Page 103 of Still Afraid

Josh gripped Chloe’s hand.

Breana transferred her gaze to Josh and opened her mouth to say something, but her father’s lawyer came up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“You shouldn’t be speaking to those accusing your father.”

“I just needed to clear the air.”

“I still won’t allow it.”

She stepped out from under his hand and met Josh’s eyes again. “I’m sorry for how I acted. I very much appreciated y’all’s help the day of the tornado. Best of luck with your marriage.”

With that she shot the lawyer a glare and stormed away. The lawyer simply left.

Josh and Chloe looked at one another, and a laugh erupted from both of them. At least that seemed settled now too. They turned and walked down the hallway where her parents were waiting with Gabe and Aaron.

As they debated where to get a bite to eat, Chloe’s phone dinged a notification.

She gripped Josh’s elbow. “This might be it.”

“What?”

“The journal. I think we found the real owner.”

Josh would be lying if that idea didn’t bring him a little trepidation. They’d thought everything that had happened had been connected to the journal. But it hadn’t been. Even so, it still made Josh nervous.

Chloe couldn’t stand still as they waited at the police station later that afternoon. She paced back and forth in the lobby as Josh sat on a bench with his head back against the wall. Poirot lay at his feet, using Josh’s foot as a pillow.

Buck still had the journal upstairs, but they would meet the older gentleman who had reached out to her in the lobby first.

The elevator doors opened, and Buck stepped out. “Is he here?”

Poirot lifted his head, as did Josh.

Chloe stopped beside Buck. “Nope.” She checked her watch. He wasn’t even late yet.

“Settle, Chloe.” Josh patted the bench next to him.

“Pretty sure that’s impossible, but thanks.” The last thing she wanted to do right now was sit. She’d done enough of that all weekend as Josh had doted on her. She’d been sore but was feeling better today, and all that pent-up energy wasn’t letting her relax any longer.

A tall man in a floppy fishing hat entered the police station, leaning heavily on a cane.

Poirot sat up, and his ears perked.

Chloe suspected the man might be Ernie Short, but she wasn’t certain. The man went to the front desk officer, who pointed at Chloe and the men. She waved, and he strode toward them.

“Hi. Mr. Short?”

The ironically tall man nodded. “You must be Miss Chloe.”

Chloe extended her hand. “I am.” She introduced her companions, and they all took the elevator to the squad room.

Buck lifted the journal with care from his desk and offered it to the man.

“I can’t tell you folks how grateful I am that you found this and took care of it.”

Chloe said, “It’s a beautiful book. I didn’t read it as I didn’t want to invade your privacy.”

Buck interjected. “I, however, did read the entire thing. And I apologize for the invasion, but we weren’t certain if there was anything nefarious inside and needed to know if it was the cause of the trials Chloe has experienced recently.”