saw a flicker of surprise and felt somewhat justified that she’d managed to catch him a little off guard by waiting until the end to bring it up.
“Tell him to stop speeding on icy roads,” Jake replied, his voice mostly devoid of any emotion or reaction.
