Page 58 of Homecoming

“That’s very true, but some grudges are insurmountable.”

“I refuse to believe that. There’s nothing that can’t be fixed if everyone involved wants it to be.”

“That’s the rub. He doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“It’s been a long time. He might surprise you.”

“I’ll give that some consideration when I can think about anything other than my sons being charged with murder.”

“Understood. I’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you, Dan, for everything. We owe you.”

“No problem.”

“Sure it is, but you came anyway. We’ll remember that.”

“Take care, Chuck.” He ended that call and made another to Carter. “I just talked to Chuck Ballard. The eyewitness, Jonah Brown, was let go from BBW a couple of years ago after multiplefailed drug tests. They’re locked up in litigation over it, and BBW is refusing to settle. It’s due to go to trial in December.”

“In that case, he must’ve taken great pleasure in pointing the finger at Ballard’s sons.”

“That’s my thinking. Can you dig into him, talk to his friends, see what he’s had to say about Keith, the company, the family in general?”

“Yep. I’m on it.”

“Thanks, man.”

“You got it.”

With Kara out to lunch with her friends and Carter on the case, Dan decided to go for a run. He took the same route as last time, along the scenic road that curled around the southern part of Mount Desert Island. He was eager to check out Acadia National Park and looked forward to getting out on the boat with Bertha and Buster to learn more about the lobstering business.

He felt a little disloyal to Kara for liking her hometown so much. The rugged natural beauty reminded him of Gansett Island as well as Malibu. As he jogged along, he thought through everything he knew so far about the case, the things he’d learned about Keith and Kirby and other members of Kara’s family. He’d enjoyed seeing Kendra, Hugo and their sweet girls last night and had bonded with Hugo over their shared interest in football, baseball and hockey.

After not being sure what to expect, it’d been a relief to find people within Kara’s immediate family whom he truly liked. She assured him there were others he’d like, too, and he looked forward to meeting them.

His phone buzzed with a text that he stopped to read, only because of Kara’s brothers being in lockup. Otherwise, he would’ve let it wait for later.

This is Matt. I know you said you don’t want to work together, but I’ve got some info you might be interested in. Give me a call.

Dan groaned. Matt was the last freaking person on the planet he wanted to talk to. He put his phone back in his jacket pocket and continued on his way. Yes, he wanted to know what Matt had, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to jump right on it and call him back.

Freaking Matt. Didn’t he have any pride? Why would he be kissing up to Kara’s husband after the way he’d treated her? Was he hoping to make a friend of Dan so he might smooth things over between Kara and Kelly? If so, he was going to be disappointed. Dan would never be part of suggesting that Kara make up with the sister who’d stabbed her in the back—and the heart.

Despite what he’d said to Chuck about him and his brother, the rift between Kara and her sister was the sort of thing that probably couldn’t—and shouldn’t—be fixed.

He was completing the third mile of his run when his phone rang. He kept moving as he pulled out the phone, stopping when he saw Kara’s name on the screen. “Hey, babe. How was lunch?”

“Dan, it’s Renata. I’m with Kara at the ER. She’s having some pain.”

His heart nearly stopped beating. He immediately turned around and headed back to Bertha’s, sprinting now. “What’s wrong?” He could barely get the words out over the panic.

“They’re not sure yet, but she’s on a monitor, and the baby’s heartbeat is strong. She asked me to call you.”

If she was fine, why hadn’t she called him herself?

“How far is Bertha’s from where you are?”

“About thirty minutes.”

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