Page 110 of Your Every Wish
That was debatable. But sure, my graduation was in a park and open to the public. Every friend and relative there was snapping pictures.
“Why didn’t you just tell us from the beginning? Why make a show of helping us break into Willy’s house when you probably had a key?” It makes sense now how Liam knew exactly how to disconnect the alarm and cameras the night we broke in. “Why not just say, ‘I worked for Willy. He left a message for you in the wall’? And then all that baloney with Azriel cracking the code when you knew all the time where the bag was. I don’t get it, Liam.”
“I actually didn’t know anything about the note or the code. That was all Willy. Truthfully, in the end, he got into all the . . . I think Kennedy called it ‘cloak and dagger’ . . . He could’ve just given the note to his attorney to leave for you with the rest of his estate. But he enjoyed making it a game and duping the FBI. He always liked to be one step ahead of everyone. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as clever as he thought he was.”
No, he wasn’t. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ended up in prison.
“Will you ever forgive me for deceiving you?” he says.
“I’m not sure, Liam. You could’ve trusted Kennedy and me. We never would’ve turned you in. Honestly, I don’t even know who you are. Then again, I never really did, anyway.” And with that, I get up and walk away, more confused than I’ve ever been.
Kennedy
Bent is under his truck when I get to his house. You’d think a guy who owns a home like this could afford to pay someone to change his oil, but here he is on his back on the cold epoxy floor with his garage door open.
“You mind handing me that wrench?”
I grab it out of his toolbox and pass it to him across the floor.
“Almost done here,” he says.
He seems less surly than he usually is. Either that or I’ve grown used to his sour disposition. I’m still stunned that he let us take down his beloved rock wall and even assisted in its destruction. And when we finally found the money, he was more excited than anyone, except for maybe Misty, who was so proud of her magical prowess that she nearly peed herself. But for Bent it was solely about the find. He reminded me of a little boy on a treasure hunt.
Bent slides out from under the truck and eyes my thin sweater. In my haste leaving the house, I forgot a jacket.
“You want to go inside?”
“If you don’t mind.”
He leads me through the garage door, then to the great room before he lets the dogs out in the yard.
I follow him into the kitchen where he pulls two bottles of water out of the fridge, tosses me one, and downs his in one gulp, then motions for me take a seat at the center island.
“I want to write you a check for the wall.” I pluck my checkbook out of my purse, praying I have enough to cover the cost with what’s left of my dwindling savings. “How much do I owe you?”
He crunches the plastic bottle with one hand and tosses it into the sink like he’s doing a layup shot. “I’ll have to talk to my rock guy, so let me get back to you on that. You hear from the FBI?”
I shake my head. It’s only been a few hours since they hauled the golf bag away.
“I guess that bandstand and the pickleball courts are on hold now.” The corner of Bent’s lips curves up.
I’m too exhausted to return a pithy comeback. “Yep.”
“I’m still interested if you want to sell.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t.” Misty is right, a deal is a deal.
“Why not?”
“Because my sister and I promised we wouldn’t sell the park.”
Bent looks at me for a long time. “Then cut me in for a piece . . . a partnership that’ll ensure I get first dibs if you ever decide to sell.”
“What kind of piece?” My first instinct is that Bent is trying to pull a fast one. We cut him in and the next thing we know, he’s tearing down the park to run his cattle—or worse, build a business park. A month ago, I wouldn’t have cared. But now . . . well, it’s the last stop for Harry, who retired here with his late wife. It’s the bird sanctuary Trapper Bing lovingly built in his backyard. It’s the place where Rondi can safely walk Snow White on a leash late at night. It’s the home of Madam Misty, Universal Diviner Soothsayer. Where would they go? And even if they found new places to live, why should they have to ? Cedar Pines is their home.
“Sell me a third share. Together, it would still give you and Emma a majority stake.”
“The question is, what does it giveyou?” I stare at him pointedly.
