Page 168 of The Woman By the Lake

“That’s the fuckin’ way of it,” Storm said on a heavy breath.

Lynne approached and grabbed his hand. “C’mon, Stormy. Let’s get another beer.”

Storm and Riggs exchanged harassed glances before Storm threw his arm around Lynne’s shoulders and led her to a cooler.

Riggs turned to Nadia.

“I’m not uncertain about Kimmy anymore,” she declared.

He busted out laughing.

When he was done, she whispered, “Family,” then got deep into his space and wrapped her arms around him.

He bent his head and put his face in her hair, smelled the beauty of it and instantly felt better.

Murphy was there.

“Hand me your stash, I’ll roll another one. Because, as always with that woman…damn.”

Again, Riggs took Nadia with him as he bent to the side and swiped the tin box he kept his weed and papers in off the blanket.

He handed it to Murphy.

Murphy wandered back to his chair with it.

“Did he just use Angelica being a bitch to steal all of your marijuana?” Nadia asked, her eyes aimed beyond him to Murphy.

“It’s likely.”

She collapsed in giggles against his chest.

“Jeez, Riggs.” Maribeth was now there. “Nadia was right. More happens in Misted Pines in a day than an entire week in the Windy City.”

This wasn’t true, but he smiled at her anyway.

She smirked in return and explained it, saying, “‘Make It with You.’ Smooth.”

That was when Riggs started laughing again.

Nadia and Maribeth did it with him, but Nadia did it better, because she was squeezing him with her arms.

“Yo! MB! Got a fresh one!” Murphy called.

“Laterzzzzzzz,” Maribeth said to them and took off toward Murphy.

Yeah.

Family.

THIRTY-FIVE

Our Land

Riggs

The next night, Riggs woke in the middle of it, knowing something wasn’t right.

His body got solid when he opened his eyes and saw the flashing police lights coming through the windows of his room.

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