“Yes,” he said. “We’re looking for any small detail that could give us more information about the robbery. Sometimes, people see things they don’t realize could be important, but it actually is.”
“Hmm.” Cheryl rested her finger against her chin and tapped her lips as she pondered his words. “No. We didn’t know Billy and his friends tried to rob the bank until the next day. Those stupid kids. I can’t imagine what they were thinking. I know they were having a difficult time finding work, but that wasn’t the answer to their problems.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Willow agreed.
“Are you with the same agency as those other guys?” Cheryl asked.
“What other guys?”
“Some men from the government came around here a few days ago asking if we’d seen or heard anything from Billy.” Cheryl frowned at them. “I’m sorry; I didn’t catch whoyouwork for.”
“We’re with the bank,” Declan lied smoothly. He preferred not to invade her mind again. He’d messed with her enough during their time here.
“Oh, I didn’t think Billy got any money out of the bank.”
“They didn’t, but the bank would still like to protect their interests.”
“Umm… okay,” she murmured as she gazed between them before looking at the vehicles parked on the road. “There sure are a lot of people here for a failed bank robbery.”
“What can I say? Our employers like to waste money.”
She gave a small, derisive snort. “At least someone has money to waste.”
“Has anyone seen or heard from Billy?” Willow asked.
“As far as I know, they’re still on the run. No one knows what they’re driving since Billy drove his truck into the bank, and the others all left their vehicles behind.”
Willow realized that Derrick must have hit them with Billy’s truck. “How many people were with Billy?”
“Three of his friends from town. Their parents are worried sick, but as far as I know, they haven’t had any contact. Although, they probably wouldn’t tell us if they did hear from them. No matter what they did, they’re going to protect their sons.”
“That’s understandable,” Declan said.
He highly doubted any of them would hear from their children again. He didn’t know how Billy and his friends came into contact with the Savages, but they were used as the fall guys in this, and if they weren’t dead, they were probably on their way to becoming Savages.
“Is there anyone else from your family we could talk to who might know a little bit more?” Declan asked.
“I doubt any of them has seen or heard anything more,” Cheryl said. “But my husband and son are at their hunting camp, and my daughter is out with some friends.”
“Thank you,” Declan said. “You’ve been a lot of help.”
Cheryl twisted her hands in her apron as she stared over his shoulder. He turned to find Saxon and Saber talking with her neighbor across the street.
“They really must have a lot of money to waste,” Cheryl murmured, and her eyes darted anxiously around the street.
“Have a good day,” Declan said and turned away.
“You too,” Cheryl said and closed the door.
Willow descended the steps beside Declan. She was torn between happiness and sorrow as they strode toward the vehicles. Everyone in Gus’s household was alive, and she still planned to see Gus and the kids. Billy and his friends were a completely different story. She couldn’t imagine being their parents. They would never know what became of their children.
And then a wave of fiery anger burned through her. The Savages had caused this heartache, and she would make sure they paid for it. Her fingers itched for her sword—
No!Nothersword, but she still yearned to use it to dust every single Savage she could find. And when she finished with them, she’d move on to the demon bastards manipulating this growing problem.
When Declan cupped her elbow, she tipped her head back and blinked to bring him into focus against the sun’s rays. “We have to make them pay,” she said.
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and bent to kiss her forehead. “We will.”
