Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Probably,” he muttered. “Get in the goddamn car, will you, please?”
Once I was in, he had us heading for the highway quickly.
“Do you wanna hear what they found out there by the shed?”
“No. It’s none of my—”
“They found a body they think is no more than a couple of decades old.”
But that made no sense. “Decades, not a century? You’re sure?”
“Yeah, that’s what they said.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Well, obviously, they have to do a full examination of the bones,” he explained, “but the preliminary word is yeah, decades only.”
“Okay. What else did the state police say?”
“Nothing yet. I’m sure they’re going to have words with Bill Rader, though.”
“And all he’s going to say is that he had nothing to do with any bones they found.”
“But a twenty-year-old corpse, that would be on him.”
“Unless the bones tell another story.”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know,” I told him. “There’s no use wondering until we know more.”
He thought a moment before saying, “Can I ask, is there something in the forest, in the woods, that would kill someone? All I’ve heard since I moved here is to beware of going out at night, and that the forest is a dangerous place, and on and on. We need to know if—”
“There’s nothing in the mountains that would kill something and then carry it down to your land and bury it there,” I assured him. “Think about what you’re asking.”
“Yeah, all right.”
“The important part is, you’ll know soon whose bones those are. The forensic team will pull DNA and that’ll be it.”
“Right.”
“Meanwhile, though, your pack land is making headline news.”
“Yes, it is, which isn’t great for shifters.”
“No, it’s not.”
“I guess Tuss will have to leave us alone for now until all the interest dies down,” Reggie muttered.
“Which is good.”
“Anyway.” He took a deep breath. “We really do appreciate everything you did for us Friday night, Merritt.”
“It doesn’t sound like Abel does. He was ready to throw me under the bus.”
“Only because he wasn’t thinking for a minute.”
That didn’t make me feel any better.
SIX
We were quiet for the rest of the trip to the hospital, and when we got there, Reggie and I were directed to a ward instead of the ICU. I thought since Evan had been moved, that he must have been better, but when we got to the small waiting area where Abel, Narah, Justin, and several other people were, their expressions clearly said that Evan was still in danger.
Justin was the first one to me, putting his hand on my shoulder, telling me how pleased he was that I was there, but I had no time for him. I waved to his mother, who immediately moved to my side.
“Oh, Merritt,” Narah began, taking my hand, “it’s so kind of you to come and—”
“Could you tell me what happened to Evan?” I asked her.
“What do you mean?”
“I need to know what kind of contact he had with the bones.”
“None,” she assured me. “We all went out to watch the recovery team, or whatever they’re called, first dig up and examine the bones and then take them away. Evan wanted to get a closer look, but as soon as he stepped down onto the grass from the stairs, he threw up.”
This was when details were important. “Did he throw up blood, black bile, or something else?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know. I wasn’t the first one to him. Cole was.”
Even though Narah was the pack healer, there was no doubt that Cole would have beaten her to his brother. “Okay. Can you tell me where they are?”
“I’ll take you to—”
“Merritt,” Abel said, stepping up beside his wife. “Might I have a quick word with—”
“Actually, no,” I replied, then turned back to Narah. “Just tell me what room.”
Abel took hold of my arm. “I will not allow you to—”
“Mere?”
We all turned, and there was Cole, staring at me. I was his entire focus, no one else. “Did you come to see Evan?”
It was physically painful to see how broken he was. His eyes were red and puffy, mere slits at the moment, he looked like he hadn’t slept since I saw him last, and his normally golden coloring had become ashen. He appeared utterly wrung out, and it was easy to understand why. Evan was his whole life, and he was sick.
“I did, yes.” I pulled my arm from Abel’s grip before walking over to Cole. “Where is he?”
Cole took hold of my hand, gently, and gave a tug to get me moving. “I can’t believe you came, even after how we left things the other day.”
“Yeah, but that was me and you. This is your brother. It’s different.”
Evan’s room was dark. They’d pulled the shades, and the only light came from the one in the bathroom. He was in the bed, looking nothing like he had on Friday night. Normally, he had the same golden-tan coloring as Cole, but now he was pale, his face waxen, and he was shivering under a light blanket. His breathing sounded labored.