Chapter Forty-Three
Five months later
The publisher for Deep Waters intricately placed banners and posters around the resort hall. Cayden stood in the doorway of the ballroom, positive they were in some sort of violation. She sighed. The place spilled over with people. On the last chapter of her manuscript, writer’s block hit her like never before.
“You seem annoyed and freaking stunning all at the same time.” Smelling faintly of Marc Jacobs’s cologne and hay, Levi kissed her cheek before slipping his arm around her waist.
They needed to get the resort ready for summer. More popular than ever, several news magazines clamored at their door.
“Last night we discovered Chesterfield’s teacher Ray Donahue’s remains.” The new sheriff took the podium. “He was found on St. Geneva’s former Sheriff Dwight Cooper’s land. His son, Shawn, and Fire Chief Buddy Longwood have been indicted on five counts of murder, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice…”
After the Sheriff of St. Geneva gave his updates on the case, the publishers scheduled a brief press conference to follow. Designed to be an intimate chat with her readers, it would run as a news piece for either 20/20 or 60 Minutes, she couldn’t remember which one.
“I’ve canceled the Q&A.”
“What are you so nervous about?” he whispered in her ear. “I saw your Ted Talk video and that was in front of thousands of people.”
“Not the same,” Cayden mumbled, afraid that she would throw up in front of everyone. The press bombarded the sheriff with questions before she left the hall. “Writer’s block.”
Levi’s former friends had planned to kill her then pin it on Dale. Once the FBI figured out the plan, they went over Bud’s life with a fine-tooth comb. Sheriff Cooper killed Shana, but the other girls were found on Shawn’s family farm.
A year ago, Sheriff Cooper passed away. Everyone speculated whether he helped Bud kill the other girls, but no one knew for sure. Neither Shawn nor Bud confessed to anything, let alone murder. Dale, on the other hand, gave up the intricate details from his father’s sex ring thirteen years ago without a bit of prompting.
While everyone else went to jail and charges were pending against Dale, Taylor ducked out of town under the cloak of the snow storm. In other words, she got hip to the warrants and didn’t want to be involved in the men’s fourteen-year-old crime. No more mayor’s council.
“Publisher’s been breathing down my neck for the final draft.”
“I’m guessing you’re not close?” Levi steered her in the direction of restaurant.
“Oh! Here they are.” Lydia beamed. Sparklingly bright with her best jewelry, Levi’s mother paraded her quilting group in front of the cameras.
“Play along,” he whispered in her ear. “We’ve decided to hold off on the book release and move the honeymoon up… And we’re going to give some years on the kid thing, maybe not even have any.”
“What?” The supportive mom act slipped away in a flash. Levi cleared his throat and squeezed Cayden’s arm to keep her quiet
“You two have put me through hell, and this is the thanks I get?” Lydia hissed at them. Her sweet face twisted in rage before she realized people were present. Glancing back at her friends, she changed her expression. “Whatever makes you two happy.” She chuckled with a grim smile in place. “Come along, ladies. The publisher has a Q&A scheduled about the murders, and we want front-row seats.” She waved for her friends to follow her as she grumbled her way past them.
“Fifty bucks says she stays mad at you for over a week once she finds out I’m pregnant.”
“I’ll see that bet, and raise you a hundred,” Trent said, joining them.
“You know?” Levi asked, shocked by his admission.
“Sure, the day we went fishing, Cayden slept the whole time.”
“That’s not unusual, the water puts her to sleep,” Levi countered.
“Yeah, but she didn’t catch anything and then she lost her lunch when she had to clean the fish,” Trent admitted.
“And you made her clean it anyway!”
“A deal’s a deal,” Dad grumbled. “Besides, it’s going to take Lydia damn near a month to get over it … especially when she finds out I knew before she did. Are you going to take the bet or what?”
Four months pregnant, Cayden had morning sickness for what seemed like forever. She should’ve known if anyone figured it out, it would be Trent.
“Traitor,” Levi muttered under his breath, but they shook hands on it. Happier than a peacock in June, his dad strutted down the hall. “That didn’t go the way I’d hope.”
As Levi turned her around his arms, she laughed at Trent.
“I did manage to tell the truth about one thing … I moved up our honeymoon,” he admitted.
“What about my deadline?” she asked, semi-relieved he took the decision out of her hands.
“Push it back.” He placed his lips on her forehead. “What are they going to do, sue someone whose net worth far exceeds theirs? Besides, once we get back, you’ll have your first meeting.”
“Huh?”
“Dad mentioned we fight dirty.” He gestured between their bodies with his hand.
“That’s an understatement,” Cayden murmured.
“And the last disagreement—”
“Fight,” she corrected.
“We didn’t see eye-to-eye.” Levi seemed to settle upon an even better bullshit term. “About your little bestselling hobby.”
“Little!” she repeated, not sure she enjoyed the turn in conversation.
“I put a team together, and we’re going to work on your next case.”
“No way.” She pushed up on the tip of her toes to reach his mouth. Cayden kissed him with the right amount of PDA.
“Way,” he muttered, leading them out of the main resort.