Page 118 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I thought you said we didn’t have to talk.”

“That was just to get in the door.”

Garrett walked through the living room and breakfast nook into the kitchen, not needing food or drink but just to move. He marched back out to face his friend. “She thinks my uncle is out to get her.”

Andrew’s eyebrows rose. “Is he?”

“Of course not. Dean would never…”

But the hatred Garrett had seen in his uncle’s eyes that night, the loathing, the fear.

What was Dean afraid of?

Garrett didn’t want to consider it, but he’d gone to Dean and Deborah’s the night before, just stopped by to talk to them about Dean’s diagnosis. They hadn’t been home.

When he’d called that morning, he’d told them what happened to Aspen. He’d completely forgotten to ask them where they’d been.

Wherehadthey been?

Andrew settled on the arm of the club chair. “Why does she think that?”

Garrett had to think back to figure out what Andrew was asking about. Why did Aspen think Dean had run her off the road? Because Cote had questioned him. Cote was checking Dean’s alibi.

Garrett had been running on adrenaline and fear since he’d discovered Aspen missing. He’d called her cell repeatedly. He’d driven around his aunt and uncle’s neighborhood, but there’d been no sign of her. He’d called Chief Cote, who’d told him they’d keep an eye out. He’d texted and called Grace, but she hadn’t responded. He’d finally resorted to getting Andrew involved.

The adrenaline was ebbing away.

He collapsed in the sofa. “I don’t think she was supposed to tell me.”

“I’m not going to post it on Instagram.”

“Someone ran her off the road last night between here and her house. Right by that drop-off.”

Andrew slid into the chair. “On purpose?”

He dipped his head and lifted it again. “She was nervous driving on that winding road at night. If she’d been going faster, she might’ve gone over.”

“Wow. I thought you were exaggerating when you said… But someone literally tried to kill her?”

Garrett nodded again.

“And she thinks it was your uncle? Cote told her that?”

“Apparently. I took her to Dean and Deborah’s for dinner tonight. Deborah had met her at the library and invited her. I wanted Aspen to meet Dean, and him to meet her. He’s been…against her since she came to town.”

“In what way?”

Garrett shrugged. “It’s hard to explain.”

Andrew settled deeper into the chair. “It’s sort of fun turning the tables on you.”

Garrett glared at him, but Andrew grinned.

“When she first got to town,” Garrett said, “he asked me to keep an eye on her, let him know what she was up to.”

Andrew’s amusement faded. “Jeez, Garrett. Why would you?—?”

“I didn’t. I mean at first…” He hadn’t told Dean much of anything, anyway. Certainly nothing confidential. Nothing Aspen should be upset about. “I’d do anything for my uncle. He saved my life. I barely knew her. I said I’d keep my eyes open. I told him one little thing, one little thing that I thought would put his mind at ease about her. And then I got to know her, and…”

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