Page 66 of I'll Be There
Conner looked up, shook his head. “There isn’t any more proof. There’s nothing connecting Blankenship—or Blue, for that matter—to Justin’s murder. He was simply found in a field, his body burned beyond recognition, executed with a bullet to his head—a bullet that was never found. It could have been anyone.” He cuffed his hand over his mouth, shook his head. “It’s done. It’s over. And he—someone on his leash—was there,talking to Liza.”
His own words left him a little weak. “He knew. Heknewwhere I was, where she was. I can’t...this has to be over. Liza’s been through enough, if something had...nope. Not going to happen.”
“Take a breath there, Conner,” Kyle said.
He looked up at the deputy. “I need to get out of here. My bride is waiting for me. I spent enough time chasing this shadow.”
“The Canadian police are still investigating the crash. You’re not being charged with anything...and if your friend Reuben did the shooting, then—”
“It was an accident,” Micah said. “He was just trying to slow him down. Call it a citizen’s arrest.”
“I’m not sure what they’ll call it, but for now...get out of here. Go get married. I have to get home and get some shut-eye before tonight’s rehearsal dinner.”
Rehearsal dinner.
For Conner’swedding, tomorrow.
Conner headed out the door, down the hall, and spotted Reuben in the lobby. “Call Pete. Ask him if he has eyes on Liza.”
Reuben raised an eyebrow but dug his phone out of his pocket.
Conner pushed through the doors to the parking lot. Stood there, his heart thundering, a hammer in his chest. Overhead, the sky hung a wispy, clean blue.
Doesn’t your bride deserve her perfect day?
Yes, yes she did.
Reuben walked out behind him. “Pete said he just found her. She was at the donut shop.”
“Tell him to intercept her. Keep her there, with him.”
Conner spied his truck, parked next to Seth’s in the lot.
He jumped in the cab and realized he didn’t have his keys just as Micah came out of the building. Conner opened the door and Micah tossed the keys over. “We’ll take the lumberjack’s truck, get Pete, and meet you at the resort.”
Conner didn’t wait. He closed the door, turned the truck over, and skidded out of the lot.
He found Pete and Liza occupying a picnic table near the donut shop. Just Pete, seated on the table, eating a glazed raised, and Liza, laughing at something he said, tearing apart her own donut. He parked, leaped out, and heaven help him, he ran.
She turned as he reached the table.
He pulled her into his arms, crushing her, yes, breathing too hard, probably scaring her.
“Conner, are you—”
He held her away. “Who were you talking to?”
She stared at him, wide-eyed. “Um, Pete?”
“No...someone else. Some—tourist.”
“Oh, just some guy in town for the day. I gave him directions to the Devil’s Kettle and a few other places in town. Why?”
He cupped her face, meeting her eyes, and pressed her forehead to his. “Nothing. It’s fine. You’re safe, and it’s over. It’s just...over.”
She touched his chest. “Did you find out anything about your brother?”
He leaned back. “All I need to know.”
