She didn’t pushhis hand off her thigh. Not when he’d first put it there. And not for the entirety of the meeting.
For the most part, the meeting was full of nonissues. Ferris talked about improvements in the works for local businesses. Allocating funds for road repairs and fixing potholes that had been there for years.
Joel couldn’t stop his attention from constantly returning to Polly. She was too pale. The frown between her brows too deep.
He was ninety-nine percent certain Jonah wasn’t a killer. People didn’t realize how much they gave away about themselves in small, everyday gestures. A killer’s eyes tracked exits and angles and people. And energy often felt charged in their presence. Neither of those things were true for Jonah.
Didn’t mean he hadn’t picked up a murder weapon though.
Polly leaned into him and whispered, “Were you there?”
“Where?”
“Were you there when Jonah was found with the gun?”
“Connor and I found him.”
Her eyes flared. “What did he say?”
“That he’d taken a walk to clear his head after a fight with your mom. That he stumbled across the gun and picked it up without thinking.”
Her brows knit together. Because, yeah, it would have had to have been pretty bad dumb luck to pick up a murder weapon right as Joel and Connor showed up.
Ferris cleared his throat. “Now, Raven Price will be talking to everyone about upcoming events here at the community center.”
Raven stepped to the front, and Joel didn’t miss Connor straightening beside him.
“Hi, everyone.” Raven scanned the crowd. “It’s so nice to see such a full town meeting tonight.”
A guy a few rows up scoffed loudly.
That always happened. And always by that same asshole who worked at Trap. It always pissed Connor off.
Hell, it pissed Joel off too, but Connor got the most worked up.
Right and wrong were important to Connor. He’d been in a five-year relationship with a woman that ended a few years ago. He’d been close to proposing when he’d found out she wasn’t who she’d said she was. That her morals definitely weren’t aligned with his. It changed him.
Raven did a great job of ignoring the guy as she spoke. Her voice was soft but firm as she discussed a community garden and some sip-and-paint sessions. She mentioned mindfulness workshops and seasonal markets.
There were a couple of times when Connor looked like he was about to get up and approach the asshole who was heckling her.
It wasn’t until she’d almost finished that a phone started ringing.
Her cheeks reddened. “Sorry, I must have forgotten to put it on silent.” She pulled it out of her pocket…but when she looked at the screen, all the color drained from her face.
Connor leaned forward, watching her closely.
Raven quickly pulled herself together and straightened. “That’s it from me. Have a good night.”
There was a distinct shake in her voice that hadn’t been there before.
“What was that?” Connor muttered under his breath, eyes still on her.
But Ferris was already back in front of everyone, talking again. He was about to conclude the meeting when Basil called out.
“Wait, you’re not going to say anything about Jonah Goodwill? I heard he found a gun by the river.”
Ferris cleared his throat. “That’s part of an open investigation. I can’t?—”
