Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“No way is Miguel killing people,” Zahra said staunchly. “He looks tough. Acts tough, but he’s really a softie.”
“The woman, Tammy,” Shabina continued, “was seated alone at our smallest table on the patio. It’s possible someone spoke with her, but I only went out briefly to welcome people to my café. I have so many customers inside that I tend to spend a long while interacting with them.”
The back door opened, and Rush strode in. Raine glanced over her shoulder at him and immediately closed her laptop.
“Give me some time,” Raine said to the others. “I’ll get the security footage from the Blue Heron and see if I can spot all four having interactions with the same person.”
Rush didn’t even slow down. He simply lifted her, careful of her leg, nodded to Vienna, who was already collecting Raine’s things, and strode out with her.
“That man is decisive,” Stella said.
“I’m going back to the old barn,” Harlow announced. “I missed something important. It’s nagging at the back of my mind, but I can’t move it forward where I can figure out what it is.”
“I’ll go with you,” Shabina volunteered.
Harlow shook her head. “I’m not going to climb, just look around and take photos to compare with the ones I took weeks ago.”
“I’ll still go with you,” Shabina insisted.
“I’m going as well,” Zahra stated, a small challenge in her tone, as if she thought Harlow would object to her presence.
Harlow was grateful to the two women. She didn’t want to go alone when there was a killer on the loose. Still, it wasn’t a good idea for Shabina to go. Rainier might object to the trip, and she needed to figure out what she’d missed. She just had that foreboding feeling she couldn’t quite shake. On the heels of that realization, her phone went off, showing a text message from Wilder. At the same time, Shabina’s phone played a little melody, and she glanced down to read her text.
Harlow read hers from Wilder.
Will be home late. Don’t wait up for me if you’re tired. Definitely will be coming home.
Shabina glanced at her watch, but Harlow shook her head. “If you come, Rainier will send an army, and I want to take my time. You know I love you, but he’s very protective.”
“True, but he just texted me and said he’ll be home super late. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to get a good look at the property.”
Her phone pinged again, and Harlow glanced down. Love you, mon rêve. Be good until I get home.
I’m always good. You’re the one off doing nefarious things. She sent several laughing emojis because she had no idea what he was up to. Please be careful. Rainier’s a wild one and could lead you astray.
“You know I’m not a climber, but you talked so much about the boulders, I would like to see them,” Shabina continued.
Harlow didn’t argue. She thought that the timing to go out to the old barn was perfect. Heading out to the property would occupy her brain enough that she wouldn’t freak out with worry about what Rainier and Wilder were up to.
“We can leave from here,” Harlow said.
* * *
—
As Harlow turned onto the narrow dirt road leading to the barn and boulders, she noticed a sign hanging on a post that previously hadn’t been there. She slowed to view it. No Trespassing. Violators Will Be Shot. Her heart leapt, and she turned to look at the other two women.
“That’s new.”
“Well, we did make inquiries to buy the place. Maybe the owner isn’t so happy with us,” Zahra said. She waved toward the road. “Keep going. See if he put up more than one.”
“This is bizarre. You’d think the owner would have sent word through his trustee that he has no interest in selling,” Harlow said. “Why put up signs now that no one should trespass?”
“I believe, a few years back, there were no trespassing signs,” Zahra reminded.
“But I see we’re forging ahead and violating the law,” Shabina added.
“Well, yeah,” Harlow said. “You don’t have to get out. I just want to remind myself of what I saw here. I know I missed something. If the owner shows up, at least we’ll know who he is.”
“If we’re still alive,” Zahra said.
It occurred to Harlow as she parked close to the dilapidated barn, and the three women got out of the Jeep, that both Rainier and Wilder would have expected them to call on the bodyguards to accompany them. Neither man would be happy that they went out to the property alone, not after Raine was bitten by a snake and fell from the boulder she was climbing. On that thought, it occurred to her that Rainier had most likely made certain that Shabina’s security detail would follow her wherever she went. She had brought her dogs, Morza, Sharif and Malik, with her, just as Harlow had Misha and Zahra had Misty. Rainier would be happy that Shabina’s security dogs had accompanied them.