They first targeted her house.
I don’t understand why. Her house has been cleared several times.
The clamor gets louder on the terrace, and I feel like I’m getting nowhere, although I’m onto something.
I need to think.
Right now, I need to fucking think. It’s all a buzz in my head, scattered clues, thoughts that make no sense, more unglued bits and pieces, and a stupid linchpin keeping this story together.
Somehow I keep missing it.
Without much of an apology, I push the chair back, rise to my feet, collect my phone, and saunter away.
I find a spot by the water. A private spot where only a few guests have ventured, and I have a view of the tables where Raven sits, flanked by Alejandro and Francisco.
My hand sweats around my phone.
I need to talk to Grayson. I check the time. It’s late but not too late, so I type a message.
It’s nothing earth-shattering, but it’s important.
Me: Call me when you can. I have new information.
I swipe my phone screen with my thumb and slide my cell into my pocket before propping my hands on the balustrade, staring at the water. The ocean is calm, glinting under the moonlight.
Let’s go back.
Lena Wilson. Major Wilson. Raven.
Her grandmother left the country a while back. She was out of the loop for the most part. Never came back. So that’s that. I cross her name off my mental list.
Raven’s father. This is it. He is the link. The centerpiece of the riddle. He’s gone. He had access to his mother’s house.
He and his wife had managed it before they passed away, although there wasn’t much to be managed.
The bank sold their property after their untimely deaths while Raven entered the foster care system.
So her father’s place was not an option to hide something. Here, I hit a roadblock.
Did he know?
Did he know he was in danger?
Where would I hide something if I knew someone was after me? My place? Probably not. Someone else’s place? Yes. For sure. As long as I’d think that place is safer than mine.
But how? Why would he choose his mother’s place?
For one, that house was there to stay. He didn’t expect something bad would happen with his mother’s place.
He probably didn’t think something bad was about to happen to him either, but he tried to be cautious.
I breathe slowly, cold inside. He knew. He must’ve known his life was in danger. I bet he didn’t tell his wife––Raven’s mother.
If it was something someone would kill for, sharing that information with her would’ve put her in even more danger. I bet he thought she was safe.
The accident…? Chances are she was collateral damage. She was with him that day. Things just happened that way.
So he thought his place wasn’t good for what he’d planned. His mother’s place was a better option.