Page 114 of Wildest Forever

“Check that number,” Austin says when he lets his boots drop from the desk then pushes away, standing.

His eyes cast down to me, my lips twitch and there is so much more that could be said, but neither of us breathe a word.

I give him a soft nod.

“See you tonight, yeah?”

Swallowing, I nod again.

Honestly, I was in no mood to go out drinking with anyone other than Morgan, but I'll smile and stay quiet and let my thoughts fade into the abyss whilst everyone around me enjoys themselves.

He doesn't say another word before he walks out and leaves me sitting in my own silence.

I only agreed to go out tonight because Morgan asked. She wanted to give our new neighbors a warm welcome, but after theweek I have had, I could do with just nursing a whiskey at home by myself.

Sighing, I slip my phone across the desk and unlock it, opening it up and looking at the number I jotted down.

I debate whether I should call it or try and find Marty, to speak to him and find out whether I should push for a little more information. See if he trips himself up when it comes to Conrad.

He knows something.

The more I think about it, the more I realize he is yanking our chain.

He is—or was—the closest thing to Riggs until Riggs pushed him to become livestock commissioner.

He has the governor in his pocket, he knows who runs where and who's pushing what livestock.

But then so do we.

Marty is a good way in with the suits, he can tell them everything that is going on and we wouldn't even know it.

They say keep your friends close, your enemies closer, well this might be the case when it comes to Marty.

Glancing out the window, I let my mind drift for a moment.

I could have this all wrong, maybe it's just because I am so desperate to find who killed Conrad and who the mole could be that all roads lead to him.

Sure, I had my suspicions, and I thought it was Conrad but look how wrong I was there? Maybe I needed to take a step back and just let everything settle.

There is no point jumping the gun.

I could go for Marty and be blindsided by who was actually orchestrating.

Because let’s be honest, Marty is probably the puppet.

Snapping away from my thoughts, I pick the papers up and slip them back into the manilla envelope, closing the tie and slipping it inside my drawer.

That's enough conspiracy for one day.

Waking my computer up, I check my admin and lose myself for an hour or two before I am packing up my desk and locking it for the weekend.

Driving my truck home, my mind drifts to Morgan. The way she lights up my world in a way I couldn't even explain, even if I wanted to I don't think I would have the words to describe it.

Aspen made me feel things, but she was my first, and your first love is always the one that makes you grow, helps you learn... Aspen definitely did that.

Soft country music fills the cab of the truck and my long finger drums against the steering wheel as my eyes cast over to Crooked Creek.

Memories flash in front of my eyes of our childhood, the way we spent hours outside, causing trouble but most importantly having fun, being kids, doing everything we shouldn't.

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