Page 98 of Shephard
“Before we do, I need to ask… For your assistance.” I could tell both my brothers were shocked.
“You asking us for help? The world is about to end,” Jagger retorted.
“Stop the shit now, Jag. We need to get past the animosity.” Hunter was turning out to be the wisest of all of us. “This had something to do with the threat. Right? Jagger told me.”
I took a deep breath, driving down the irritation. “Yes. Someone from my past has decided it’s time to play ball. Are the two of you willing to take on your formal roles to catch a bad guy one last time?”
“You mean other than the embezzler?” Hunter grinned.
“Oh, this man makes the thief appear like someone stealing a candy bar. It’s dangerous. I don’t mind telling you that.”
Jagger rubbed his jaw, never blinking as he studied me. “Why not? I could use a little target practice.”
“Yeah, me too.” Hunter was more than eager.
“Then I’ll tell you what I’m thinking after I have a conversation with a guy who needs a little pushing into speaking the truth.”
“Why don’t I come with you?” For Jagger to ask meant he was extending an olive branch.
“What the hell? I could use a wingman,” I told him.
For the first time since I’d arrived in town, Jagger smiled like he had when we were kids. Maybe the infuriating, bratty woman was teaching me about letting go.
And enjoying life.
“The three musketeers,” Hunter said under his breath.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I said, laughing. But it felt good to have them on my side.
He headed for the door, stopping long enough to glance from one of us to the other. “Are you guys coming? We do own a fabulous resort now. We might as well get some benefit from it.”
“He’s right. Let’s do this downstairs. I could use a drink after listening to that shit,” Jagger said.
“Fine. Did you find anything in your search for our bad employee, Hunter?” I threw open the door, still angry. My father always managed to make me angrier than anyone I’d ever met. Damn him.
“There is no direct link to anyone I can find,” Hunter said casually as we headed down from our offices to one of the bars. “However, I’m eager to hear your ideas of how to draw them out.”
“It might just include someone who can help us. But I have faith that you will.”
Jagger choked on purpose. “The beautiful and talented park ranger. Now I see what’s happening to you, buddy. I like the new you.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
As soon as we were in the elevator, I leaned my head against the back wall. I was tired, but this time for all the right reasons. Letting go with Denise had allowed me to fall asleep. It was such an anomaly I’d had a difficult time waking up fully.
“Well, you’re in a damn good mood,” Jagger shot out at me. “Did you get laid last night?”
“Very funny.” I had my eyes closed and I could honestly fall asleep standing right where I was.
“Why, shit. I think he did. Was that the first time in like a hundred years?” Hunter was pleased with himself.
The ping of the elevator didn’t stop Jagger from continuing to dig. “It’s that cop. Right?”
I laughed and took long strides off the elevator. “You know she’s not a cop. You already said it. She’s a park ranger.”
“But they have similar duties. Right?” Hunter was pushing, which was something he’d done since he was a kid.
Only I wasn’t in the mood to play his little mind games. We were here to work. And to dig through the monotonous paperwork in attempting to locate the person responsible for stealing our hard-earned funds. Now I really wanted to laugh. We hadn’t provided anything in way of compensation to the cause.