Page 69 of Max's Mission

Margot glanced around, then out the front window. “Where are our marshal friends?”

“Outside, somewhere,” Dean said. “Marchand went to the hotel in the middle of the night to get some sleep. One of the others, Beale, relieved him. Ford and Sam switched places too.”

“Did you get any rest?” Margot frowned at the man. Dark circles rimmed his eyes.

“Some. I woke up when Ford and Sam switched spots. They stayed in the house until the girls got up. Sam’s outside now with the marshal.”

“Do we know any more today than we did last night? About where Berry is?” Max propped his hands on his hips.

“Not that I know of. But I haven’t talked to the marshals since we went to bed.” Dean’s phone rang as he finished talking. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew it. A crease formed on his forehead. “It’s Asher.” He slid his thumb over the screen and answered, but didn’t put it on speaker in deference to the little ears only feet away.

Margot crossed her arms and resisted the urge to tap her foot while she waited to hear what Asher had to say. When Dean’s eyebrows shot up, her heart rate followed. She clutched her shirtsleeves, hoping he hung up soon and filled them in.

A minute later, he said goodbye and pocketed his phone.

“Well?” Max rolled a hand when Dean didn’t immediately relay what Asher said.

Mouth flat, Dean’s gaze traveled between him and Margot.

A pit formed in her stomach. “What?”

“Asher figured out how Dale Conroy’s connected to the case. He was a patient of Tad’s. Considering that the body you found is likely Conroy and the money from the bank robbery was found on his farm, it’s highly likely Tad killed him.”

Bile rose in her throat. She didn’t want to believe it. The man she’d married wasn’t capable of murder.

Or so she’d thought. She was beginning to think she never truly knew the real Tad Gaultier.

Max walked to the door.

“What are you doing?” Dean asked.

“Finding Marchand.” He yanked the door open and stepped outside.

A moment later, Margot heard him bellow the marshal’s name.

The twins’ chatter at the table stopped. They both turned to stare at the door. Margot moved over to them, pinning a happy smile on her face. She wasn’t surprised they were shocked at the sound. They’d never heard Max raise his voice quite like that before.

As much as she wanted to stay and be part of the conversation, she needed to get the girls out of here. This was not something they needed to be part of, and she trusted Max to fill her in later.

“Are you guys done?”

Two small faces turned up to look at her. Lily nodded.

“Good. Go find your shoes, please.”

Both girls climbed off their chairs and scampered toward the back door. Margot glanced at the front of the house and the open front door. Max was out of sight.

The twins returned, shoes in hand. Margot knelt in front of them to help them put on the sandals. She was strapping the last strap on Emily’s shoe when Max walked back in with Marchand and Sam. Audra was with them too.

Relief flooded Margot’s veins. She’d been prepared to hijack Annabeth’s car and drive to Max’s house alone. But there were enough people here, someone with some training could accompany her and watch her back.

Walking into the throng, she took Max’s hand and pulled him aside.

“Everything okay?” A concerned frown marred his forehead.

“The girls don’t need to be here for this.”

His frown intensified. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle them. I’m just—” He broke off with a growl, raising a hand and curling his fingers into a fist. His jaw worked.

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