Page 60 of Dangerous Secrets
Walker pushed the heels of his handsagainst his eyes and swallowed against the sudden urge tovomit.
Sawyer tightened his grip, thepressure helping to focus him.“We’ll figure it out.”
“I’m not going back toprison.”
“No, you’re not.Butsomeone’s fucking with you and we need to figure out what’s goingon before that knife is tied to you.And that’ll happen soon.There’s not going to be a long list of people around here with yourname.When did you last see the knife?”he repeated.
Walker shook off Sawyer’s hand andbegan to pace.“I had it when Delaney and I found Bud in the creek.I used it to cut the rope from his neck.Yesterday morning I put itin the glove box.”
“Do you lock yourtruck?”
The sick feeling in his stomachratcheted up.“If I’m out, but not when I’m home.If I’m at thecabin, I don’t bother.”
Sawyer swore under his breath.“It’stoo convenient.It’s too fucking convenient for your knife to showup at a crime scene and then get left behind.”Sawyer’s tone wasgrim.“The call came in at about midnight.Where were you at thattime?”
“Home, and before you ask,I was alone.”
“Did you talk to anyonelast night?Text anyone?”
He shook his head.“I’d been goingthrough the box, continuing what we were doing the other day,pulling out papers that had anything to do withFetterly.”
His phone went off and he pulled itfrom his pocket.Seeing the name on the screen, he brought it tohis ear.“Laney.”
“Walker, there’s a fire atthe mill.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Where are you?Are yousafe?”Walker’s gut clenched.His worry dialed up anotch.
“I’m still at the house.Cam called me.”Fear edged her voice.
“Is there anyoneinside?”
“I don’t think so.No oneshould be in the mill this time of night.Cam called the firedepartment.I need to wake Gran and get over there to see what’sgoing on.”
“I’m in town with Sawyer.We’re leaving now and will get there as soon as we can.”Dealingwith the ramifications of his knife being used in a heinous crimewould have to wait.He didn’t believe in coincidences.It wasbecoming increasingly clear, whoever was messing with him had uppedtheir game.
“Okay.”Her voice carriedher anxiety.
“Be safe, Laney.Don’tthink you need to save anything or fight the fire yourself.Don’tput yourself in danger.Wait for the fire department to do theirjob.”
“I will.”
He disconnected and turned to Sawyer.“The mill’s on fire.”
“Let’s go.”
Walker slid behind the wheel of histruck, his mind racing.The old mill house with its presses andbottling equipment were the heart of the operation Delaney hadbuilt to sustain the farm.A fire could carry to the packing shedhousing the bakery and retail store.If those burned, their seasonwould be over before it even started.
Overlaying that fear, there was alwaysthe danger with any fire that it could move into the mountains andbecome a wildfire that could rage through the forest withdevastating consequences.
The drive to the farm had never seemedso long.Walker had the gas pedal to the floor as he tore down thehighway and turned onto Mill Creek Road.The headlights of Sawyer’struck shone fifty yards behind him.Circling red lights werevisible from the road well before the turnoff to thefarm.
Walker forced himself to slow down ashe took the gravel road to the mill.Three fire trucks and twosheriff’s department SUVs were parked in the area in front of themill, red and blue lights spinning.
He parked off the road, his gazealready searching for Delaney as he stepped out of his truck.Sawyer pulled to a stop behind him.
Firefighters in their reflectiveturnout gear were hauling the hoses to wind around the building tothe back of the structure.He glanced at the names of thefirefighters emblazoned on their gear but didn’t spot Mateo’s“Reynoso.”Voices sounded over various radios, adding to the din.He’d feared a fully engulfed structure, but no flames were visible.Smoke billowed from the back, making a dark smudge across thestarlit sky.He dug his phone from his pocket, keeping it to hisear as he called Laney even as he began circling the mill searchingfor her.
