Page 76 of Search for the Truth
Just as he hadn’t been sure the first time she had told him she had received the call from Mr. Grant’s assistant that the meeting needed to be moved up or canceled until further notice.
“At least let me touch base with the sheriff first,” he said, not for the first time. “I gave him my word that I’d keep the house safe, and now part of that house is leaving by herself. Let me just call Darius and see if he can’t find him.”
Blake rolled her eyes.
“Listen, Price, I appreciate the concern. So much so that I’m going to skip over the fact that it feels like you need his permission to letmedo what I want and instead ask you very sweetly to continue keeping my family safe.” She motioned to the car. “This is the only thing I can do for my family right now—try to get some answers—so let me go before I’m late and the almighty Mr. Grant decides he doesn’t want to talk anymore.”
Price looked like he wanted to keep arguing.
He also looked like he understood it was pointless.
Sheriff Trouble, who he had initially admired, had her mind made up. And, what’s more, Lola had already backed her up once Blake had told her the entire truth about everything they had learned over the last week or so. With two fierce women going against him, he had little room to do anything other than protest.
“Keep your phone on,” he finally said, relenting. “If anything feels off or weird, call immediately. And I’ll track the sheriff down while you do it. So don’t be surprised if he shows up grumpy that you left without him.”
“Understood.”
ANDTHATWAShow Blake found herself alone at the steel mill.
Grayton Steel Mill was on the largest plot of commercial land that Seven Roads had to offer. It was a collection of warehouses, offices, storage rooms and production lines that expanded such a distance that some workers used buggies to drive around from place to place. The main office was the largest office buildings, mainly due to the cafeteria housed inside and the second floor corporate offices.
It was on that second floor that Mr. Grant was waiting for her.
Blake parked, made sure her phone’s ringer was on loud, and struck out across the parking lot. As she walked, she hoped Liam was okay. She knew all too well how stressful the job could be, never mind when it came to a case that had personally touched you. That was another reason Blake wanted to get this over with.
She wanted answers for herself, Beth and Missy.
She also wanted them for Liam.
He had been targeted, he had been hurt, and Blake didn’t want that to happen again.
Not to her man.
Her face heated a little at the last thought. It had sprung up so suddenly she didn’t know how to dissect it.
Thankfully, she was distracted away from it.
Someone was calling her name. Or, rather, an old name.
“Sheriff Bennet!”
Blake turned to see a surprising face running up to meet her.
“Theo?”
Theo was wearing coveralls and a name tag. He was smiling ear to ear.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. He made a show of looking behind her. “Is Liam with you? I heard about the shooting at the hospital, but he didn’t answer when I called.”
“He’s still there working, I think. I’m here to talk to Mr. Grant. We have an appointment. Why areyouhere?”
Theo tapped his name tag.
“I have a part-time job in the cafeteria. I usually work the weekend shifts. You caught me on my lunch break. I was just about to head out.” His smile brightened even more. “Here, I’ll take you up to his office. I’ve been there a few times before, delivering meals.”
Blake accepted the help simply because, of all of the places she had been in Seven Roads, Mr. Grant’s office had never been one of them.
“I didn’t even know Mr. Grant was in today,” he said as they walked. “He must have parked in the private lot behind the building. Him and his son are the only ones who really use that though. It floods something wicked when it rains.”
