Page 71 of Spark
After her interview with Alejandro Ornelas, Sophie had been leaning towards the idea that the Tringstads might have had a role in Laura’s murder. But now, she wasn’t sure what to think. Sven Tringstad was such a nice old gentleman, and now it seemed just as likely that someone in the Ornelas family hadn’t wanted Silvio to bring a wolf shifter into their jaguar clan.
The only thing that both Alejandro and Sven had agreed upon was that someone had been threatening and harassing Laura before her wedding, and each accused the other of having been responsible.
Sophie decided that she needed to touch base with Annika, and see if maybe the police officer might be willing to share any new details she’d uncovered while researching Laura’s cold case file.
Before starting her car and driving off, Sophie remembered that Noel had called earlier. She listened to the voicemail that her bio-dad had left her.
“Hey, it’s Noel. I know that you applied to med school, but a wonderful opportunity just came up here that I thought you should know about. The National Parliament of Todos Santos just voted to give AIMM a big grant for our early childhood vaccination program. I remember that you mentioned that this was one of your favorite programs, and we really could use someone who’s already up to speed on all the details.”
Sophie didn’t know if it was from force of habit, but Noel sounded just like he was giving one of his donor pitches right now, his voice smooth and confident. It made her smile as she continued listening to his message.
“So, I know this is a huge ask, but would you possibly be interested in postponing your studies for another year, and returning to Todos Santos to work with us on this project? We’d be willing to offer you a position as a full staff member, with a generous salary plus the usual housing allowance and travel stipends. Let me know as soon as you can.”
Sophie saved the voicemail, then sat in her car, her thoughts racing.
But I don’t want to leave Bearpaw Ridge, especially with now that things are heating up with Chris and Matt!That denial came from her gut.
She forced herself to think about it logically. She had already done all of the work and paid all the fees for her med school applications.
Plus, she’d already taken a gap year. Did she really want to take another one, even a paid one?
Realistically, she might be thirty before she finished her studies and residency. Delaying medical school would only push that date out further.
On the other hand, AIMM was offering her a real job with real money, doing important and meaningful work.
I need to talk to Mom and Mitya about it, and get their input. And Matt and Chris, too,she thought, though she was 99% sure that her two friends were going to object strenuously if she left the country again right after they declared that they both were serious about her.
Crap. She would have been ecstatic about an offer like this while she was still in Todos Santos. Since then, things had gotten complicated.
She chewed on her lower lip, thinking, then opened the messaging app on her phone.
Hi Noel, she typed.Got your message. The TS vax project sounds great but I need a few days to think about it.
He responded almost immediately.
OK, no problem. But don’t wait too long. We really need your help.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Grizzly Creek Ranch
Sunday, June 24
When Sophie entered Elle Swanson’s big living room with its beautiful antique furniture and floor-to-ceiling bay windows, Maggie Swanson made a beeline for her.
The gleam in Maggie’s eye was Sophie’s first premonition that things tonight might not run smoothly as she was hoping.
Most of Elle’s guests, including Damaris and Mitya, were already there for the usual pre-dinner drinks and hors d'oeuvres.
Sophie spotted Daniel and Margaret. They were holding glasses of wine and talking to Elle and her mate Justin Long. She saw Chris standing at the bar against the back wall, pouring himself a beer, and realized that he’d taken the day off work, too.
Normally Chris and Daniel both worked on Sundays, but Daniel had begun leaving Calidus in the hands of his assistant executive chef, Rafael, at least one Sunday a month, so that he could attend Elle’s dinner. Because he was Margaret’s mate, he had been adopted into the Swanson clan, and conversely, Margaret had become a member of the Cougar Lake sabertooth pride.
And there was Matt, talking to his cousin Ellie. He spotted Sophie and waved.
Well, this is going to be awkward, Sophie thought.
She had thoroughly enjoyed the past week of alternating dates with Chris and Matt, but as far as she knew, no one outside of her immediate family had realized yet that she was dating both of them.
