Page 12 of Concrete Evidence
With shaking hands, she tapped the mystery number in her recent call history. A continuous ringing met her ears.
She’d keep the threat to herself. She refused to face Granddad’s death or the idea of him guilty of murder.
An hour later Granddad texted.I’m spending the night in Austin.
Why haven’t you returned my calls or texts?
Don’t worry. I have this handled.
Avery despised the wordhandled. She had to think through the right thing to do. Ignoring the tragedy and allowing Granddad to handle a murder simply didn’t cut it. Another text landed on her phone.
In the morning, I’m sending you to a safe place until this is over. I’m afraid for you.
No. We’re in this together.
Not when one of us could face a bullet.
9
AT 3:30A.M.,Avery stole down the back staircase with a suitcase, backpack, and shoulder bag. She didn’t want to wake Mia, who slept in a suite near the stairway. Granddad claimed Mia woke at the sound of dust hitting the floor.
Just before midnight, Avery had deactivated the house alarm to make her exit easier. Once Mia discovered she’d left, the woman would be incredibly disappointed. But Avery would rather not face her with questions firing like a repeating rifle.
Granddad would send someone after her, but would his pursuit be focused on love or concern? Had he received a similar phone threat? How she hated the horrible conclusions rooted in her mind.
She stopped on the landing and listened. Quiet. The weight of all her belongings begged to be relieved.
Avery would internalize the tragedy and bottle up the emotions until she exploded, far beyond an upset stomach. A bit of historywould repeat itself. That’s what happened when at age eleven she’d left her parents’ home to live with Granddad.
Mom and Dad despised him because he refused to hand over money, instead expecting them to work for it. They lacked the ability to manage their own expenses and wasted every cent, a trait she recognized even as a little girl. Avery endured their constant complaining and silently sided with Granddad, staying out of the arguments until she had a breakdown that propelled her into counseling. Midway through the sessions, Granddad talked to Mom and Dad, and they signed over custody to him.
She often thought her parents’ agreement had more to do with them not having to financially support her, but she didn’t want to dwell there. To this day her parents claimed no desire to see her. Abandonment issues stalked her, making it difficult to trust but a precious few people.
Granddad had loved and nurtured her more than she’d ever imagined. Unconditional love best described him and what he’d instilled in her. She learned the value of hard work, planning, and determination. While he funded her undergrad and master’s education in business management, she worked for him to buy a car, to supply her basic needs and some of her wants. To her, Granddad sat atop a white steed like a fighter from the medieval Crusades. She didn’t want him yanked from that pedestal. But what had she witnessed the other morning?
Inhaling deeply, she descended to the foot of the stairs. With regret for what she must do and the challenge to learn the truth, Avery wrapped her fingers around the doorknob.
She held her breath.
Turned the knob slowly.
It clicked.
She desperately needed to leave without Mia’s questioning.
The light flipped on, shining a harsh ray onto her carefully laid plans.
“I thought I heard something,” Mia said. “What are you doing at this hour?”
Avery released her grip on the knob and faced Mia. “I’m leaving for a few days.”
“Had to leave now? Where are you going?”
“Someplace quiet to think.”
“To think? You have all these acres on the Brazos River Ranch to spend time alone.”
“I’m distracted here. I’m not sure where I can think best, but not here.”
