Page 94 of Love Me Dangerous

“Kristov didn’t show up for work today.”

Ihum my reply, thinking.

“What if they’re working together?” Sawyer asks.

It’s a stretch, at best, but what if it’s true? I rest my head against the seat and close my eyes. Could this be the moment everything changes? Where I can finally put my life back together?

“I’ll bet you could find the clip on YouTube or something if the TV channels down there don’t have it.”

I think about the ancient computer in Barb’s little office. They’ve offered to let me use it, so I’m sure I could search this up. “Did the sheriff say why the men were in custody?”

“The only thing they talked about is the Soren Creek disaster.”

I huff a slow breath. “It’s not enough.”

“If it’s him, you’d be safe to tell them the rest.”

While I want to believe this, I need more information. Does Sheriff Olson know about this turn of events? And if Kristov is in custody, wouldn’t he think to tell me? Instead, I’m hearing about it secondhand.

Unless he doesn’t want me to know?

“Maybe,” I say.

“Zach,” Sawyer says, his tone sharp. “These guys are going to jail.”

“We don’t know that yet,” I reply.

“If it is Kristov, no judge would grant him parental rights if he’s in custody for a federal crime.”

The logical side of my brain wants to believe this, but the part in charge of my survival is terrified of making a mistake that would put William in danger.

“I need more information.”

He huffs a sigh. “I’ll keep you updated.”

We end the call. After a glance in my rearview mirror, I turn the truck around and continue up the valley.

Why would Kristov be connected with the Soren Creek survey camp fire?

I rack my brain, using different scenarios. The Soren Creek mining camp is in the middle of nowhere. Kristov isn’t an eco-terrorist. He only blows shit up for money.

I’m missing something.

Who is this other guy from the train yard? I never met any of Kristov’s associates. Except for his interest in Terrilynn, he kept his business dealings separate.

One thing stands out, though. If it is Kristov, and he gets charged with eco-terrorism or whatever his goal was at that survey camp, what Sawyer said is true—he won’t stand a chance to gain custody.

But I can’t stick my neck out yet.

Because Kristov has plenty of lies left to spread. Including that I was behind the arson fire that destroyed my dad’s vet clinic days before I would have inherited the business.

If only I’d realized his master plan to siphon every penny of the insurance payout my mom received in order to expand his operations.

I don’t like just sitting around hoping the cops figure things out. Sawyer’s suggestion that I race home to help is tempting, but if the man in custody isn’t Kristov, or he gets released, I’ll be fully exposed, and now that he’s become so powerful, there’s no way I’ll be safe.

He’ll kill me to keep me silent. Getting custody of William will be a bonus.

If I disappear, there will be no one to link Kristov to Terrilynn’s demise. As if fighting for William wasn’t enough to live for, justice for Terrilynn is important to me, too.

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