Page 69 of Father of the Wolf

Sheriff Blackwell turned and walked to meet her before she got too close to the scene. “Hope. What are you doing here? I was just coming to see you.”

“I thought I heard something, so I came to check. What’s going on? Isn’t that Jimmy’s car?”

“Do you know why Jimmy was out here?”

“He brought our pizza for dinner. Was he in an accident? Was he hurt?”

“Hope, listen to me. Can you answer a few questions?”

She nodded as he led her to the other side of the department car. She tried to remember what Dàn had said. Maybe it was just an accident.

“When did Jimmy bring the pizza? Do you remember the time?”

“Not long ago. Maybe an hour. But I don’t think even that long. What happened to Jimmy? How could there be an accident, when he couldn’t have been going very fast after just pulling out.”

“Jimmy was not in an accident.”

Hope’s mind whirled around what the sheriff had implied. “What do you mean?”

“Have you seen any strangers lately?” He pulled a small notepad from his shirt pocket and flipped it open.

“Why?”

“There was a call reporting seeing a strange man stop the pizza car. The caller gave a good description.”

“You mean someone attacked Jimmy?” How could that be? He was just a boy. Who’d want to hurt him?

“I don’t know. I’m worried about you and Ella living out here by yourselves.” He flipped the pages again, this time stopping on one with scribbled writing on it.

Her mind flashed back to the night she had been attacked in Warren. Could there be any connection? “What was the description of the person?”

“It was a black haired, scarred man, dressed in black leather. He should be easy to identify, but I want you and Ella to lock up tonight and call dispatch if you see anything.” The sheriff snapped the notepad closed and met her gaze.

“I will. I promise.” Hope responded automatically.

Doubts beat at Hope as she went back. She blocked Athair from her mind as she considered what she had just learned. The description matched Sgrios. But he had no reason to hurt Jimmy. Why would he do such a thing? But then, he also looked like the one who had attacked her. Could it be that he really was that unstable and had become nothing more than a vicious animal? One that attacked and killed without reason?

Chapter Twenty-Two

Tryst or Trust

Gift of Brothers

Athair tried to connect his mind to Hope’s one more time, and again he failed. At first, he thought she was too scared or confused to open herself to him. But now he knew she had locked him out on purpose. Why she would do so baffled him. She should know by now that whatever was wrong, he would help her make it right.

Hope walked back to the group slowly. When she came to them, she continued past and angled toward the house.

“Hope?” Athair questioned her quietly as he matched his stride to hers.

She glanced his way but said nothing.

“Hope, talk to me. Who was it? Who was killed?”

“Jimmy.”

“Who?” At least it hadn’t been Steve. Athair thought she would have been relieved that her friend wasn’t hurt.

“The boy who brought the pizza.”

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