Page 241 of The Blairville Legacies

“I don't think the drug thing is true either, but it could also be that Grace is right. So, the DeLoughreys would make their money from investments and wine, and the Copelands from illegal things.”

“The only question is how the Blairs finance their territory...” Bay finished my thought. She seemed puzzled, but I had reacted the same way when I had found all this out.

“And besides,look, the DeLoughreys have been buying up all this woodland from the Blairs for the last ten months.Just forest.There's something weird going on.”

“Maybe they're running a timber mill?”

Bay grinned.

I sighed in frustration because the DeLoughreys didn't look like they were into the logging business. Plus, there was this weird gut feeling.

“I don't know if this business dispute is any of our business, Larissa.”

Bay pushed the laptop back toward me.

“We both know the answer to that. But it's not about that. I have a feeling there's something going on.”

She had to feel the same way. Bay hadalwaysbeen the first to notice such strange things.

“I don't have a good feeling about this at all. We shouldn't do this because I think it's out of our league.”

I didn't know her like that at all. It felt like something had changed in her, but there was no reason for it. Was she really scared of theBlairville Killer?

“And I don't think it's a good idea for us to go into DeLoughrey territory and look for a house that might not even exist.”

God, had she eaten a sloth for breakfast?

“Come on, Bay, we're not even doing anything forbidden.”

“You want to spy around, and especially on people who I think areway too bigfor you.”

Her expression was serious and full of concern. Just like when I'd told her about the break-ins at the jewelry stores of the McConnells, one of Sacramento's richest families. Olivia’s family.

“We're just driving there and if there's nothing to find, we'll drive right back.” I looked at her pleadingly. “Come on, Bay. You can't tell me you'renotinterested in something like thisall of a sudden, can you?”

She seemed to be thinking.

This was my chance.

“The forest, Larissa.A bodywas found there. Besides, it'sfuckingstorming. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

I took a deep breath.

“Listen to me. You're safe with me. My bike is very fast and, in an emergency, you have a best friend with self-defense experience.”

Bayla still didn't look convinced.

“Please, Bay... Don't leave me hanging.” I made a pouty face. “We'll go there, see if there's a house and if we don't find anything, I'll take you straight back home, no arguments.”

Bay seemed to consider whether this was really a wise idea.

“No risky break-in maneuvers,” she demanded.

“Okay, whatever you want. Just,please, let's do it before it gets too dark.”

“Damn, Larissa...”

The corners of my mouth moved upward, and I jumped up, nearly knocking over a waitress with pink hair next to me.

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