If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(56)

"It's possible."

"You can't get fingerprints or anything from in here?"

"A lot of people have been in this place. Even if we could get prints, I doubt they would pinpoint who did this. Was the studio locked?"

"No," she said with a sigh.

"Once you get this cleaned up, you might want to make it a little more difficult to get into the yard and into the studio."

"I know. I should have been more careful. I wasn't planning to go out today, and then Jeremy asked me to build sand castles with him and Ashlyn. I should have locked up first. But Angel's Bay has lulled me into a false sense of security."

"It is a safe town, but you still have to take ordinary precautions." Kent paused. "Jeremy didn't win the competition again, did he? You know, he won like ten years in a row, right?"

"I thought it was six."

"Close enough."

"No, we didn't win. We came in seventh."

Kent whistled under his breath. "Jeremy must have been pissed."

"He handled the disappointment well. His main goal was to get closer to his daughter, and that happened. Ashlyn had a great time, so from that standpoint it was a win."

"I'm glad to hear that. You know before this happened," he said sweeping his hand toward the mess, "I was thinking Jeremy should try his hand at some painting. It helped me get rid of my frustrations. It might work for his."

"You think he's frustrated?"

"Don't you? He has a kid who won't talk to him, and his career is up in the air."

"True. I'm aware of what's going on."

"You are, aren't you?" he said, giving her a thoughtful look. "You and Jeremy are getting tight."

"He's a good guy," she said simply.

"One of the best," Kent agreed. "Jeremy was always better than me and Barton. Whatever he did, he always had the edge, whether it was academics or sports or just being a natural-born leader. It used to drive Barton crazy. I just accepted that Jeremy was blessed with a few more gifts than I was."

"You want him to stay in Angel's Bay, don't you?"

"Yes. I know he has issues with his dad, and he's always said he'd never live here again, but this would be a good place for him to raise his daughter and to be with his friends. Leaving the Army will be extremely difficult for him. I know what it's like to have to reinvent yourself. I can help him navigate that course."

"You don't think this town would be too quiet?"

"I think he could use some quiet, some peace, a daily reminder that there are still beautiful places and good people in the world. It's easy to lose your way when all you see is evil."

His words sent a shiver down her spine. Despite Kent's easygoing manner, it was clear that he'd been to hell and back. Had Jeremy made that same trip? She suspected the answer to that question was yes.

"I should get back to work," Kent said. "If you have any more problems, give us a call."

"You don't think they'll come back, do you?"

"I can't imagine why. Whatever they wanted to do, they did."

She thought so, too. "I'll walk you out."

When they reached his car, Kent looked over at Jeremy's house. "I hope Ashlyn is all right. Do you think I should try to talk to her before I go, let her know I'm a good guy?"

"I think you should let Jeremy handle it for now."

"I hope I didn't make his life more difficult."

"Me, too." She also felt torn between trying to help and giving Jeremy and Ashlyn some space. But she'd told Kent to let Jeremy handle his daughter; she needed to take her own advice.





Fourteen

"It's okay, Ash," Jeremy said, stroking Ashlyn's hair. Since coming back to the house twenty minutes earlier, he'd sat down on the couch with Ashlyn's arms still wrapped tight around his neck, her body shaking with the weight of the sobs pouring from her mouth.

It was the most heartbreaking sound he'd ever heard. But he hoped that the flood of tears might provide some much-needed healing.

"No one will ever take you away from me. I'm your father. We're family."

As he said the words, his chest tightened again at the memory of her calling him Daddy for the first time. She might have been hysterical and terrified, but she'd called for him. She'd run to him and let go of Mia. She'd chosen him to be her safe harbor, and he was proud and humbled at the same time.

He was not going to let this child down. He might not have known her for the first eight years of her life, but he would be there for her every day going forward. He would be worthy of the trust she'd just placed in him, and they would get past all the pain.

Finally, her sobs started to slow and falter. His shirt was soaking wet, but he didn't give a damn. He would hold her as long as she needed.

It was another ten minutes before her hold on his neck finally lessened, and she lifted her face, her tear-stained cheeks, breaking his heart one more time.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "It's going to be all right, honey."

"They took me away before."

"Who did? The police?"

She nodded. "They said I couldn't see Mommy, that I had to go with them."