Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (102)
“Or it could be someone who had those dormant urges and seeing what Travis did woke them up. Inspired them,” Roger suggested.
He had a point. If someone had the desire to kill but hadn’t acted on it yet, seeing someone else do it could’ve kicked them off.
“There’s one other possibility we’re not talking about.” My voice was low because I didn’t want to say it. Didn’t want to even think it. And neither did Roger.
Roger scrubbed a hand over his face. “We never found his body.”
The last thing I wanted to think was that Travis was alive, that he had somehow survived the shooting and the fall and was still out there … hunting.
Tension wove its way through my body, knitting my ribs so tight it was hard to breathe. I reached for my phone on instinct, typing out a text.
Me:
Keep an eye on Nova. She goes nowhere alone.
My brother’s response was almost instant.
Wylder:
What happened?
I shouldn’t tell him. It was against protocol. But apparently, I was breaking all the rules these days.
Me:
We found Heidi Ingram.
Wylder:
fuck
That pretty much summed it up.
Wylder:
I’ll keep eyes on her. You coming in?
Me:
After I finish up at the scene.
Wylder:
Be careful.
Me:
Always am.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“Nova?” Roger asked knowingly.
Fucking hell. I needed to work on my poker face.
“I wanted Wylder to keep a close eye on her. Gonna have to figure out a system so she’s not alone.”
Roger studied me for a long moment as if peeling back the layers of my mask. He was usually lighthearted and carefree, on the Mav side of the aisle in terms of living life. But it disguised deep waters. Roger knew how to analyze people when he wanted to. And he was damn smart.
“It serious?”
I exhaled, the air hissing through my teeth. “I love her.”
He whistled. “That complicates things.”
“Gonna talk to Sherri today. I have to pass the case off.”
Roger’s brows pulled together in a supremely pissed-off look. “Do not leave me with that prick.”
“She won’t reassign it just to Pete. There has to be a more senior agent involved.”
“If I wasn’t so goddamned happy for you, I’d be seriously ticked.”
I let out a low chuckle. “Happy to know you care.”
One corner of Roger’s mouth kicked up. “Been wondering about those bracelets you’ve been wearing. Thought maybe you just had a thing for pink and purple glitter.”
I scowled at my friend as my fingers went instinctively to my wrist, to the bracelets that Sky had made in that time when Nova had been keeping her distance. They’d started to feel like a touchstone, something that made me feel close to her even when we were apart. And not just that. They felt like a way to honor our bond. “If you’re not down to rock pink and purple glitter, you’re missing out.”
He let out a low chuckle. “I’ll keep that in mind.” The humor on his face dropped away. “Take care of her. She’s been through a lot.”
“Nova’s stronger than anyone knows. But I’m also going to have her back, no matter what.” Just saying the words made me twitchy. I wanted to get to Nova. To feel her against me. To be sure she was okay.
But I also had to tell her that another woman was dead. And that the monster of her nightmares might still be here in the waking world.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Nova
IFELT … LIGHTER. MAYBE IT WAS THE COMBINATION OF sunshine, fresh air, and letting go. Maybe it was the magic of horses, just like Aster had said. But for the first time in a while, I was hopeful that I could find the healing I needed.
Crossing the bar floor, I grabbed the watering can we stashed behind the hostess stand. Wylder changed out the planters he kept out front depending on the season, and we were in the fall mums era. And while the weather had gotten colder, they still needed water now and then.
“Where are you going?” Cora asked, her gaze flicking back to the bar, where Wylder was talking to a distributor.
I frowned at her, holding up the watering can. “To tap dance on the moon. I’m going to water the mums.”
Cora sent another look in Wylder’s direction. I saw it then …nerves. Her fingers fluttered at her sides, and her gaze was jumpy. “I’ll come with you.”
“Are you okay?” I asked gently.
“What?” Her gaze snapped back to me. “Oh yeah, I’m fine. I just thought fresh air might be good.”
“All right …” I started for the front door. Maybe she needed to talk, away from prying eyes and ears.
Cora held the door for me but scanned the sidewalk and street. I wasn’t sure what she was expecting to find, but everything looked … normal. Fall was certainly quieter in Starlight Grove—not as many tourists and no packed streets—but that didn’t mean it was dead. People milled around, going about their usual business.