Page 24 of Outlaw Ridge: Griff
“Itis,” she verified. “And it’s proof that someone doesn’t want the truth coming out.”
Rhett looked at her like she’d set fire to the past. And Lily didn’t look away.
Lily kept her gaze locked on Rhett as she continued to hold up the photo. “This wasn’t in the case file. Not anywhere.”
Rhett’s eyes flicked to the image again, but he said nothing. The muscles in his jaw bunched and shifted like he was grinding down every word that wanted to come out. A long beat passed before he finally spoke.
“I have no idea where that came from.”
But he didn’t sound convinced. Not even close.
Then he added, “Maybe someone witnessed the murder. Took the picture. Maybe Bobby Ray did it himself. Hell… maybeMargodid.”
Lily choked back a groan. It felt like he was throwing darts with a blindfold on.
Griff’s voice came cool and sharp. “Those gut feelings again?”
That did it.
Rhett stood fast, eyes blazing, and went toe to toe with Griff. He was smaller, wirier, but the fury in him burned hot enough to make up for the size difference. He jabbed a finger toward Griff’s chest, not quite touching him, but close enough.
“You think this is a game?” Rhett hissed. “You think I spent twenty years busting my ass in this town just to have it pissed on by some outsider with a badge and a theory?”
Griff didn’t move. Didn’t blink. He didn’t need to.
Rhett turned that fury on Lily next. “And you. You think you can waltz back here and start tearing apart my investigation like it’s some puzzle you didn’t get to solve? Don’t dick around with my career. Or my legacy.”
“Your legacy?” she spat out. And she was on the verge of saying that legacy was a piece of shit, that his career was checkered at best and that he should have never been the lead on this murder investigation.
All of that was true. But it would be damn unprofessional of her to spell that out especially when she had no concrete proof that Rhett had indeed botched this case.
Not yet anyway.
But one thing was now crystal clear. Rhett Hale wasn’t just defensive. He washidingsomething. Maybe not the murder itself, but something tangled in it. Something he didn’t want exposed. He didn’t want anyone putting his case under a microscope.
But that’s exactly what she was going to do.
The door swung open, and two EMTs strode in with a stretcher and medical packs. They moved toward Rhett, and Lily stepped back, putting some distance between herself and the tension still radiating off Rhett.
She didn’t need to be near him right now. Not with her pulse pounding and every instinct screaming that he was hiding something.
Griff caught her eye and gave a subtle tilt of his head, motioning for her to follow him down the hallway, out of earshot. She didn’t hesitate. They moved past the corner, justout of sight, but Rhett’s gaze followed them. She could feel it burning into her back.
A moment later, Hallie joined them, arms folded across her chest, her sharp eyes flicking between the two of them. “Well, that went about as smooth as a hornet in a bottle,” she muttered.
Lily gave a humorless huff, still trying to steady her breathing.
Hallie’s tone dropped into something more controlled, focused. “If the EMTs clear him, I’ll bring Rhett into interview and get everything he just said on record. All of it.”
Lily nodded, grateful. “You think he’s lying?”
“I think he’s leaving out more than he’s saying,” Hallie replied. Then, under her breath, she added, “Legacy,” like the word itself tasted sour.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough. A flicker of solidarity. Proof she wasn’t the only one who saw through Rhett’s bravado and bluster.
Hallie turned her attention back to business. “While I deal with him, maybe the two of you can go have a chat with Everett Langston. He’s the only other person of interest from the original investigation. If he knows anything, now’s the time to see what shakes loose.” She checked the time. “He should be at his office by now.”
Lily nodded, and Griff made a sound of agreement as they headed to their desks to get their coats. They had a direction now. And more than ever, Lily was ready to chase it.
