Page 59 of Not This Place

“That’s why it was so easy to speak with Jasper. I was wondering. Did daddy’s lawyers get instructions to stand down. Is that it?”

She rattled off the information now, studying Simon’s terrified expression.

“Why kill the Barkers, though? I don’t get it.”

“We didn’t,” Simon said weakly.

“You did!” she retorted. “You did.”

“We didn’t!”

“He did, then. Why?”

“He… he doesn’t like backstabbers. Loyalty matters… Look, I didn’t say anything. You can’t tell him I said anything. I didn’t! Oh, God… my family.”

Rachel took a deep breath, forcing herself not to react to Simon's panicked rambling. She pressed her hand over his mouth, silencing him.

"Quiet," she hissed. "Now is not the time for a breakdown."

"But-"

"No buts," she cut him off sharply.

Simon swallowed noisily, his eyes wide and frightened.

"Good," Rachel said curtly, relief flooding through her at his compliance. She had a name, a lead to follow. But first things first, they needed to get out of there.

Ignoring the ache in her bones and the weariness threatening to pull her under, Rachel got up, pulling Simon with her. Underneath the stifling blackness of the night sky, they stumbled through the underbrush in near silence, their only company the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind or the hoot of an owl.

“I don’t understand why a billionaire oil tycoon would need to get into the weed business,” she said suddenly. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Simon didn’t speak. He looked ghostly pale, but as they walked, he muttered, “If you knew him, it would make perfect sense.”

“What does that mean?”

"Means Sherlock doesn't think like the rest of us. I mean, damn—look at his name. His parents were damn prophets. It's about the land."

“What do you mean?”

He trailed off again.

Rachel turned, moving quickly now, grabbing him by the throat and sending him stumbling to the ground.

“Think, asshole. I’m the one keeping you alive. Who do you think just took a shot at you, hmm? Who just tried to kill you? And you’re being loyal to that asshole?” she pointed off through the trees with a demanding finger, her eyes blazing.

Simon choked on his words, clawing at her hand. He gasped for air as she released him, rolling onto his side and coughing violently. "He'll kill me," he finally spat out, eyes wide with fear.

"Only if he gets to you first," Rachel retorted coldly. She had no sympathy for Simon, not when he was more concerned about his own skin than the lives of those who had been lost. She reached out and grabbed his arm, yanking him back onto his feet. "Now start talking.”

Simon’s dark eyes flickered with an internal debate before finally relenting. “They’ve been doing it for years,” he stuttered out. “Growing weed on their land, hidden away.”

Rachel’s brows furrowed in confusion. “But they’re billionaires…”

“They use the money to fund…other things.”

“What things?”

“I don’t know!” He cried out defensively under her intense gaze.

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