Page 48 of Tempest

“Fine.”

Ryan hated that word. Whenever a woman said it, it meant the opposite. He figured she was going to plaster that happy smile on her face until they were alone. Then and only then would she tell him how she was really feeling. She was a woman who believed in putting on a brave face.. He just needed to let her know that she didn’t need to be strong in front of him. Shiny, perfect, and brave wasn’t what he was interested in. Nothing had to be earned with him. He would take her in all of her imperfection. In fact, that’s what he preferred.

“If this place wasn’t such a death trap, I might actually think it was pretty. Look at that infinity pool,” Ivy said, as they walked past it.

Ryan looked around at the modern structures and shrugged. “Modern isn’t really my taste. I like the old farmhouse I grew up in, and you and your mama’s houses. These super modern houses make me think that robots live in them and not people. Who wants to live in a house with sharp corners?”

“Well, I guess that’s one argument that we won’t have to have. I agree with everything you just said.”

“Here it is,” the detective said and pointed to a burned-out grove of trees near the lake.

“Good thing the fire trucks were close. There’s almost two acres of burnt trees,” Ivy said, as she looked over the charred ground. “It’s too bad that Daddy’s money is still making people crazy.” A loud whistle broke the silence, and Ivy turned around and whistled back. “Colin’s here.” Stepping back to the path, she started walking up the hill without commenting further.

Ryan followed, with the detective taking up the rear. “Appreciate all your help,” Ryan called over his shoulder.

“No problem. I have a feeling that whatever’s happened is only the beginning.”

“You’re probably right,” Ryan answered. Bill Bellows’s money was going to make all of the crazies come out of the woodwork. No doubt about it.

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