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“Do the police know who killed Sebastian?”
“No. They have several working theories…”
“And one of them is I have the motive for wanting him out of the picture,” I fill in for him.
“The autopsy is tomorrow, then they’ll have a rough time frame for time of death. It helps that you, Troy, and Garrett were involved in the search and rescue this week. If the coroner lists the time of death for then, the three of you have alibis.”
“But Kellan might not.” I finish his unspoken thought, not giving him a chance to point out the obvious.
Fuck. Since when did buying a plot of land get so complicated?
With all the force I can muster, I skip the stone across the water. It jumps ten times before sinking to the bottom. “What do you know about the man from Kincaid Timber who Sebastian was seen talking to?”
“I’m looking into that now. I just wanted to give you an update on everything that’s been happening for the past few days.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
We end the call, and I jog back to my SUV. I text my brothers and ask them to come over a little later. I need to talk to them about Blake’s news, but first I need to go home and fix things with Simone.
“I lost my daughter that day. I lost our daughter.”
The memory of Simone’s words almost brings me to my knees again.
45
Simone
The front door slams behind Lucas, and all I’m capable of is staring numbly at his half-eaten sandwich on the dining-room table. A chill takes my body hostage, steals my breath, slows my heart. I feel like I’ve fallen into the frozen lake, and all I can do is sink, sink, sink to the silty bottom.
I’ve lost Lucas.
Why? Why did I tell him now? Couldn’t I have made something up? Something minor. Like I stubbed my toe.
Why? Because I was tired of keeping the truth from him. That’s why. Because Avery was right—I can’t face this day alone.
But that’s exactly where I am—like I was ten years ago.
Alone.
Jasper jumps his paws onto my lap and licks my hand. He knows he’s not supposed to do that, but neither of us cares about the rule right now.
“I guess I misjudged him,” I say to no one in particular. “I never should have told him.”
God, I miss Aiden. If he’d been alive, he would’ve kicked Lucas’s ass for what happened. My brother would’ve loved me no matter what. He would never have turned his back on me the way Lucas has.
The need to be near my brother coils around me, sticks my broken pieces together.
I drag my gaze away from the food and smile at Jasper. “How would you like to spend a few days in the mountains?”
He barks, which I translate to mean yes.
I head upstairs to the master bedroom, pack a duffle bag, and grab Jasper’s supplies from the kitchen.
I scribble a note for Lucas, telling him I’ve gone away for a few days and Jasper’s with me.
I load Jasper into my car and drive to Picnic & Treats. I park my car in a shady spot in front of the café where I can keep an eye on him and roll down the window partway.
It’s midafternoon so the place isn’t as busy as it would’ve been an hour ago. I order a sandwich and fruit salad to go.
