Page 69 of Shadow of Hope
“My cabin.” Ava’s eyes brightened as if she were recalling fond memories of the place.
Micha rested his elbows on the table and pondered the location. He looked at Colin. “You think the connection between her and the cousin is hidden well enough?”
Colin sipped his coffee that he’d loaded with cream and sugar. “It’s not impossible to find. After all, once I had Ava’s real name I did locate it, but I don’t think the police have the resources to do a deep enough search on a timely basis.”
“I hate to make you spend even a minute more in that motel room.” Micha offered Ava what he hoped was a comforting smile. “But I want to question Layne before we leave town. Confront him with Jamal’s murder, but also be sure he doesn’t have the ability to make the connection to your cabin. I can’t have you come with me for obvious reasons.”
“We have two vehicles,” Dev said. “She could ride with me, and we could park nearby and wait.”
“Okay, that might work.” Micha played the scenario out in his mind. “But don’t choose a spot too close in case the interview goes south. Don’t want him to bolt and accidentally discover you.”
Belinda came down the aisle with the food and set a large platter in front of both of them. “I had the cook add extra fries for you and more mashed potatoes for you. The coconut cream pie is to die for, so let me know if you’d like a slice.”
“No need to wait for me,” Dev said. “I’ll take one.”
The others chimed in, too.
“Four slices coming up. You won’t regret it.”
“I might not,” Ava said. “But my waistline will.”
Micha opened his mouth to say one piece of pie would not change that.
No. Keep your thoughts to yourself.
No reason to delve into the personal realm in front of the guys and risk his growing feelings for Ava getting back to Reid. He grabbed up his burger and bit into the juiciness that dripped on the plate. He groaned at the rich beef taste mixed with tangy spices and all the fixings. “Good.”
“Told you so,” Dev said.
“Yeah, but you’re not always right. Especially not about food. You’ll eat pretty much anything.” Micha laughed.
Colin smiled. “I always say if he found a woman who could cook, it would be all over. Despite anything else, he would get down on his knee and propose.”
Dev cast daggers at his brother, but Micha knew it was all in jest. He didn’t have time for joking around, though. He barely wanted to sit here to eat, but they needed to fuel up their bodies for the drive. “Colin, check the tracker to see if Layne’s home.”
Colin shoveled a huge bite of potatoes with thick gravy into his mouth, then got out his phone. Micha wolfed some fries dipped in ketchup while he waited. Crispy and tender at the same time. This place gave diners a good name for sure.
He felt Ava’s eyes on him but didn’t look at her. He didn’t want to reveal his unreasonable happiness in seeing her. The guys would speculate as to whether he could be objective here. He couldn’t. He knew that. But he could still provide the best protection detail she could need and coordinate her escape from town.
“I need to tell you about my bocal,” she told him. “One of them is missing from the drawer in my music room, and it’s the right size for the one in Jamal’s neck.”
“Not surprising.”
“You expected that?”
He nodded. “I saw some empty spots in the drawers when I took the pictures, so I figured it would be the case.”
“Not good news, though,” Dev said. “Now we also need to prove that someone stole it.”
“Layne’s car is home.” Colin traded his phone for his fork. “Doesn’t necessarily mean he’s there, but it’s a good start.”
Micha grabbed his burger again. “So we finish up here, then get your vehicle and head out to Layne’s place.”
Ava picked up her coffee cup. “I need to stop at the bridge on the way back to the motel. I’m taking meals to a group of homeless people.”
Ah, yes. Ava showing God’s love in action. Caring. Compassionate. Unselfish. Even when her life hung in the balance. That was the kind of person he was coming to know her to be. He not only cared about her in a romantic sense, but he respected her big time.
“I love seeing your faith in action.”
