Page 153 of Things Left Unsaid

Terry’s there, hovering at the front desk as he flirts with the receptionist. When he looks up, he arches a brow. “Colton?”

Colton

Elastic Heart - Sia

Three hours into my detainment, the door to the interview room opens.

Being a Korhonen afforded me the gold-star treatment so I was never tossed in the cells, and most of the officers have been in and out of the interview room with coffee and water.

Is it fair? No. But everyone at the station has someone in their family on my payroll.

I’ll take it seeing as this is a waste of time more than anything else.

I glance at Marc Robard when I spot him behind Terry. “What’s going on?”

“Your alibi checks out,” Marc states. “You’re being released.”

Terry folds his arms across his chest. “I guess you’re the reason my detachment’s been overrun by sharks?”

My lips twitch into a smile. “The triplets okay?”

“They’re at the Bar 9 and one of my men is scarred from getting an earful from Juliette McAllister.”

Nodding my understanding as I’m released pending further investigation, it’s only when I step outside that I ask Marc, “Why am I being released early? What alibi?”

“Susanne informed the RCMP that she came to visit you for lunch. Brought you sandwiches which you ate together.

“She has more bite than you’d think. Terry mentioned you’d never said a word about sharing a meal, and she told him that you’re too much of a gentleman to kiss and tell.”

My brows lift at the statement and what she implied, but the cocktail of emotions that news stirs in me is both complex and simple. Simple because she’s the only reason my ass won’t be moldering away in that interview room for another twenty-one hours, complex because she perjured herself on my behalf.

Another man, one who’d also perjured himself and falsified an alibi for their now-wife, might think this was a case of balances being redressed. But though years may separate us, I know her well enough to discern this has nothing to do with scores being settled…

“What about the triplets?”

“They were in school at the time of the car accident. Several witnesses saw them in the lunchroom.” He clears his throat. “Apparently, they were in the middle of some sort of skit? Most of the faculty as well as the student body can vouch for their whereabouts.”

My brows lift. “Skit?”

“Involved a Sia song and nude leotards. I didn’t ask.”

“Sounds elaborate.”

“Indeed. Contact me immediately if they bring you in for questioning again.”

“Will do.”

Thanking him, we shake hands and part ways beside my truck. I jump behind the wheel and take off for home.

When I make it to the homestead, Zee’s sitting on the steps that lead to the veranda. The sight of my truck has her rushing over to me. I don’t even get the chance to apply the handbrake—she’s dragging the door open and demanding, “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Everything’s fine,” I attempt to soothe. “You didn’t need to lie for me.”

Finger prostrate, she jabs me in the arm. “Bet your ass I did! I’ve already been tried by the court of Pigeon Creek. I’m not about to let you go through that when you’re innocent! I was so scared, Colton. So scared. For you. For Callan.”

Her mentioning Callan is the reason I alight from the truck and draw her into my arms, pressing my lips to her forehead as I hold her close.

“Thank you.” I sigh. “Callan wouldn’t have taken it well if?—”

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