Shiver(94)

Silence lay heavy like wet snow over the room. Eva got up and laid a hand on Lynx’s shoulder, giving him emotional support. Garrett watched and cataloged like the cop he was.

“How did Raven take it?” Lynx finally broke the quiet.

“Not well. She’s real angry and hurt. I don’t blame her.” He glanced down at his hands, bloody and bruised. Hands that would have beaten Roland to death if Raven hadn’t fired that gun. “I had Roland on the ground and was…was going at him heavy with my fists. She told me to stay away from her and Fox.” His voice ended on a hush. The reality that he’d lost everything in one flash of temper had him closing his eyes and wishing again that Roland had ended it all.

“Where’s Roland now?” Garrett asked, obviously not willing to leave him in peace until he had all the facts. Besides, catching Roland was the reason Garrett would have traveled through the night to get here from the Peninsula. He wasn’t here out of concern for Aidan.

“Took off. He figured leaving me alive, after I’d lost everything, was better than killing me.”

“Did he find the gold?”

“No.” Aidan opened his eyes and rolled his head toward Garrett. There was pity in the fish cop’s eyes. “I doubt there’s any gold. If there ever was, why hadn’t Earl spent it? Chalk up another lie for the bastard.”

“Are you done?” Eva asked Garrett. “I need to see to his other cuts and bruises.” For once her voice was soft, compassionate. And it made him hurt worse.

“Do you need my help?” Lynx asked.

“No. I should be fine.”

“Garrett, why don’t I get you a cup of coffee?” Lynx stood and crossed the room.

“Thanks. That would be much appreciated. Aidan, I’ll talk with you again later.”

“Can’t fucking wait.” Then he shut his eyes and focused his energy on surviving Eva’s ministrations.

“I’m going to give you a shot that will help you with the pain and allow you to sleep.” She gently inserted the needle in his arm.

Fucking hallelujah.



Raven stared at her pottery wheel. It was silent, still, as was the room. She usually played a selection of oldies when she worked, using the soothing lyrics to help inspire her. But after what she’d witnessed this morning, inspiration seemed out of reach. Tears flooded her eyes. She wanted to throw up again.

Why hadn’t he told her he’d bought the explosives? That he’d planted the dynamite that killed her father? Tears clogged her throat and blinded her.

Would they ever stop?

She’d done nothing but bawl since she’d left Aidan. It was a miracle she’d made it home without ending upside down in a snow bank.

Pain continued to burn a hole deep inside her chest. A hole that would never be filled, she realized with another wave of tears.

This was ridiculous. Sitting here gushing wasn’t helping. She should return to the house and do the laundry. At least that would be productive. She wiped her hands on her towel and threw it onto the wheel.

Raven left the studio and wandered into the cabin. Again, silence greeted her. She missed Fox and his constant chatter, but she’d leaped when his friend Grand had offered an invitation for a sleepover. Fox would take one look at her and demand answers to questions she wasn’t ready for.

A knock sounded, and her door opened. She froze and then fought disappointment when it was Lynx who entered. With everything that she’d witnessed, how could she still hope that it was Aidan coming home?

“Hey,” Lynx said, coming into the kitchen after hanging up his coat. He glanced around. “Is Fox here?”

“No, he’s spending the night with Grand.”

“Good. We need to talk.” He walked into the living room where he stood gazing out the window. “Have a seat,” he ordered.

This was her house. If anyone was going to give orders it would be her. She folded her arms across her chest and stood her ground. “What’s this about?”

“Do you love Aidan?”

She hadn’t seen that coming. She took a seat.

He turned and nailed her with his ‘take no crap’ look. “Do you?”

“How is that any of your business?”

“Don’t give me that shit. You’re my sister, he was my best friend. What did you say to him today?”

“Why?” Dread and fear suddenly surged inside her. “Is he okay?”

“No, he isn’t. Eva’s going over him now. You never should have left him like that, Raven. If Pike and I hadn’t gone looking for him, he’d probably be dead now.”

“What happened?”

“You ripped out his heart and left him to bleed all over the goddamned floor. How could you do that? Haven’t you blamed him enough?”