Page 94 of Shadow of Hope
“And when it does, what do you think she’ll do?” Ava pressed her hands on her knees. “You warned her not to talk to him about this, but once she figures it out, she’s bound to ignore you and confront him. At least, that’s what I would do.”
“Which is why we have to get to the dad like yesterday,” Dev said.
“Colin should have more details for us soon,” Micha said. “We’ll have to be ready to act fast when he does.”
“Yeah,” Dev said. “We need to get eyes on Nicks. Which means we need Colin to confirm he is indeed conducting there. If so, Colin can come back to help you, and I can go to Portland. Or we ask Reid to send someone else.”
“I don’t like being down a guy here. Let me call Reid now to update and warn him in advance that we might need someone else.” Micha got out his phone.
Ava sat back to listen to the call. This team worked so well together, and it seemed as if there was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. She’d never known such camaraderie. Sure, she’d been on nursing staffs that cooperated with each other. Been in bands and small instrumental groups that worked as teams. Even went the extra mile at times, but in the end, they didn’t have this solid connection. A family connection. Maybe deeper than family as these guys chose to work together.
How well did the significant others of the team members get along? The Maddox brothers were only recently married. No one had mentioned the other guys being in committed relationships. The women connected to the group were also part of a real family by marriage. The wife of whichever of the three remaining men who got married next would be their first non-family female in the group.
If it turned out to be her, could she handle such a role? Embrace it even? The guys were easy to get along with, but her experience told her women could be more complicated.
Micha ended his call. “Reid will provide someone if needed.”
Dev pulled into the cabin driveway and slowly navigated the narrow road with water encroaching from both sides. “Flooding is getting worse.”
“We need to keep an eye on the levels.” Micha leaned forward and peered out the front window. “I hate to say it, but if it gets much worse, we might need to abandon this place.”
Dev backed into place, and Micha went to check things out. Ava watched him follow the same procedure as the night they’d arrived. First inside the cabin, then circling the cabin before coming back to the SUV.
Dev turned the engine off and slid out.
Micha opened her door, and she didn’t need instructions but knew to go straight inside. She wanted to lower her face to the ground to keep drier, but she couldn’t leave everything up to the guys. She had to do her part in watching for her foe. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if the guy showed up here.
Would he come in guns blazing, and they would have to flee?
She sure hoped not. Micha shoved open the door. They hadn’t been able to leave a fire burning, and they entered the now-frigid cabin.
Dev crossed straight to the fireplace. “I’ll get a fire going.”
Micha took off his jacket and so did Ava as they went to sit on the sofa. She watched Dev’s sure movements, and he had the fire going in a matter of minutes.
Micha glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late, and we should have dinner.”
“We should’ve gotten something at the restaurant.”
“You’re probably right, but I wanted to get back before dark,” Micha said. “Easier to see someone lurking around before it’s pitch black, and I don’t like the exposed distance we have to walk from the vehicle to the cabin.”
“Sounds legit. I’ll check out our selection of fine cuisine.” Dev chuckled and marched into the kitchen to start looking at cans on the countertop.
Micha’s phone rang. “It’s Colin,” he announced before answering. “You have something on Nicks already?”
“Not yet, but got the searches running on him,” Colin said. “I’m calling about Holly’s will.”
“Her will?” Micha shared a look with Dev. “Go ahead.”
“I hacked Layne’s email. Guy used his mother’s date of birth as his password. Surprising for an IT guy not to use a random password. He should know better than most how easy that would be to guess.”
“And you found something?” Micha asked, wanting to push him along.
“Yeah. He got an email from his mother’s attorney. Said that he’d had a break-in in his office just before Holly died. A bunch of files, including her will, were stolen. He only had a paper copy because she’d changed it so recently and his assistant didn’t have time to scan it. He said Holly kept a copy in her safe, and he wanted Layne to go to her house, scan the signed copy, and email it to him.”
“Who do you think stole it?” Ava looked at Micha.
“Whoever stands to benefit from the older will remaining in place.” Micha frowned. “If they can’t find the changed will, then Layne probably inherits everything. He’s the most likely person.”
