Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 135696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Fucking pissant.
“But Sharon would kill to read that manuscript,” Tru went on. “Which makes it even more insane she machinated the author’s death. Because she could have had a lot more. But Lincoln knew that it would drive her even crazier than she already was, the idea there was a Lucas Washington story she hadn’t read yet. And if there were more movies, she’d have even more Lucas Washington.”
At least Lincoln got a little of his back, sending her on a fifteen-year quest to find nothing.
“However, saying that,” Tru carried on, “I can’t imagine he had any idea that she’d spend fifteen years doing what she did. I know in my soul, he did it just to fuck with her. In the end, she had a hand in taking precious things from him, and as a father who loved his son, a husband who adored his wife, and a devoted brother, he had no choice but to do what he did. That was his only way to take something precious from her.”
Tru turned to Riggs.
“And he’d be gutted to think anyone shattered the peace on that lake where we were all so happy. The only place we could be a family as we truly were. Absolutely gutted that the people who came after us weren’t as happy as we were.”
“We’re happy, Tru. Sharon and your brother were just occasional pains in our asses,” Riggs assured him.
That urged another smile to the surface from Tru.
“I’m going to have to speak to your brother about the murders, Tru,” Harry warned.
Tru turned back to Harry.
“Not that I have a say, but I’m good with that. Lincoln’s name needs to be cleared. I know what you videotaping me means, and I’m fine to go on the record with all of this. I shouldn’t speak for her, but my guess at this juncture, Kennedy will be too,” Tru told him.
“This will mean your family will have deeper scrutiny,” Harry warned.
“Sheriff, I’ve spent the entire thirty-three years of my life hiding the fact I’m Roosevelt Whitaker’s child. My father was a good man. He was a good dad. He loved me deeply, and he didn’t hide it. He taught me to be all the good things I am. I owe him everything. I miss him every day. People with small minds who do not know my family will think whatever they like. I can finally claim my dad. So bring it on.”
Right, then.
There it was.
Riggs liked this guy.
FORTY-ONE
Something The Cat Dragged In
Riggs
A little after eight in the morning, Riggs turned into his lane.
Last night, he’d had about fifteen minutes to bring Gia back to the house and show Nadia and Ledger he was all right before he needed to head to the station to give his statement.
But while he was gone, Nadia had texted him to suggest he allow Ledger to stay home from school that day, and he agreed. So he’d called the school and texted Angelica to let her know everything was all right, and that Ledger was taking the day off. If she needed to know why, he’d call and explain later.
Which meant, as he came to a stop in the drive, the door immediately opened and Gia galloped out toward his truck, with Ledger following right after.
He’d jumped down from his truck, slammed the door, got a hand on Gia, but then had to brace as Ledger hit him like a rocket.
Riggs gave his son a hug, and Ledger tipped his head back.
“Told you, you and Gia would never let anything happen to us,” he declared.
Christ, he loved his kid.
Riggs kept him held tight to his side as he walked to the front deck where Nadia was standing.
Ledger and Gia squeezed around her, but Riggs took her in his arms, gave her a tight hug, got one in return, and he kissed the side of her head.
After that, they went in.
“Hungry?” she asked.
He was…and beat. He needed sleep.
“Yeah,” he told her.
“Eggs or pancakes, or something else?” she inquired.
“Whatever, honey,” he muttered, taking a stool at the kitchen.
Ledger climbed up on the one beside him.
Gia slid onto her belly at his feet.
“Eggs, they’re fastest,” Nadia mumbled.
She set a cup of coffee in front of him before she got to work.
He took a sip, then aimed his eyes to his boy.
Ledger knew exactly what he was asking without verbally asking.
“Okay, Dad, so you were right. All the stuff going down, I was worried.”
Nadia’s hands stilled in putting the egg carton on the counter, but she got back to it when Riggs urged, “Hit me.”
Ledger gave it to him.
“Since you said it might be dangerous, I haven’t been able to sleep real good,” he admitted.
Riggs took another sip of coffee before he prompted, “Go on.”
“And remember when we were camping last summer, the day before we were going to go horseback riding, and I was all jazzed?” Ledger didn’t give him time to answer, he kept talking, “And we were sleeping outside. And I couldn’t get to sleep. You told me to count the stars, and it’d make me sleepy. So I did, and I fell right asleep.”