Page 156 of Triggered By Love
“She’ll be going home with her family.”
“I don’t think it’ll be safe,” Jason said. “Her brothers are not in the clear and neither are her parents.”
“What are you getting at?” Finn asked.
“Motive, means, opportunity. Avery could be covering a family secret. Damon had access to her apartment and any projects she was working on.”
“They weren’t in the elevator,” Kerry protested.
“If they knew what was going to happen, they wouldn’t be there, but they could have slipped the quill to Avery. Maybe suggested to her it was the best way to go, in a blaze of glory. She could have been holding on to it. Maybe she was going to do it at her ‘I heart New York’ moment.”
“Avery isn’t suicidal.” Kerry’s face flushed. “I should know. Besides, her dress was too tight, and she had no hiding place for a quill.”
“Mrs. Bonet had a purse,” Jason pointed out.
“No way. I was there. Avery wasn’t digging in Mrs. Bonet’s purse.” Kerry narrowed her eyes. “Avery said you’re too paranoid. Maybe you should back off.”
Jason felt like telling her to back off, but that would be anger talking. Instead, he said, “I’m going to fetch Avery when she’s ready to check out, and she’ll come with me. I know it.”
“Not with that attitude toward her family,” Kerry said. “The Cockburns have her guarded like Fort Knox.”
“Then you’d better get some sleep,” Finn said, clapping a hand on Jason’s shoulder to diffuse the tension. “You’re going to need all your energy in the morning to get her away from her family.”
Jason yawned and waited for Kerry to retire to the bedroom. It was getting late, but he needed Finn to be aware of the gravity of the situation.
As soon as Kerry shut the door, he leaned forward and said to Finn, “This isn’t about the people in the elevator as much as who is pulling the strings. Someone is behind all of this, and they’d do anything to keep Avery from talking.”
“Why are you so sure Avery can’t keep her mouth shut?” Finn asked.
“Because men who love her won’t let it go,” Jason said.
Finn’s eyes widened, and he did a double take. “You’re talking about yourself, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m pretty sure she told Brando.”
“And signed his death warrant,” Finn finished. “Whose secret do you think Brando knew?”
“Cockburn, Leach, or Overton.”
* * *
The next day,Avery sat in her hospital bed, surrounded by tubes, monitors, and her loving family—all except for Stone and Harper, her black sheep brother and sister.
Mom was especially effusive. She fluttered around the room rearranging the flowers, gift card baskets, and other well wishes people had sent.
“We’re so sorry we missed the show,” she said. “Damon shared the video. Let’s do something tonight to celebrate. Throw a party.”
“I’m still feeling woozy,” Avery said. “Maybe next weekend before I go to Hawaii?”
“You’re coming home with us, no questions,” Dad said. He covered her hand with his beefy one. “We’ve missed you, Princess, but now that your big show is over and a grand success, it’s time to put your grief behind you and start living again.”
“Dad, I missed all of you, too, but I need to do it on my timeline. I’m taking the first step, going to Hawaii with Kerry and Finn.”
“I’d tag along if I could,” Chase said, looking at Damon. “Can you spare the time?”
“We have a major software release we’re behind on.” Damon turned toward Alex, the real estate developer. “Don’t you have resorts in Hawaii you have to check on?”
“I’m a developer, not a manager,” Alex said. “Right now, I’m working on a Caribbean project.”
