Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Nester pressed the button, and the video continued.
“I wish I could help you,” Abigail said. “But I think you need to help yourself.”
Nester sucked in air. “Did she just say what I think she said?”
Laurel didn’t reply.
“Help myself. What do you mean?” Jason asked.
“Come on, Jason, you can get out of here,” Abigail said. “Just work with your attorney and study the law. You know what to do.”
Nester coughed. “She just pretty much told him to escape, right?”
“Those weren’t the words that she used,” Laurel said. “She’s telling him to learn the law.”
Abigail leaned forward. “I am very sorry that you ended up in the hospital; I should have tried to visit you. I hope you’re not still having such terrible suicidal thoughts. You belong on this earth. Jason. There’s a lot of good you can still do.”
“Thank you,” Jason said, his body relaxing for the first time. “I appreciate that.” His eyes gleamed in a different way.
“What’s his expression?” Laurel asked Nester.
Nester paused the video again. “Um, interest? Like a light bulb just ignited above his head?”
“Yes. His eyes widened, his eyebrows rose, and his lips curved in a slight smile. Do you see those markers?”
“Yeah,” Nester said. “Also, his head tilted slightly. She pretty much just told him how to escape, didn’t she?”
“Not in a way that we’ll ever be able to prove.” Laurel looked at Nester, her mind reeling with this new information and trying to form a rational conclusion. “The question is, why would Abigail want Jason released from custody?”
Nester studied the screen. “So she can finally kill him?”
Chapter 5
He felt as if this entire place was bad touching him. Huck sat across a thick plexiglass table from Rachel Raprenzi as some tech fiddled with the microphone attached to the top of Huck’s black T-shirt. He still wore his faded jeans.
“Can we do his makeup and hair?” the guy asked.
“Hell no,” he answered before Rachel could.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling, excitement vibrating from her. “What do you think of the new studio?”
He wished it were anywhere but in the building where he worked. He looked around at the hardwood floor and wide-screen behind them with the words The Killing Hour scrolling by. “It looks like a newsroom.”
“That’s what we were going for.” She placed her hands on the thick plexiglass. “We want the set to be more contemporary than most newsrooms but with a podcast feel. I’m excited that you’re one of our first interviews here in the studio. We just got it all set up.”
“Great,” Huck said, his skin itching.
She leaned toward him. “I’m surprised you called me. I feel like you’ve avoided me since I came to town.”
Of course he’d avoided her. They’d been engaged, and she had torn apart his personal life for a story. One of his cases—a kid—had been drowned in a river, and he’d spiraled into depression after that. Oh, he’d caught the killer, but a dead kid would always weigh on his conscience. That case had catapulted her into a much better career and him to the middle of a mountain with his dog.
Looking at her, he couldn’t remember why they’d ever become engaged. Yeah, she was beautiful with her blond hair and sparkling eyes and fine bone structure, but there was nothing inside her other than ambition. Laurel Snow was ambitious as well, yet she would never use another person the way Rachel would. While Laurel could appear factual and possibly cold, she was anything but.
“Are you ready?” Rachel asked.
“I am.” At least as ready as he’d ever be.
Her gaze flicked to his dark T-shirt. “You could have dressed up or worn your uniform.”
“I’m in the middle of a case, Rachel,” he said. “Sorry, it’s not the optics you wanted.” Perhaps he should have worn his uniform. He glanced back at his jacket hanging over the chair. “I can put on the Fish and Wildlife jacket, if that would help?”
Her gaze narrowed. “Why are you being so agreeable?”
“Because we need your assistance,” he said smoothly.
She preened. “Oh, I like that.” He’d figured she would, which was why he’d said it. “Yeah, put on the jacket.”
“All right.” He reached for his jacket and pulled it on, zipping up. The black rainproof coat had a Washington State Fish and Wildlife Police patch on his left arm and a clear embroidered badge with a star over his left breast.
“Perfect,” she said.
The tech guy moved in again and tugged the microphone off Huck’s shirt to secure on the collar of the coat. “Let me at least do his hair.”
Huck looked up. “You touch my hair, and I’ll break your hand.”
At least six feet tall with blond hair and impressive biceps, the guy grinned. “All right. I could have made you famous—or at least gotten you a date for the night.” He sauntered away toward the control room.