Page 31 of Kindled Hearts

Fox slipped off the headphones and set them on the cluttered desk.

Fox was usually busy with something. His brain was always spinning, looking for the next puzzle to solve and work to be done. He probably sent August to fetch me because he didn’t want to drag himself away from his computer.

“I had an interesting email come through the other day.” He adjusted his glasses. He didn’t actually need glasses, but he often wore blue light blockers to protect his eyes from strain because he spent so much time on screens.

I raised my brows. “Yeah? What kind of interesting?”

He leaned toward his desk and picked up a single piece of paper. “I was going to forward it to you, but I figured you wouldn’t check your email.”

He wasn’t wrong. I’d been consumed with Lily’s case. Breakfast this morning seemed like it had been days ago already. I’d come back to the office after stuffing my face with Mom’s pancakes and bacon and hadn’t come out since. I couldn’t remember the last time I checked my email.

I carefully took the paper, scanning the email. My heart jolted at the familiar name that stood out from the page.

Winifred Meadows.

“This came to the Hearthstone email?” I frowned.

Fox dipped his chin in confirmation. “Looks like the insurance company is suspecting fraud. They wanted you to look into it for them and see if they could make a case.”

My stomach knotted. “When did this come in?”

“Yesterday. I went ahead and turned down the case. Figured it might be a…conflict of interest for you.”

It was. Hell, Lark was just at my mother’s house this morning. I read the email again, taking in the information. They suspected that Winifred made false medical claims. That she hadn’t been as injured in the car accident as she made it seem. My jaw clenched with every word I read.

“I saw her the other day. She had a boot on her leg.” I looked back up at Fox.

He tilted his head to the side. “Doesn’t mean she needed it.”

If there was one thing I’d learned as a cop and a private investigator, it was that people lied all the damn time. Especially if it got them something in return. I’d seen so many people fake injuries. Pretending the injury was more severe than it really was wasn’t hard.

But that didn’t mean she’d get away with it.

“Thanks,” I said tightly, folding the paper and shoving it in my pocket.

Fox nodded. “No problem.” He paused a beat, his eyes scanning my face. “I heard Lark is back in town.”

I was sure everyone knew she was back now considering the drama we’d stirred up at Latte Pages the other day.

“She came back to take care of her mom.”

Fox winced. “Are you going to tell her?”

“I think that I should probably talk to her mother first.” I wasn’t going to tell Lark anything until I had all the facts myself. I glanced at my watch. The day was almost over, but there was still some sun left, if just barely.

“Let me know if you need anything, okay?” Fox’s tone sounded off. I narrowed my eyes at him, but before I could say anything, he changed the subject. “August said something about security footage you’ve been looking at?”

I blinked. “Uh, yeah. I’ve been over it a thousand times, but I don’t see anything there. Neither did August when he looked at it. I’m not sure any enhancement would even help.”

“Well, if you do need anything, I can make time in my schedule.”

“Thanks.” I cleared my throat.

I appreciated everything my family did for me, but again it was such a stark reminder of how weak I appeared to them all.

With a quick goodbye, I left Fox’s office. My legs felt stiff and sore from sitting all day and now my mind was restless. I needed some air.

And I needed to pay a visit to Winnie Meadows.

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