Chapter 13
Luke turned away from Jenna and kept his voice low as he asked, “What have you got?”
“A witness came forward about twenty minutes ago,” Micah said. “Claims he saw the shooter. Got a partial description, maybe a partial plate.”
“That’s good news.”
“Unfortunately, that witness was Travis Henderson.” Micah’s voice remained solemn.
“Travis Henderson.” Luke’s muscles hardened as he said the man’s name. “He just happened to be close when this happened?”
Why did that fact irritate Luke? Why Travis of all people? The man wasn’t trustworthy.
“That’s what he said.”
Luke looked at the stained-glass window nearest him without seeing it. Travis Henderson tended to show up whenever trouble happened—and Luke didn’t believe that was a coincidence.
“What’s his story?” Luke asked.
“He saw a dark sedan. The description matches what you gave me. Says he saw someone get out, take the shot, and get back in.”
“I wish it were anyone but Travis.”
“I understand that,” Micah said. “He’s enjoying being in the middle of it. You know how he is.”
Luke did know. Travis had a knack for inserting himself into situations that didn’t concern him and making things worse in the process.
“Does his description of the shooter match anyone local?” Luke asked.
“Hard to say. Male, dark jacket. Said he moved fast like he knew what he was doing. According to Travis, this guy was back in his car and gone in under thirty seconds.”
Luke was no expert, but it almost sounded as if the shooter had been a professional.
“There’s something else,” Micah said. “I ran the partial plates, and the sedan came back stolen. Taken from a parking lot in Waynesboro two days ago.”
“Interesting . . .” Luke muttered.
“Luke.” Micah’s voice dropped. “I don’t know what’s going on. But whatever your history is with Jenna . . . the trouble she brought with her to Blue Ridge Hollow . . . I don’t think it’s over.”
Luke looked across the sanctuary to where Jenna stood watching him with those careful eyes.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “I’m beginning to think the same thing.”
Jenna watched as Luke pocketed his phone and turned back to her.
Things had just gotten more complicated.
She saw it in the set of Luke’s shoulders. Whatever the sheriff had told him had added another layer to an already impossible morning.
Luke stepped closer. “The sedan the shooter drove was stolen two days ago from Waynesboro.”
Her breath caught.
Two days ago? Two days ago, she’d gone to Waynesboro to grab a few things from a local department store.
What if someone had seen her while she was in town? What if this person had followed her here?
She’d been trying so hard to be careful. But what if she’d failed?
“Jenna.” Luke’s voice was careful. “I need to ask you something.”
She waited, her pulse pounding in her ears.
“How do I know any of this is true?” The question was absent of accusation. Instead, it sounded honest, like that of a man who’d already been blindsided once and wasn’t willing to be blindsided again.
“You’ve told me things today that I couldn’t have imagined this morning,” he continued. “I want to believe you. But you’ve also been lying to me, in one way or another, ever since I’ve known you. So how do I know you’re telling me the truth now?”
She looked at him for a long moment, turning over her response before finally murmuring, “Ask Wes.”
Realization moved across his face. Confusion first, then something shifted behind his eyes as the pieces fell into alignment one by one.
She saw the exact moment the truth clicked.
Wes Bennett.
Former US Marshal. Current security advisor at Refuge Cove.
The man who was dating Luke’s little sister, Rowan.
Luke’s gaze darkened. “Wes knew? This whole time?”
Jenna swallowed hard before responding, hating the fact she was pulling Wes into this. But what other choice did she have?
“He couldn’t tell you,” she explained. “He wasn’t allowed. He was bound by his job, and I was bound by the program. Neither of us had a choice.”
Luke crossed his arms. “He had the chance, and he said nothing.”
“He couldn’t, Luke. Besides, even if he could, it wasn’t his story to tell.”
He turned away from her. Visible tension stretched across his shoulders.
She wanted to step closer. To put a comforting hand on his arm.
Instead, she said, “I know this is a lot, Luke. I’ve handed you more this morning than any person should have to absorb in one sitting. I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for all of it. But you asked how you could know if I was telling the truth. Wes is your answer.”
Luke was quiet another moment. Then he straightened and turned back to her.
She saw him setting his emotion aside, at least temporarily, in order to move toward what needed to happen next.
“I have to get to Refuge Cove. There’s a problem at the site, and I can’t put it off any longer.” His gaze locked on hers. “But I’m not sending you back to Hollow House.”
She started to protest, but he held up a hand.
“I’m going to call Wes,” he said. “He’s in town, so I’m going to ask him to meet you. He and I are going to have a conversation, regardless. It might as well be today.”
Jenna thought about Wes getting that call. About what it would feel like to know the moment had finally arrived after all these years.
This whole situation felt like a mess.
Maybe it would have been better if she’d stayed away.
Had coming here been just one more mistake in an already long list?