Page 47 of Where Secrets Lie

“Jess?” His volume went up a notch. “How odd.”

“Right? That’s what I thought. I was shocked and so was she. I hurried her out through the back door, but the ruckus had to have tipped off the courier. I could have kicked myself for not telling her what was going on. She wandered in at exactly the wrong moment. I’ll bet Graham saw her and got cold feet.” Hez didn’t answer right away, so she yanked out her phone to see if the connection had been lost. “You there, Hez?”

“I’m here.” Another long pause followed. “That’s odd about Jess. When are you getting home?”

“Tomorrow.” Hez sounded a little off. Was he holding back something about the sting?

Savannah reached the hotel and hurried through the doorinto the welcome warmth of the lobby. Her heels clicked on the marble floor to the elevator. She stepped inside and pushed the button to go to the third floor.

“I miss you.” His voice was soft.

She smiled as the elevator dinged at her floor and the doors opened. “I miss you too. How’s it going with Simon?”

“We’ve been having a great time playing video games, though I admit I let him stay up until eleven last night. He was dead to the world when his head hit the pillow. Me too.”

“Nephews are meant to be spoiled. How are the headaches? Are you doing too much?” At least with Simon there, he likely wasn’t drinking.

“The pain is better, and I’m not falling asleep at three in the afternoon. My team is making sure I’m not working too much. Did Jess say when she was getting back?”

That odd tone again. “We didn’t have time to talk, but I’m sure she’ll be back tomorrow night like she planned. My flight is early tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see you. Oh, and let’s have dinner tomorrow to celebrate taking down the smuggling ring. I’ll come over and make something special.”

“You sure you want to come here? I can meet you at your cottage.”

She couldn’t hide the smile in her voice. “You have the better kitchen, as well as that romantic balcony.”

“That’s a plan I can get behind. Get some rest, babe. I love you.”

“I love you too. Follow your own advice and don’t stay up until eleven tonight.”

“I’ll tell Simon I’m following orders.”

She smiled as they said goodbye, then slipped out of hercoat. When she got home she’d figure out what was bugging him. Did he know something about Graham that she didn’t? But no, he had seemed fine until she mentioned Jess.

Her thoughts flicked back to the moment Jess had seen her. The color had leached out of her face, and she’d gone so white that Savannah thought she might pass out. Ending up in the same restaurant in a city the size of New York had been strange.

It didn’t mean anything, though. Coincidences happened.

Chapter 27

The instant Hez ended the call with Savannah, the door to his home office burst open. Simon rushed in, face flushed with excitement. “Was Aunt Savannah in a police raid?”

Hez swiveled his chair to face his nephew. “I thought you were supposed to be doing homework.”

“I’m almost done. Besides, I can’t concentrate with you talking so loud.”

Hez leaned back and crossed his arms. “I was speaking in a normal tone and the door was shut. Are you sure you weren’t eavesdropping?”

Simon frowned. “I wasn’t eavesdropping! I walked by to go to the bathroom, and I heard ‘police raid’ and ‘smugglers.’”

Hez chuckled. “I’ll remember this the next time you say you didn’t hear me tell you to quit gaming and get back to work.”

Simon rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay. Now tell me about the police raid! Is Aunt Savannah all right?”

“She’s fine. There were actually three police raids, but she wasn’t in any of them. You know those smugglers the Justice Chamber has been investigating? The police hit them in three simultaneous raids in Mexico, in Texas, and just outside Pelican Harbor. They arrested over a dozen people.”

“Get out!” Simon’s eyes went round with awe. “Our Justice Chamber did that?”

Hez smiled and nodded. “Our Justice Chamber did that. We had a lot of help, of course, but it wouldn’t have happened without us.” He gave one of Simon’s narrow shoulders a light punch. “Congrats.”

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