Page 56 of Concrete Evidence
Tomorrow she’d delve into the possibility of her parents being involved in the tragedies. They’d never resort to murder. Would they?
Tomorrow.
Avery woke on Monday to the sound of her phone ringing. Only two people had the number—Marc and the police officer. But she didn’t recognize the digits. She debated answering but curiosity won.
“Avery, this is Roden. You sound groggy. Sorry to wake you.”
Make it three people who had her number. “What time is it?”
“Eleven fifteen.”
She blew out her exasperation. “I should have been up long before this.” The meds had knocked her out cold.
“How do you feel?”
“I haven’t moved.” She turned to view the clock on the nightstand and moaned. “My body resembles the next day after training horses and finding myself kissing the dirt too many times.”
“Or playing football with the neighborhood kids and getting my rear kicked.”
She smiled and her face hurt.
“Reason number one for my call is we’d like you not to leave the hotel today.”
“No problem there. Tomorrow may be a different story.”
He chuckled. “I looked into the three people you mentioned who were arrested for threatening your grandfather. All came back clean.”
“Thanks. That happened a few years ago. Is Marc okay?”
“The second reason for my call. Doctors kept him until ten this morning. I’m playing taxi and driving him to his mother’s.”
“He’s with you?”
“Oh yeah, and he’s crabbier than a football coach on a losing streak. I’ve put you on speaker. Maybe you can sweeten him up.”
She closed her eyes, imagining he felt worse than she did. “Marc, take a pain pill. They work wonders for bad attitudes.”
“I’m fine. Perfect. The problem is the company in the car.”
“Granddad has a great saying about those who refuse to acknowledge their issues. ‘If you can’t find anything on your list of bad attitudes or problems, start with pride.’”
“She knows you,” Roden said.
Regret wound through Avery. “Hey, I’m sorry. You saved my life, and I’m sure you have a monster of a headache.”
“Plus I have to face my mother, who isn’t aware of what happened. My sister’s safety is a concern too. Although Roden arranged for Fort Worth PD to keep an eye on the house.”
“Can’t be too cautious when kids are involved,” she said.
“Roden reminded me of the same thing.”
“And your mother?”
“She lives in a gated community, and I could just be overreacting, but I won’t ignore my gut. I need to take care of my own family.”
“When you’re better.” She held back a stinging remark about taking care of himself.
“Something else occurred to me, and I wanted to run it by you. Your car might have a tracker.”
