“Do you think she’s in danger?” I asked. I was a little concerned about possible retaliation, but Luke’s worry amplified mine.
“No, not really, but you can never be too careful. Plus, Carter Perry was released from jail yesterday. He’s hell-bent on proving his innocence, and I don’t want him bothering Aspen.”
“Does he even know about her?” I asked.
“If he doesn’t, I’m sure he will soon. He’s hired one of the best private investigator firms in the area. If there’s something to find, they’ll find it.”
“Aspen doesn’t have anything to hide.”
“I know she doesn’t. I just meant they’d know about Pamela’s daughter, and that she recently moved back to Devil Springs.”
“Gotcha.”
“All right, fellas, I’ll be in touch,” Luke said and shook Copper’s hand before leaving.
9
ASPEN
“How did it go?” I asked when Coal returned from his meeting.
“Good. They decided to bring in Luke. He’s on his way to your house right now to pick up the package.”
“What did he say when you told him it was cocaine?”
“He actually wasn’t too surprised. He said they’d been investigating similar deliveries in the area.”
“So, he thinks this is part of something bigger?” I asked.
“He couldn’t say for sure, but maybe. He did say he thought you should stay at my place for a few days, and I agree.”
“Should I be worried? Is someone going to come after me?” I asked, wondering what in the hell I had gotten myself into.
“It’s just a precaution until he makes an arrest, which might take a few days. It’s possible someone else might try to come get the box during that time.”
“I don’t have a problem staying with you, but I need to go by there to get some clothes and a few other things.”
“We’ll go get your stuff once Luke is finished over there,” he said. “He also asked me to tell you that your mother’s stepson is out of jail and is trying to clear his name. He wanted me to let you know there’s a possibility he, or one of the private investigators he hired, might approach you.”
“What? Why? I don’t know anything.”
“I know that, and you know that, but he doesn’t,” he explained. “You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I do have to talk to him. If I don’t, it’ll look like I’m hiding something. I have no stake in my mother’s guilt or innocence, or his for that matter.”
* * *
If Coal hadn’t warnedme, I would’ve been freaked out to find a man standing in the parking lot near my car when I left work two days later. Even though I’d never seen him before, I knew who he was.
“Are you Aspen White?” he asked and started to come closer.
“Yes, and you are?”
“Carter Perry,” he introduced. “Do you know who I am?”
I did, but I acted like I didn’t. “No, should I?”
“Your mother was married to my father.”