Chapter Eighteen #2
As she did that, Skylar walked to where the lamp sat.
She was surprised that no one had bought it yet, but it was expensive.
Sighing, she hoped it was still here after the holidays.
If not, she’d live with it. She touched the base of the lamp, then headed back to the counter just as Maggie came back carrying a box.
“All set. Let me ring you up.”
“Thanks, Maggie. I can’t wait to give it to her.”
“She will be thrilled and knowing Darla, she’ll tell you that you shouldn’t have done that.”
Skylar grinned. “I bet she will too.” She handed her credit card over, and after putting it back into her wallet, she picked up the box and carried it to her vehicle, then she got in and drove to the liquor store. It was too damn cold to walk.
As she reached the liquor store, she pulled the door open and stepped inside, then walked around.
“Is there something I can help you find?”
Skylar turned to see an older man standing behind the counter. His white hair and beard made him look like Santa Claus.
“Hi, I’m looking for Callahan Whiskey.”
“Third aisle, top shelf. All different sizes.”
“Thank you.” She made her way to the aisle and looked at the bottles. There was an anniversary bottle. Twenty-five years with the dates on it. It was very ornate looking. She picked it up and smiled. This would work.
“Do you have this in a box?”
“I do. I’ll be right back.” He disappeared through a doorway and returned in a few minutes with a box. “Here you go, honey.”
“Thanks. I’ll take it.”
He told her the price, and she stopped herself from gasping at it. It was expensive but Darla and J.B. were such wonderful people, and it was only once a year.
The man put the box in a bag, while she swiped her credit card in the machine.
She picked the bag up, smiled, then walked out. She inhaled deeply at the snow, hitting her in the face and quickly got into her SUV. After starting it, she checked the traffic, then pulled out and headed home. She wanted to wrap them and put them away until she got a tree.
Skylar nibbled her bottom lip. She had no idea where she could get one but was sure Rawley would know and maybe they could get one together. She hoped he put one up in front of that front window. It would be so perfect there.
As she drove home, the snow got heavier, piling up on the wipers as they swished back and forth. She turned the defroster on, but it didn’t seem to help. She hoped she could get home in this. She was shocked by how fast it was covering the road.
By the time she arrived home, her hands were shaking and she hoped Rawley wasn’t out in this. She opened the door, stepped out and gasped as she popped the hatch, then quickly picked up the box and carried it inside, then returned to the vehicle to get the box containing the whiskey.
Once inside, she took her coat and beanie off, then made a fire in the hearth. As it snapped and crackled around the logs, she made her way to her bedroom, stripped off her clothes and dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants, then walked to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
After it was finished, she picked it up, headed back to the living room, then sat on the sofa, sighing at the warmth from the fireplace. She looked out the window, and it looked like a white-out. She really hoped Rawley would get here.
****
Rawley entered the conference room to see Hill sitting on a chair wearing handcuffs. He looked up at him but quickly looked away as Rawley pulled a chair out, sat down and placed the recorder on the table.
“What do you want to tell me?”
“I want a deal,” Hill said.
“I want to hear what you have to say first. If I get needed information from you, I’ll see what I can do for you.” Rawley sat back in the chair and folded his arms.
Hill sighed. “The Peterbilt belonged to Hal’s father. He sells them.”
“So, he just let his son take it?” Rawley shook his head.
“His father lets him do whatever he wants.”
“How many semis were used?”
“Three.”
“So, he just took three trucks, and his father didn’t say anything about not getting them back? Come on, I don’t believe that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I’m not an idiot. You’re lying. Now, either tell me who did what or you’re going back to your cell… without a deal,” Rawley snapped.
“Okay, I’ll tell you if you promise I won’t be in the same jail as Axel. He’ll kill me.”
“I’ll do what I can. Talk.”
“Hal’s father is in on it. He owns a semi dealership in Missoula. He told Hal he knew how we could make money. He’d provide the trucks, then after we destroyed them, he’d turn it into the insurance company.”
“He turned three trucks in, and the insurance company paid him?”
“Two. The last one hasn’t been turned in yet, but Mr. White’s insurance adjuster was also in on it. He took a cut from the insurance payment which was the cost of a truck. Like over a hundred thousand dollars.”
Rawley huffed out a laugh. “What a racket. Do you happen to know their names?”
“Not the adjuster but Hal’s dad’s name is Harold White, Sr.”
