Page 35 of Hearts at War

I guess she’s found a better way to hide shit.

“So, in other words, no evidence?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

“This is outrageous!” Ashley protested. “I saw her. I saw her with my own eyes. She swiped half of the jewelry.”

Marty pivoted to sigh at her. “Ms. Venna, I suggest you have the cameras in the store repaired so that the next time you accuse a customer of stealing anything, you can have proof to back up your claim.”

I ran my hand over my face. “Then why, exactly, did you call me down here?”

Marty pointed at the woman arguing again. “I wasn’t sure how quickly this situation could escalate into something more physical. Since I don’t really know where Navaeh has been staying, I figured you could come and get her away from the mart and Ashley.”

And take her where? I didn’t trust her in my cabin, and she ran off or left at the most random times.

“Fine.” I held my hand out, indicating for my niece to open the passenger door to my truck. “Then let’s go.”

She sulked and scowled, but she got in.

Once I was buckled back in and driving in the direction of the ranch, I gave up this awkward, tense silence act.

“What the hell’s going on?” I asked.

“Nothing, Uncle,” she sing-songed. “That fat bitch is just delulu, making up that stupid stuff.”

I cut her a wry look as I turned at the corner. “Did you steal anything back there?”

“Gee,” she said instead, using a mockingly casual tone, “the forecast says it’s gonna get cold again tonight.”

“Seeing as winter follows fall, that’s not too surprising.”

“You gonna let me sleep on your couch again?” she asked.

“Are you going to tell me the truth?”

“About what?”

I gritted my teeth. “Did you steal anything? I don’t want stolen shit in my home.”

“That question is becoming redundant,” she quipped as she looked out the window.

Here we were. Back to the cagey and incommunicado nonsense. I tried to crack her, asking her to explain what she was up to and why she was hanging around here.

I wouldn’t give her money. That was a hard no where she was concerned. I’d learned that lesson too many times now.

If she wasn’t holding out for funds from me, she had to have something else in mind. Or want something else.

But it didn’t seem likely that she’d tell me. She didn’t tell me a damn thing the rest of the drive to my place.

“And how long am I going to be blessed with your presence this time?” I asked sarcastically when we arrived and I walked inside.

“Boy, I sure feel loved and welcome.”

“I’m letting you stay here.”

She dropped onto the couch, rolling her eyes. “Yeah. Until you leave and you kick me out.”

“Because I don’t trust you.”