Page 51 of Claws and Feathers

“Idespisethat word.” Kate placed her hands on her hips. “Want to talk about it?”

“Nope.”Smash.

“Want to start day drinking and cry about it?”

“No, thanks.”Smash.

“C’mon, Abby. You look like someone ripped your heart out,” Kate said with a sigh. “Or that you have some kind of incurable disease. Shit, are you dying?”

Abby blew a strand of hair out of her face and turned to her friend. She held the sledgehammer up with more aggression than she’d intended, and Kate slunk back with a chuckle.

“AmIdying?”

Abby finally let a smile slip and lowered her weapon. She debated filling Kate in on her falling out with Cooper the night before but decided against it. “No one is dying. I just had a bad night. My nightmares are getting a little intense.”

Kate approached her with turquoise paint stains smeared across the front of her overalls. She tugged on her ponytail, which was also sprinkled with paint spatter. “You know I’m here if you want to talk. I had really bad nightmares after my mom died, so I know how much it can screw with your head.”

Abby appreciated the offer, but Kate couldn’t possibly relate. Abby didn’t justhavenightmares – she was living one. Every damn day. “I’ll think about it.” She forced another smile. “Thanks for helping me out today.”

“Oh, well, youknowI’m only here to spend time with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.” Kate emphasized the last part by raising her voice and leaning back to look around the corner at where James was painting. She laughed when he looked up in confusion, then turned to Abby and whispered, “I kinda like him. What do you think?”

“I think you should go for it,” Abby said, though, there was little enthusiasm in her tone. “He likes you, too. It doesn’t always work out like that – the mutual feelings.” She ducked her head and nibbled on her cheek. “You’re lucky.”

Kate studied her, a semblance of concern etched across her face. It looked like she might pry further, but she nodded her head instead. “Yeah. You’re right.” She slipped her hands into her pockets and took a step back. “Well, I want to get this room painted and get a nap in before my shift tonight. Dad hired another up-and-coming band, so it’s going to be a madhouse. Cooper’s even clocking in some hours.”

Abby perked her head up. “Cooper’s bartending tonight?”

“Yep. Poor sucker.” Kate continued her trek backwards, shaking her head with pity. “My brother has this issue with telling people no.”

Abby’s insides twisted as Kate disappeared into the adjacent living room. Her palms grew sweaty. Her anger flared.

Cooper had no problem tellingherno.

The weight of his rejection spiraled around her, and she squeezed the handle of the sledgehammer with a death-like grip. She tossed it down on the floor and pulled her cellphone out of her back pocket. Abby was about to text Daphne but noticed an unread message from Cooper.

Cooper:“Can we talk?”

Abby glared at the text. Her eyes narrowed with disdain, then she promptly deleted it. Abby scrolled through her contacts for Daphne’s number and wrote out her own text message to her friend:“What are you doing tonight?”

Cooper sat alone at his desk at the station, trying to get some work in while periodically checking his phone to see if Abby was ever going to respond. It had been hours since he’d texted her, so he feared the answer was a very likelyno. He sighed miserably as he leaned back in his chair, interlocking his fingers behind his head. He felt like shit. He’d felt like shit since Abby had stormed out of his house twenty-four hours earlier. And he resigned himself to the fact that he’d probably feel like shit until he could make it right with her.

Cooper was generally good at compartmentalizing. He needed to. It was imperative given his line of work. He took a sip of his coffee and tried to focus. He was working on a new lead in Abby’s case – it was a lead she had given him on the pontoon yesterday.

Her brother, Ryan Stone.

An apparent drug addict with a grudge against his sister.

Cooper hadn’t pursued Ryan early in the investigation because he didn’t have much to go on. All he had was the guy’s record, which by all accounts, was clean. Cooper wasn’t aware of just how deep the family grudge went. Ryan was clearly not his guy, but he could have hired someone.

Or, maybe, this was all for financial gain. Ryan had to know that Abby was the benefactor of Cecily Stone’s fortune. Maybe Ryan or one of his drug buddies were out to drain her dry.

But why keep her alive for two weeks andnotcash in on her funds? What was the point? This was the constant hole in the theory that Abby was kidnapped for her money. It nagged at Cooper. The money trail was a worthy trail to follow, except for the fact that no money had been stolen. All that came out of the abduction was a traumatized woman and a criminal investigation.

Why?

Because the suspect was not a killer.

Cooper tapped his knuckles against the top of his desk. It was the only theory that made sense. Whoever abducted Abby probably held her for ransom with the intention of killing her but couldn’t go through with it. The Withered Man had choked. And if he couldn’t kill her, he couldn’t take her money or there would be a live witness. So, he ran. He disappeared and went on with his life, leaving behind a broken girl and a world of questions.

---