Page 45 of Conrad

“Probably. We might have some trade-ins too.”

Conrad clamped a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Grant, you’re the best. Head to will call the next time you’re hankering to go to a game. You’ll find tickets.”

Grant grinned. “We’d love to talk about a couple commercials once you sign on for another season.”

Conrad’s mouth made a tight line, but he nodded.

Penelope glanced at him as they walked out. “You okay?”

He nodded, said nothing, and headed outside.

Stood in the cold, his eyes closing.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

She considered him, and in the quiet, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out. A text from Coco.

Coco

Decrypted your file. See attached.

The next text came through—a video. She cupped her hand over the screen and tried to open it. It buffered, taking its time.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a decrypted file Beckett sent me.” She looked up. “Sorry—I forgot to tell you. Beckett sent me a file before . . .” She swallowed.

“I know. Harper told me yesterday while we were working Jack’s new bus. She said you sent it to Coco.”

What didn’t he know? Or had he been talking about her—stop.Stop!

“Yes. I couldn’t get it open—here it comes.”

“Are you sure?” The voice came from the phone, a female, and Penelope tried to see the speaker, but the sun’s glare blinded the picture.

Then Conrad walked over and put his big hand over the screen, blocking the light.

“That’s Sarah Livingston. I think this is a Ring video.” She squinted into the screen as another voice said, “Yes. I’m sure. I hired my own arson investigator—he recovered two bullets in the wall.”

“I think that’s Holden Walsh, Sarah’s boyfriend,” Penelope said, glancing at him.

He frowned, didn’t move.

“So, was Edward shot?”—Sarah.

The question stilled Penelope.

“That’s what the forensic report says.”—Walsh.

“What forensic report?”—Sarah.

“The one that the police don’t have . . . but I do.” Walsh looked behind him then. “I think this isn’t a conversation we can have on your doorstep.”

Yes,yes it was! But they went into the house and the video ended.

“I knew it,” Penelope said. She lowered the phone. “If this is what Kyle was going to give me, then . . .” Her eyes widened. “I was?—”

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