Page 212 of Sin With Me

“Of course I do. Listen, I’m not gonna push her to do anything she doesn’t want, but when she was here – it was the best few weeks of my life. She looked so carefree and in such high spirits, so excited to help the Sheriff when he needed a different look at running the town’s safety and forming neighborhood dispute resolution hearings. If it came down to it and she didn’t want to move, I’d sell the ranch and come to NewYork.”

“You’d do that for her? What would youdo?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but if I sold my farm to the right investor, neither I nor Emma would ever have to work again.”

“Theoil?”

“She told you aboutit?”

“No, we did some research as well. Your grandfather was a very smart man the way he hid his wealth to keep the hyenas off track. You’ve been doing the same and would have been successful if not for Huntz.”

“I should have never involved Emma inthis.”

“You know where this place is?” Tristan pointed to a house on a map on his laptop.

“Yeah, that’s Missy’s house. She’s Huntz’s daughter, but has been staying with my parents ever since he showed up in town over a week ago. Emma said he owns that property.”

The brothers remained silent for the rest of the flight, which seemed to me like the longest trip of my life. If somebody told me that this plane was flying all the way around the world, twice, to get to Ogden, I’d believe them. Just before we landed, I called Derek.

“Hey, buddy. What’sup?”

“Just wanted to thank you for taking care of my parents’ farm forme.”

“No need to thank me yet. Your parents haven’tleft.”

“What?”

“I went over to drive them and they said they were waiting for Emma, but she never showed up. They were supposed to fly back together just afternoon.”

“Shit. Have you been to their house?”

“Yeah.”

“And everything isgood?”

“Yes, they’re fine. A bit concerned that she didn’t call. They were gonna call you later to apologize for missing the dinner. Anything I cando?”

“I may need to borrow your truck.”

Derek had just purchased a new set of wheels I knew I could rely on. Once this hunt was over, I promised myself to do thesame.

“Of course.”

“Thanks, buddy.”

I hung up and told the brothers about my conversation.

“Fuck! She’s definitely in trouble,” Julian said. “Why his truck?”

“What vehicle do you have at the airport?”

The brothers looked from one to the other and both said at the same time, “A Bentley.”

“I thought so. I noticed one in your driveway. Derek’s truck is all-terrain. Mine is getting repaired. Believe me, you want a truck to where we’re driving.”

“I don’t think you’ve seen us drive.”

“I can imagine. But there are holes in the road big enough to swallow an elephant. You need the truck.”

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