Page 31 of Craving Sin (Touch of Evil 13)

Theo and Sylvie managed to maneuver the bed back in place. Sylvie removed one of the gloves and tossed it his way. The yellow rubber glove landed next to the flashlight. He picked both up, taking the time to shove the flashlight in his pocket.

“Use the glove to smear the dirt on the floor where the legs made lines,” Sylvie advised as she held up her right hand to indicate that she would do the same. “I’ll shift the nightstand back in place before I?—”

A sudden, loud crack cut off her words and echoed around the cabin.

Sylvie screamed just before the rotting planks beneath her gave way, engulfing her entirely as the decayed floorboards splintered violently and crumbled inwards. One moment she was there, and in the blink of an eye, she had vanished into the darkness below.

15

Graham Elliott

June 2025

Wednesday — 12:48 pm

The bright rays of sunshine reflecting off the glass windows of the city’s buildings would have been painfully bright if it hadn’t been for their protective coating. The weather called for clear skies and warm temperatures, with a high of eighty-four degrees. All that meant to Graham was that the flight should be relatively smooth from D.C. to Alaska.

Although he technically had an office at S&E Investigations, he seldom occupied it. Brook was the true force behind the business, while he had only been a silent investor. Being in her office, though, brought him a sense of closeness to her.

He lifted his left wrist, the crisp white cuff of his sleeve shifting to reveal the face of his watch. Five minutes before he needed to leave for the airport. He would call Bit on the drive there for an update on the recovery mission. Brook and the others should have already arrived at the site.

“I figured I’d find you in here, General.” Arden’s greeting came as no surprise. The soft rustle of fabric had alerted Graham to the man’s presence. Not too far behind him was Coco. Sylvie’s cat adored the man, and she followed behind him like a duckling does with her mother. “I thought you should know that I just spoke with Bit. There has been a mistrial.”

Graham grimaced at the update.

“Please tell me that Brook and the others already made it to the site before the rug got pulled out from under them.”

“Unfortunately, no.” Arden stepped farther into Brook’s office. “Bit did say that Jacob has waived the right to counsel. He has agreed to lead the group the rest of the way with or without the plea deal.”

Graham walked over to the sitting area where he had draped his suit jacket over the back of the chair. Any decision Jacob made always came at a cost.

“Brook already radioed for backup. Three agents were lowered to the ground not far from their location,” Arden advised as he stepped forward and retrieved an empty coffee cup. Graham would have cleaned up after himself, but Arden waved him away. “I’ve got it. You should also know that no one seems able to locate Kavik Aningan and Nanuq Kalluk. They were with the rest of the family this morning, waiting for updates from the group, but now they’re missing. I just thought you should know that I’ll be in Bit’s office using one of his computers to run a more in-depth background check on the two individuals.”

Graham didn’t need to be told that Bit was out of his comfort zone. His unease had been in his tone when they spoke on the phone earlier, and now the roles were reversed. He needed Arden to retrieve information that may have been overlooked the first time around.

“If you need additional help, you can ask one of the two gentlemen guarding the front entrance for assistance.” Graham switched his gaze to the two agents within view while slipping his arms into the sleeves of his suit jacket. One was posted on the outside of the glass entrance, and the other was inside the foyer. “They have been briefed on the situation, and they have worked investigations like this before.”

Graham didn’t need to elaborate on the men’s past experiences. They both worked for Alex DeSilva, a former military man and a remarkable private operator. Anyone under his employ was solid.

“I’ll keep that in mind, but it was just a press of a button. Bit is very efficient when it comes to his programs,” Arden said with a half-smile. His salt and pepper mustache tilted to the right. “I should be able to forward the results in the next few minutes.”

“If anything stands out, please keep me informed,” Graham requested as he took time to fasten the button on his jacket. “I don’t like that Jacob is leading Brook and the others higher into the mountain. What about Sylvie and Theo? Have you heard from them?”

“No, and neither has Bit. He is concerned, but they did mention they might have trouble reaching the cabin.” Arden cleared his throat, and Graham sensed that the unspoken inquiry about his true reason for returning to D.C. was about to be raised. “I have to ask, General. Why did you really leave Alaska? Brook needs you, and I am competent enough to have been the liaison between Mr. DeSilva and the firm.”

“Arden, do you really think that I don’t know you’re the glue that holds this place together?” Graham slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. The reason for his absence from the case was bound to come out sooner or later. “My mother has been experiencing some health issues. Yesterday, her cardiologist conducted some tests. You can imagine her shock when he informed her that an immediate bypass was necessary. She called me just as Brook discovered the identity of the body left on the tarmac. My mother was admitted to the hospital by midafternoon yesterday, and she was scheduled to have surgery at zero six hundred today. By ten hundred, she was in recovery. Her first words to me coming out from under sedation? She wanted to know why I was still there and not on a flight back to Alaska.”

“General, I am?—”

“It’s fine, Arden. You were looking out for Brook, and I admire how you care for her.” Graham wasn’t comfortable sharing too much about his personal life with others, but in this case, he would make an exception. “When you’re with a woman whose entire life is focused on not trusting anyone, you learn to do everything possible to give her what she needs. If my mother hadn’t made it through surgery while I was in Alaska with Brook, the guilt would have been too much for her. She already carries the burden of her brother’s sins. I wasn’t going to add more weight.”

“Is there anything I can do for you? Elizabeth?”

“My mother came through the surgery with flying colors. She can be rather…well, let’s just say that she has a reputation to uphold. She wouldn’t want someone witnessing her in such a vulnerable state.”

“You let me handle your mother,” Arden assured Graham with a decisive nod. No onehandledElizabeth Elliott. Before he could impart such wisdom to Arden, the man leaned down and scooped up Coco with his free hand. “You were in quite the bind, General. Two strong women, each asking you for something completely opposite.”

“Well, with age comes wisdom,” Graham explained, still believing it was in Arden’s best interest to stay far away from Elizabeth Elliott. “Two guards have been posted outside my mother’s room. We also have a family friend who is sitting by her bedside, so please don’t feel the need to?—”

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