Page 127 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“I think we’d better make a plan just in case he doesn’t get out,” Thea told Logan.

He shook his head. “We’ll get him out.”

“How do you know?” Thea rubbed her belly in fast circles. “This lawyer might not be able to do anything today. This is a criminal charge, Logan. He could go to prison. He could—”

“Hey.” Logan placed his hand over hers. “We’ll get him out today, then we’ll figure out the next step.”

Tears welled in Thea’s eyes. “But what if he did it?”

I winced so hard my chair squeaked. How could she have let that thought even cross her mind?

“He didn’t,” I declared. “He did not do this.”

I looked over at Hazel for some support, but her gaze was down in her lap.

“He did not do this,” I repeated.

Hazel looked up and gave me a sad smile. “I don’t want to think that either. But—”

“No,” I snapped. “No. He didn’t. He wouldn’t.”

Thea checked over her shoulder to make sure the deputy at the desk wasn’t listening. When she saw he was on the phone, she turned back and leaned in close. “He hated her. He had every right, but he hated her.”

“Enough to murder her?” I hissed. “That’s not Jackson and you know it. Yes, he hated her. But do you really think he would hurt her?”

She sighed. “No, I don’t.”

I turned my eyes on Hazel. “Do you?”

Hazel shook her head. “No.”

“Logan?”

He shook his head too.

“Okay then.” I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms. “He needs us behind him, one hundred percent.”

The lobby went silent again except for the dull murmur coming from the deputy on the phone. I unbuttoned my coat as my frustration with Hazel and Thea warmed my insides.

How could they think he was guilty? How dare they? Shame on them for doubting him. Even if it was just for a moment, it still made me angry.

I wished Mom were still here. She wouldn’t have con

templated the worst. Or would she? Had she already considered that he could be guilty too? Was I being naïve to not at least consider all of the alternatives here?

Sheriff Magee was good at his job. He wouldn’t have arrested Jackson if there weren’t a reason. Which meant Jackson was a suspect because there had to be some sort of evidence against him.

But what? It had been two months since his mother had come to Lark Cove. He hadn’t seen her since the day she’d abandoned Ryder.

Right?

Had he seen Melissa again and hidden it from me? We’d been in such a good place these past couple of weeks. The two of us had become closer than ever and we talked about everything. We confided in one another. We trusted each other.

At least, I thought we did. So if he had been in contact with Melissa, why hadn’t he told me about it?

“This doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered.

“What was that?” Logan asked.