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“What was your role in all this?” Nate asked.
“I didn’t want to go along with any of it. I mean, if they planned to carry something like that out.”
“But you didn’t put a stop to it either.” Nate was afraid Gerald was just as culpable.
“You don’t know Everest. Once he decides something, it’s a done deal. But for some reason, he”—Gerald shrugged—“must have changed his mind.” But Gerald wasn’t looking at them now, his gaze turned down, focusing on his feet as if he realized he’d said too much.
“Are you sure?” Nicole asked. “I mean, now Phil’s gone.”
“Okay, go over the scenario again,” Nate said, ready to look for holes in Gerald’s story. Why would Gerald be worried he could be guilty of anything if he really hadn’t known anything about what had happened to Phil?
But Gerald didn’t say anything differently, like the whole business had been rehearsed. He held his hands up, palms up. “That’s all I got.”
When he didn’t have anything further to say, Nicole said, “If you think of anything else that might be helpful, please let us know.” She handed him their business card, and then they left.
“Did you get all that recorded?” Nate asked Nicole. That was what she liked to do.
“You bet. You know that’s what I always do.”
Nate was glad she did. “Yeah. So now we hold on to this until we can speak to the others involved in this. If Gerald had anything to do with Phil’s disappearance, it’ll come out. We’ll learn something from the others, or we’ll turn this over to the police and let them work on this bunch.”
“Yeah, if the police think there’s anything to it.”
“True. They might believe Phil just took off because he was mad at Everest and there’s nothing more to it.” Which meant they needed to gather more information to really have a case against Everest and the others. Like finding Phil’s body, if he was no longer among the living.
Nicole leaned back against the car seat.
“Is your back bothering you?” Nate asked, ready to return her home so she could lie down for a while. She’d been taking an afternoon rest, and he certainly didn’t want her feeling like she had to go with him on any more interviews.
“Yeah, the hazard of being pregnant and carrying two babies at the same time.”
“Are you okay with continuing the witness interviews, or do you want to take a break? I can take you home.” Nate was certainly leaning in that direction.
“No, I don’t want to return to Silver Town when we’re here already and can get this done and maybe learn something. I’m good. Really.”
“Well, just let me know if you need to stop. I’mserious, Nicole. I know you tend to tough it out when you’re not feeling well, but I don’t want you hurting when you don’t need to.” Beside the fact he didn’t want to injure the babies in any way by having her work too long or hard.
“I’m good.”
He hoped so, not only because he was her brother and cared about her but also because his parents and her mate would surely have words with him if he didn’t ensure she was fine.
Chapter 5
At the lodge, Kayla wished the doors to the banquet room had been closed before the two runaway schnauzers reached it, but the florist was still hauling wedding flowers into the venue. Kayla could just imagine what a disaster this could be if the two miniature schnauzers raced into the room and tore into everything, knocking over ceramic vases, sending the roses flying everywhere, bashing into the chairs that she had just rearranged for better seating.
If she’d been a wolf, she could have caught up with them much faster than as a human in heels. She just hoped she didn’t break her neck as she chased after them. The dogs ran straight into the banquet room, and Kayla expected to hear screeches and screams and see Bridezilla rush out, shouting for Kayla to take care of it. Blake caught up to Kayla before they reached the room, Landon rushing to help them out, Roxie right behind them. When they ran into the room, Kayla expected the worst, but then she saw the bride crouched down and hugging the dogs, getting kisses and kissing them back.
Kayla couldn’t have been more shocked. She glanced at Blake to see what he had to say, hoping he was going to continue to deal with the dogs.
“They tore up the bedspread and a roll of toilet paper. Not to mention the room will have to be disinfected,” he said.
“You’re going to take the dogs out of here and find the owner, right?” Kayla asked Blake.
Roxie smiled at Kayla.
“Uh, yeah. Of course.” Blake looked like he absolutely didn’t want to take on the bride, but Kayla’s job was to handle the banquet details, and Blake was supposed to be taking care of the dog situation. He moved in to take charge of them. “Do you know who the dogs belong to?” he asked the bride, since they seemed to know her so well.
“Yeah, my cousin. Why?” the bride said, frowning at him, like he better not say anything negative about them.
