Page 281 of Come Back to Me

“You sound real skeptical about how well that’ll go for me.”

“You keep it hidden, that’ll make it worse.”

“Why aren’t you taking custody of the body?” Colt asks, changing the subject. “We wouldn’t have to wait for Sergeant Idiot if you did.”

“Murder is the RCMP’s jurisdiction. Plus, it’s a body found on our property. I wouldn’t be able to get involved even if I wanted to.”

“Reilly’s about to make himself at home again, then.” He shoots me a baleful glance. “I know now isn’t the time to be speaking of PR, but finding a body on Korhonen land won’t help matters.” He groans. “And Zee was hoping today would be the last PR event she’d have to attend until Christmas. She’s not happy about having to leave Saskatchewan.”

“You got yourself a real homebody, huh?”

“I did.” He rubs his chin. “I’ll be glad when she’s more comfortable in town. I’m pretty sure she wants to go out more, but she isn’t mustering the courage to.”

“Pigeon Creek did a number on her.”

“This won’t help. Fuck. Have you told Callan?”

“Called him earlier.”

“He’s okay?”

“He’s not a kid, Colt,” I retort, but I’m being a hypocrite—I’m also worried.

“This is his home and an illegal burial site.”

“All ours—what an honor. I was going to live out here. Jesus. This is like begging for a poltergeist to haunt the house.”

“You’ll have to pick somewhere else.”

“No shit. Is it too late for Zee to cancel today’s event?”

He checks his watch. “Should be starting now.”

“Unfortunate.”

“You ever think we’re cursed?”

“After what happened yesterday, during Cole’s wedding? Yes.”

“You haven’t updated me about that yet.”

“You were hungover when I came home.”

“Finding a body has a way of sobering you up. What went down last night?”

“You know the women we scattered around the country and Europe? One of their husbands sent a trio of shitty mercenaries, who couldn’t be discreet if they tried, to infiltrate the sanctuary. God only knows where the band is. At first, I thoughttheywere the undercover mercs, but they’re not.”

“Could they have…”

“Killed them? Maybe. I know that’s a line of inquiry Reilly’s following.” I sigh. “They used the access cards we handed out to the staff to break into the guesthouse.”

“Assholes. Though, I guess it’s proof this new security firm you’ve hired is working out. Where are they?”

“Cells. Doubt they’ll be there long. Not like we caught them in the act of anything other than a B&E.

“The RCMP and marshals have been scouring the local roads for any sign of the actual band members. If they’re hurt or were held hostage while the mercs used their access cards, we’ll have something to hold them with.” I scrub a hand over my jaw. “Youknow that you don’t have to keep on top of this BS Callan’s putting you through with the PR, right?”

“I do, actually,” is his mild retort. “We don’t all get to come home to play cops and robbers, Cody. Some of us have responsibilities that could devastate a billion-dollar business. Jobs are at stake here.”

---