“I hope he realizes he got his son killed.”
“Hal knew Axel would do it because he never turns down a way to make money. legal or illegal.”
“What about the other two? The Jessup’s.”
“They were friends of Axel’s and do anything he would tell them to. I needed some money.”
“There are better ways to get money other than stealing. Anything else?”
“No. That’s it.”
“You’ve been doing this all across the state? Who owns the warehouse in Autum Falls?”
“I’m not sure, but I think either Hall’s dad or the insurance adjuster. Axel never said.”
“I’ll look for the deed.” Rawley stood. “This better be everything.”
“It is. I swear.”
“Yeah, like I’d believe you. Get up and Deputy Lawrence will take you back to your cell. I’ll see you in court.”
“Will I be able to get a deal?”
“If I can verify everything you told me, I’ll talk to the judge. You’re going to need an attorney.”
“Yes, sir,” Hill said in a dejected voice.
Rawley led him to where Jack sat, handed him over, then strode to Dave’s office to tell him. He was tired and sore, so he asked Dave if he could leave and he let him. Rawley just wanted to go home and relax. After he picked up some burgers.
Once he got those, he slowly made his way to Skylar’s house as the snow swirled in the glow of his headlights and coating his windshield wipers despite the defroster blasting hot air.
He finally pulled into her snow-dusted driveway, grabbed the white paper bag from the diner that was warm against his frozen fingers, and trudged up the slippery walk, his boots crunching through the fresh powder.
He smiled when he heard the dogs barking.
They knew the distinctive rumble of his truck’s engine from a mile away.
As he stepped onto the porch, the door swung open, spilling golden light onto the snow, and he let out an appreciative groan when he saw Skylar standing there in her blue sweatpants and one of his T-shirts, her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“Hi, get in out of the cold,” she said, her breath visible in the frigid air as she opened the door wider, revealing the warm glow of the living room behind her.
He removed his black Stetson, carefully wiped his snow-encrusted boots on the bristly welcome mat, brushed the clinging snowflakes from his hat and coat, then stepped into the heavenly warmth of her home. Leaning down, he pressed his cold lips against her soft, warm ones.
“Hi, baby.” He straightened, hung his hat on the oak rack, then did the same with his coat, revealing his flannel shirt underneath. “That crackling fire feels like heaven after being out in this weather.”
“I got home a while ago and made it to take the chill off. I was absolutely freezing when I got home.”
“I can warm you better than any fire,” he whispered, then kissed her lips again, pulling her slender body tight against his chest.
“Stop, you stubborn man.” She shook her head, but her eyes sparkled. “What am I supposed to do with you?”
“Anything you want.” He winked at her.
She laughed. “Give me that bag before it gets cold. I’m absolutely starving.”
“Okay, I’m going to change out of these damp clothes. I’ll be right back. Go ahead and start without me.”
“Don’t think I won’t.” She carried the grease-spotted bag to the plush sofa, sank into the cushions, and opened the bag to remove her juicy burger, moaning at the mouthwatering aromas of grilled meat and melted cheese that wafted up.
Rawley shook his head as he watched her. He entered the bedroom, stripped off his clothes, then called out to her through the half-open door.
“Do you mind if I take a hot shower? I need to thaw out.”
“Sure, go ahead. There are fresh towels in the cabinet.”
“You can always join me,” he yelled with a grin, then chuckled when her laughter floated back to him. He entered the steamy bathroom and closed the door behind him with a soft click.
****
Skylar sat on the edge of the sofa, one leg tucked beneath her, trying to concentrate on the romcom flickering across the TV screen and the cheeseburger growing cold on the foil wrapper on her lap.
But her mind kept wandering to the bathroom, where she could hear water drumming against tile.
She pictured rivulets cascading down his skin, streaming over the defined ridges of his chest, tracing the curve of his biceps, following the trail of dark hair down his taut stomach.
A flush of heat spread across her cheeks.
“Damn that man,” she whispered through clenched teeth.
She abandoned her dinner, walking to her bedroom where she peeled off her oversized T-shirt and sweatpants.
The bathroom door wasn’t fully closed. Tendrils of steam escaped through the gap, carrying the scent of his sandalwood soap.
Through the foggy glass doors, his silhouette moved beneath the spray.
She slid the door open, stepped onto the slick tiles, and pressed her bare chest against his back, her arms encircling his slippery waist as hot water cascaded over them both.