Page 73 of Silos and Sabotage

Despite how long it had been since Ella’s father had been murdered, she was able to remember details about his attacker with startling clarity. Also of note was how well her and Cassie’s descriptions overlapped.

Rock was able to draw a decent rendition of the guy’s height, build, and murky features. He airdropped it to the sheriff’s work phone. “The next part is up to you, chief.”

“Thanks.” The sheriff called it in to his department and had the deputy on night duty run it through their facial recognition program. Unfortunately, there was no match to it in the system.

Gage was disappointed but not surprised. Since he was seated next to Ella in the break room, he reached for her hand beneath the table. Twining their fingers together, he rested them on his thigh. “It might not hurt to have your mother weigh in on the sketch, since she was there, too.” It was a long shot, but she might remember something the other two had missed. Something significant.

The sheriff’s phone buzzed with an incoming message. He read it, frowning, and shoved back his chair.

“Raleigh Bolander was shot. If anyone asks, you didn’t hear it from me.” He waved his phone at them on his way out the door. “It’s going viral on social media.”

Ella caught her breath sharply. “I hope my mom made it home before it—” She paused when her phone started ringing. She accepted the call, lifting the phone to her ear. “Mom?” She listened. Then she covered the mouthpiece to hiss, “She’s in the ER with my uncle.”

Gage caught Johnny’s eye. “You mind hanging back with Cassie and Jordan?” There were police swarming the hallway, but he preferred having their own eyes and ears on the action.

“Not at all.” Johnny eyed Rock’s bum leg. “You wanna have my back, bro, since he’s ditching me?”

Rock smirked. “As long as it involves a few cups of coffee and holding down a chair, count me in.”

For an answer, Johnny leaped to his feet to go brew them a round at the coffee station against the wall.

Gage leaned closer to his brother’s chair on his way out of the room. “If you head back to my place, you know where I keep the key for the farmhouse, too. Make yourself at home.”

Rock bumped fists with him.

* * *

Ella grappledwith a mix of emotions as she and Gage stepped into the ER waiting room to meet with her family.

The fact that she had family again was both wonderful and terrifying. It meant she was no longer alone in the world. But having family came with a whole set of its own challenges. For one thing, it meant she had something to lose again.

The biggest question burning inside her was why Uncle Raleigh had been targeted this time. Had her mother been with him when it happened? Had the bullet he’d taken been intended for her?

A disheveled version of her mother came stumbling in their direction. Her silk pantsuit was wrinkled and stained, and she was walking with a mild limp.

“Mom! Are you okay?” Ella lunged in her direction.

“I’m fine. Your uncle is not. He’s in surgery.” Her mother enclosed Ella in her arms. “Oh, honey,” she sighed brokenly. It was all she said for the longest time. Then she let Ella go and drew Gage into their tight huddle. She announced shakily, “If Raleigh Bolander survives the shooting, he and I have decided to get married.”

“Wh-what?” Ella felt her knees grow weak. She leaned against Gage for support. His arm came around her shoulders, cuddling her closer. After being alone for so long, it was a wonderful feeling to have someone like him in her life. Someone who cared deeply for her. Though it was still early in their relationship, they were a perfect fit on every level, two people who were meant to be together.

“I’m engaged to your Uncle Raleigh,” her mother repeated. “It will merge our two companies and pull you out of the crosshairs once and for all, dearest.” She drew a deep breath. “Or so we hope.”

Ella wanted to ask a thousand questions about the bizarre business transaction her mother was describing. However, her mother’s tearstains held her back. Her anguish over the possibility of losing Uncle Raleigh was telling. There was more going on between the two of them than the age-old feud between their families. More than the memories they shared of Mick Lawton. Just…more.

Whatever it was, it felt real. Like it was meant to be.

There was only one thing left for Ella to do. She sent up a silent prayer to the God she hadn’t spoken to in a while.

It’s me again. Ella. I’m sorry for giving You the cold shoulder for so long. It’s not Your fault that people choose to do bad stuff sometimes. I’m sorry for channeling my anger at You instead of at the nameless, faceless creep who deserves it. And even though You don’t owe me one blessed thing, my uncle seems like a really good man. He didn’t deserve to take that bullet tonight. So, if You would please, please, please, please, please bring him safely through his surgery, I promise things will be different between us going forward. Not just because of the favor I’m asking, but because You deserve it. Period. Amen.

While her uncle was still in surgery, Gage received a call from the sheriff with a crime scene update. Whatever the sheriff told him made him grimace. After he hung up, he slowly lowered his phone from his ear.

“What did he say?” Ella hissed, keeping her voice down so as not to further alarm her mother.

“They found Billy Bob hiding out in one of the silos that was supposedly haunted. He’d rigged himself a makeshift loft apartment in there.”

Her heart sank. “And the shooter?”

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