Page 63 of Deep Waters
Tae and Hanna popped out of my car, sprinting for us. I scooped up Hanna, cuddling Tae between Rae and me. We stood for what felt like forever in a mash of arms and tiny bodies, hugging tight.Safe. We were all out of danger.
“I need to turn off the grill, but after that, what do you all say to dinner in town?”
Rae pulled back. “You’re not worried about leaving the safe unattended here?”
“With Brandon in custody, I think we’re fine. But what happened to Gran?”
Rae lifted a shoulder, her lips pressed together like she was trying to hide a smile. “Apparently, it’s date night.”
“This is what I get for relying on a horny octogenarian for private security.”
Dinner was unsalvageable. I dumped the burned lumps in the trash. We locked the house, and the kids clambered into the car, their excited chatter a welcome distraction. A trickle of unease lingered. Leaving the house unattended was a bad idea.
I rolled my neck, loosening my shoulders. That thought was just a hangover from the drama with Brandon. Rae was unhurt. That should be enough. But cracking the safe, finding the answers locked inside seemed more important by the minute.
Downtown was a hive of activity, summer crowds swelling the local restaurants. We grabbed a picnic table and drinks at the brewery while we waited for a table. Hana made fast friends with another little girl, and they entertained us with cartwheels and attempts at handstands. Tae seemed more interested in a small ant colony, dropping blades of grass as obstacles and observing them march.
It was surreal watching the little girls giggle and chase after the last hour. I’d expected more fear from them, but they acted like Deputy Vega carting off their dad’s business partner was nothing. Maybe given everything else they’d faced, it was.
I wrapped an arm around Rae, tugging her into my side. She melted into the space I made for her, resting her head on my shoulder. I filled my lungs with the scents of grass, beer, and Rae, expelling my breath slowly. The combination of sun, laughter, and the ferry horn in the distance helped me relax, my jaw loosening as it truly sank in that she was okay.
“I’m right here, worrywart.”
“Hmmph.” I nuzzled her shoulder. “Believe it or not, I’m used to us being in dangerous situations together.”
“SAR is good for that.”
“Exactly. But this was different. I think I lived ten years in those last ten seconds in the garage.”
“Brandon was desperate, but I didn’t think he’d hurt me.”
“You’re that confident he didn’t eliminate Jordan?”
“Think about it. If he’d killed Jordan, don’t you think he would have gotten whatever has him so desperate first?”
“So, what? He’s just worried about whatever they were up to blowing back on him now that Jordan’s gone?”
“The way he spoke, he hadn’t anticipated anything happening to Jordan. He claimed his ass was on the line because of the safe’s contents.”
“He didn’t say what it was?” I asked.
“No. But my guess? Drugs.”
“You think your cousin was into that kind of thing?”
“For cash? Maybe. But not street-level stuff. He used to rail against the US healthcare system. It wouldn’t surprise me if he viewed whatever he was bringing in as a fuck-you to the insurance companies.”
“So this circles back to the rumors of counterfeit drugs coming in from Canada?”
Rae shrugged beneath my arm. “We won’t really know unless we can get that safe open.”
“You still don’t want to turn it over to the authorities? That was by far the simplest answer. Let the sheriff and the DEA sort out the mess.
“Not without knowing what’s in it first. I owe that to Jia.”
“Speaking of Jia, how are you going to break the news of this afternoon’s excitement to her?” I asked.
Rae leaned back, wrinkling her nose. “I’ve got to call her, don’t I?”
