Page 146 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“Mom didn’t notice you took all of this money?” I asked Ryder.

He shrugged. “She wasn’t so good with numbers.”

“Why didn’t you tell us about this?” Willa asked him.

Good fucking question. This information could have saved me from a week of being the number one suspect in a murder.

Ryder hung his head. “I thought I’d get in trouble for stealing and they’d send me away.”

And since he had nowhere else to go, he would have gone right into the system.

The same system I’d been telling him horror stories about since he’d arrived in Lark Cove.

I sighed, then looked at Magee. “Is he in trouble?”

The sheriff shook his head, then nodded to the cash and recorders. “As long as I can have that as evidence, I don’t see any reason to punish Ryder.” He stood from his chair. “I think we’re done for the day. We’ll need you to stay out of your house until my team is done dusting for prints. But I expect that to be done soon.”

“Take your time.” I stood and held out a hand for a shake. Then I nudged Ryder’s arm so he’d do the same.

With my hand on the back of his neck, I steered my brother out of the interrogation room with Willa trailing close behind.

“Thank you, Sheriff Magee,” she told him as he escorted us out.

“You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch.”

He left us alone in the lobby and we all shrugged on our coats. With mine on, I tossed the truck keys to Ryder. “Why don’t you head on out and turn the heat on for us.”

“Okay.” He nodded and hurried out the door.

When he was gone, I turned to Willa and let out a deep breath. “That was . . .”

“Intense? I can’t believe all of this.”

I pulled her into my arms. “Me neither, babe.”

“I have a feeling this Christopher guy is about to meet Sheriff Magee. Do you think that he’s the one who killed your mom? Could he be the one who broke into your house looking for those recordings?”

“That’s my hunch, but we’ll know more once Magee tracks him down.” There was a flurry of activity behind the lobby desk as two deputies whispered to one another. I was guessing the sheriff had already started his search for Christopher Unger.

“One thing I know for sure,” I said. “We’re not going home until the sheriff rounds him up. I’m not taking any chances.”

Willa nodded. “We can just stay at my place and Ryder can crash in my parents’ guest room.”

The deputies behind the desk both disappeared deeper into the station. “For Ryder’s sake, I hope they find out who killed her. He deserves to know.”

“So do you,” Willa said.

“I said good-bye to her a long time ago, babe. Years before she ever came to Lark Cove. I just want to put it all in the past.”

She held me tighter. “It’ll be okay.”

With her in my arms? “It already is.”

“You guys want something to drink?”

Willa, Ryder and Nate didn’t look up as I stood from the dining room table. All I got were three slight headshakes as they stared at the cards in their hands.

They’d been playing three-handed pinochle for an hour. I’d helped Ryder out at first, but he’d gotten the hang of it quickly, so I’d just been watching them.