Page 16 of Mountain Hero

“Unofficially, no. Sage and I—Sage Nelson, she’s my partner—are going to follow up with them, though. Try to emphasize the trouble Thomas is in and how they could be charged as an accessory.”

“So, are you charging him with the robbery?”

Patrick hesitates before answering. “At this point, he’s a person of interest. We’re definitely going to question him about it as soon as we bring him in. But there are other charges…” Another pause. “Based on what we heard from Winter, it sounds like there could be some other serious charges.”

I think back to last night again. The goose egg on her forehead. How scared she looked. Not like she was afraid of getting in trouble, but of the man who hurt her.

“Assault,” I say through gritted teeth.

“And other things,” he replies grimly. “I can’t say. You understand. But if she’s telling the truth, Thomas is in a lot of trouble.”

“Do you believe her?”

Patrick sighs again. “Enzo. It was your store that was broken into. It wouldn’t be right for me to say anything that could create bias. Friends or not. Right now, Winter is our main suspect, and we have to investigate that.”

“I’m not pressing charges.” It just comes out unexpectedly. But now that I’ve said it, it feels right.

There are a few seconds of silence before Patrick asks, “Are you sure? There’s damage. Someone should be held responsible for that. Don’t?—”

But I’m having that gut feeling again. “If what Winter said is true, Thomas will go to jail. Right? I’m not asking what the charges will be. Just yes or no.”

“Yes. If her story is true, he’ll be in jail for a long time.”

I look up at the sky, a clear, brilliant blue brushed with a few clouds that remind me of the cotton candy I’d buy at the town fair when I was a kid. The air is warm, and it has a freshness I haven’t found anyplace else I’ve lived. Two squirrels dart across the lawn, chittering at each other. A cardinal bursts from a maple tree, a bright splash of red amid the blue and green.

And I remember Winter’s smile when she told me how she’d been wanting to move back to Vermont for years. How she used to come through Bliss with her parents, and she always thought it looked like the perfect place to live.

Maybe I’m wrong and I’m letting myself be swayed by a sweet smile and beautiful eyes and a phenomenal acting job. But I really don’t think so.

“I don’t want to press charges,” I repeat, feeling even more sure about it. “Not against her.”

Before Patrick can respond, I ask, “But what about Winter? If Thomas is still out there, she could be in danger.”

“We’re taking care of that.”

“Is she still in the hospital?”

“Enzo.” From his tone, I can practically hear him shaking his head at me. “I can’t give out medical information. You know that.”

“I know. But—” I stop to sort through my thoughts. “If I wanted to go see her. Would I be able to?”

After a beat, he replies carefully, “If you went this morning, I think you might be able to.”

The things he’s not saying are as good as answers.

She’s well enough to have visitors, and she’s probably being discharged later today, which means I’m not spending the morning at the store or on the phone with the insurance company.

I’m going to the hospital instead.

CHAPTER 5

WINTER

He’s the last person I’m expecting to see.

I’ve had a series of visitors in and out all morning, though none of them were here because they wanted to be.

The doctors and nurses have been briskly professional. The security guard posted outside my door peers inside my room at regular intervals, his features stony and silent as he affirms that yes, I’m still here and haven’t made an improbable escape out of the second-story window.

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