Chapter 10 #2
Clearing her throat, she tapped a few keys on her laptop, and a slide appeared on the screen.
It was filled with details regarding arrests that had been made.
The second slide listed the dates and times of the recent break-ins and thefts, and a third was filled with photos of the various buildings around the campus.
“Following the money is a good way to start. I promised my husband I wouldn’t get myself into any dangerous situations.” She rolled her eyes like there was a fat chance of that happening.
I’d just met the woman, but already, I couldn’t imagine anyone telling her what to do.
“I’ll be your fresh set of eyes. Every detail is relevant. Tell me everything and anything. I’m going to create a shared drive on a private server where we can store documents and communications.”
“We’ll get you whatever you ask for,” Gus said. “We need answers, we need accountability, and we need to stop whatever is happening.” He put his arm around Chloe, who was seated next to him.
Fuck. I closed my eyes, wishing this would all go away. My oldest brother, the guy who had dedicated his entire life to this company, had finally gotten the thing he had always wanted: a family. But now, during what should be the happiest time in his life, he was being dragged down by this shit.
“I’ll be working through evidence and asking questions, and I’ll need everyone’s assistance.”
“We’ll do everything we can.” Finn straightened. “I’ll fly you out wherever you need to go.”
“And I can help with the maps and geographical stuff,” Jude said, resting his forearms on the table. No one knew these woods like he did.
Gus turned to me, his expression stoic as always. “Cole, you don’t have to be involved.”
Those few words were like a knife to the heart.
“I want to help,” I said sharply. He may not have meant that I had nothing to offer, but the comment rankled me just the same.
My entire family was rallying together to keep the people they loved safe, but dumb Cole had nothing meaningful to contribute. Story of my damn life.
“What can you do?” Owen asked in a way that probably sounded fine to the rest of the group but was clearly meant as a jab.
And he wasn’t wrong. I had nothing to contribute. I knew very little about the business, mainly by design. My whole life, I’d stayed as far away from my father as I could, and unlike Gus and Jude, I’d never had any interest in Hebert Timber.
From a young age, I’d dedicated my life to hockey and assumed I’d be a famous pro hockey player by now. Living far away and visiting once in a while to show my family how successful I’d become.
But I was here now. And I had more than enough time on my hands.
But other than that time and a desire to help, I was worthless.
I couldn’t read financial records like Owen or advise on the business like Gus and Jude.
I didn’t have resources like Finn, who could transport Parker and the rest of them anywhere they needed to go.
“Hold on,” Parker said. Crossing her arms. She was tall and intimidating. Of course she was. She was Adele’s best friend.
She regarded me for a moment, her lips pursed. “Everyone can help. And his help will absolutely be valuable. You planned RiverFest, right?”
I nodded, still tense from being discounted by my brothers.
“Good. Let’s chat. I’m thinking we could use your connections with city hall and the mayor’s office. Everyone is still raving about all the work you put into it.”
My cheeks heated as every person in the room scrutinized me.
I knew Mayor Lambert and his staff, but so did everyone else in this town.
I wasn’t special. Though the earnestness of her comment made me sit a little straighter.
I had indeed organized the festival. It had been court-ordered community service, but I’d done a damn good job, and I’d actually enjoyed it.
Awash with gratitude, I gave her a nod. I wanted to hate Owen for his shitty comment, but I couldn’t. He had good reason to dislike and distrust me. And while I had little to offer, I’d work my ass off in any way I could to show him I could be valuable to this family.
Parker went through the rest of her plan, requesting records and scheduling a time to fly out to camp with Finn.
After two hours, the group as a whole was restless.
“The entire town will know sooner or later that I’m working for you,” Parker said from where she sat at the head of the table.
“I’m not concerned. I’m confident we can flush out the people involved.
But we need to keep our circle tight and make sure to keep this information from being leaked to anyone outside this group,” she explained as she closed her laptop.
“What about your wife?” Owen asked, his tone harsh.
I picked my head up from where I’d been focused on the notes I’d taken. Was he speaking to me? Every head was turned my way, so I guessed he was. It was still strange to think that I had a wife. It had only been seventy-two hours, after all.
Owen’s voice was tinny through the speaker as he said, “Why isn’t she here?”
That questioned had my hackles raising. “My wife is a busy physician,” I said, flexing my hands into fists and trying to keep my voice from shaking. “She has to single-handedly keep this county healthy, so she’s got better things to do.”
“I think what Owen was trying to say,” Lila interrupted, her tone gentle, “was that we need to determine whether to involve her. If we don’t, then you need to make sure not to share too much about what’s going on.”
“Willa is completely trustworthy,” I said, glaring at everyone. Then I focused on Lila again. “I figured you, of all people, would know that. I will keep her updated. She’s a member of this family now too.”
Though I’d spoken the words, the truth hadn’t registered until then.
And it hit like a brick to the head. She was a member of this family.
Our fractured, messy family. The family currently trying to shut down what seemed to be a crime spree.
The family that had faced nothing but danger and catastrophe for the past two years. Shit. What had I dragged her into?