“Having a conversation with a local isn’t a crime,” Ryan said firmly. “Now if you’ll excuse us?”
Ryan stepped to the side, but Ward mirrored the movement. It was almost comical watching the short, round sheriff block a six-foot-three guy who was easily two hundred pounds of muscle.
“You listen and you listen good, boy,” Ward growled. “You get in the way of this investigation, you so much asbreatheon my evidence, and I’ll have you in cuffs before you can blink.”
“You’d need evidence for that to happen.” The words had barely left Ryan’s mouth before he was stepping around the sheriff and moving to his truck.
Joel followed, almost laughing at the seething sheriff they’d left behind.
“I’ll see you at the base,” Joel called before climbing into his truck.
His phone rang. It was his mother.
It had been days since they’d last made contact. It was a nice break. Obviously, the break was over.
He canceled the call and sent a quick text to Polly.
Joel: Hey. How are you doing today?
There were so many damn things he wanted to say to her. But first, he needed to know that she was okay.
When she didn’t immediately respond, he started the truck.
His phone vibrated, making his heart do that thing where it compressed in anticipation of hearing from her.
But it wasn’t Polly.
Mom: Your father and I are out of patience. If you don’t come home, we will be forced to disinherit you and cut you out of the will.
Joel laughed out loud. Because that right there was the perfect example of his parents not knowing him at all. He didn’t care about money, and he sure as hell didn’t care about any inheritance.
Joel: Take it. Spend it. Do whatever you want with it. Just leave me alone.
7
Loud music beat into Polly’s ears, and a bottle of beer cooled her fingers.
“It’s busy,” Raven said, as she sipped her soda water.
Polly nodded. “Trap is always busy.”
Maggie sipped her whiskey sour. “I think it’s because every so often, really drunk locals decide to get up there and sing their lungs out on the karaoke machine.”
Polly nodded. “It’s so bad it’s good.”
Raven laughed. “Well, there won’t be any karaoke for me, but I’m glad I came. Thank you for inviting me. If I’m honest, I almost canceled.”
“Why?” Maggie asked, setting her drink back onto the table.
Raven lifted a shoulder. “I guess because the last few months have been hard, and when things get hard, I’m really good at becoming a hermit.”
“Is everything okay?” Maggie asked before Polly could.
Raven hesitated. “Hopefully. We shouldn’t talk about my problems though. Not after whatyouwent through. How are you doing after everything, Maggie? I wasn’t trying to be nosy,but I overheard a few women at the community center talking about something that happened in the river.”
Polly’s fingers tightened around the bottle. Because somethinghadhappened in the river. Maggie had been kidnapped and almost killed. She’d been kidnapped whilePollywas with her. She should have been watching Maggie’s back, but she’d gotten distracted. Distracted by texts from Joel. She’d never forgive herself for that.
“I’m doing a lot better,” Maggie said gently. “I’m lucky to have Ethan and Polly and all the guys looking out for me.”
