27. Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

RILEY

M y cheeks ached from the smile I kept plastered on my face. The sun was beating off the pavement and the Harvest Festival parade was well underway. I waved at people from Anderson and Sons Construction's float as I stood next to Momma A, as Agnes insisted I call her. The float was decorated in bright fall foliage with leaves in red, orange, and gold. Two big scarecrows sat on top of the cab of the truck dressed similarly to Agnes and Forrest. A large wooden turkey sat in the bed of the truck behind us, wearing a top hat that had taken me forever to paint.

I scanned the crowd intently as the truck slowly crawled along the parade route. At the football game last night, I swore I saw Justin's dad, Raymond, in the crowd but with every face I scanned, I was starting to think I must have imagined it.

Conrad, my FBI contact, had texted me this morning as I was getting ready for the parade. The file of information I had sent him along with Raymond Hargrove's information was apparently the smoking gun they had been looking for. Conrad and his team had been investigating three of the eight murders as having a possible link and the file Alyssa compiled had blown the case wide open. Conrad was driving down from Louisville this morning and was going to grab a hotel in Somerset and come over tomorrow morning to interview me. Between the football game, the parade, and the festival this afternoon, I was running out of time to tell the guys, especially if Conrad was coming in the morning.

Not that they didn't already know that something was up. I saw the way that they looked at me this morning but they were being sweet and giving me space to come to them. If they only knew what was on my mind. I didn't deserve them. They were so sweet and understanding and I was about to blow up their world. At least Justin's world for sure but by extension, Colton's as well. Would they be as understanding when I finally told them what was going on? That Raymond was a serial killer and I was the one that figured it out and was going to get him arrested. There was no love lost between Justin and his dad I knew but what happened when Conrad investigated and found out that the first victim his dad ever killed was his mom? I had no hard proof of that but I knew how serial killers thought. Justin's world was about to come crashing down around him and it was all my fault.

I was jarred out of my pity party when the truck made a left turn at the end of Main Street, signaling the end of the parade.

"All good up there?" Justin called up to Momma A, Forrest, and I. Colton and Justin were in the cab of the truck.

"All good." Momma A called back. I held onto the railing as the truck and float pulled into the construction company's parking lot. When it rolled to a stop, the guys exited the truck. I took Forrest's hand as he helped me from the top of the float onto the lower platform. Colton was waiting on the ground and instead of offering me his hand, he placed both hands around my waist and lifted me from the truck bed, letting me slide down to the ground against him .

He dipped me back into a playful kiss as I giggled. "Did you have fun?" He murmured against my lips.

"I did." And I really had. But I couldn't help thinking this was going to be a once in a lifetime experience after they figured out what I did.

"Good," Justin said, coming up next to us and sliding an arm around my waist. "Because the fun is about to start."

"You young ones go on," Momma A said with a wide smile on her face. "Have some fun and we'll clean up here."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Of course, sweet girl. Go on now." She shooed us away with a wave of her hands.

Colton clasped my hand with his. "You heard her, let's go have some fun."

Justin took my other hand and we walked back towards Main Street. The large park at the other end of the street had been transformed into a small carnival. Delicious smells wafted from the food tents while the colorful lights and loud music from the carnival rides beckoned us in.

We stopped by a food tent selling corn on a stick. It reminded me of the fairs in Minnesota so we picked up a couple of ears as we walked around. Justin and Colton each bought a hot dog and I got a corn dog. There was nothing quite like fried food at a fair.

"Well, should we go for the fried cheesecake dipped in chocolate or the fried oreos?" Justin asked, leaning into Colton as he studied the menu.

"Why not both?" Colton grinned, a wicked glint in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes. "You're incorrigible," I scolded playfully.

"You know I love when you talk dirty to me," Colton said, drawing me closer. I shook my head at him but leaned into him, my shoulder bushing Justin's as Colton wrapped his arms around both of us. We drew a few looks from the crowd but I did my best to ignore them.

Something caught my attention out of the corner of my eyes. A dark figure moved by the corner of a food tent a few tents down from us. There was a baseball cap pulled low over his head but Raymond Hargrove was staring at us, a scowl on his face. I tried not to stiffen as I sucked in a quick breath. I had been right, he was here. But why? Alyssa's last report had him in Louisiana. What was he doing here?

Justin stepped up to order and I took the opportunity to pull out my phone as he and Colton debated on adding chocolate covered strawberries on a stick to the order.

He's here. In Oakville , I texted Conrad.

Conrad didn't have to ask who I was talking about before he messaged back. On my way. Don't approach him. Tracking your phone.

I didn't want to let Raymond get away but I also didn't want him anywhere near Justin or Colton. Whatever reason he had for being here couldn't be a good one. My muscles felt tight and I took a few deep breaths before plastering on a smile as Colton and Justin turned around, sweet treats in their hands.

"Did you buy out the stand?" I asked, my laugh felt stilted but I meant it. Between the two of them, they had one of every dessert the food tent offered.

"Why choose, right?" Justin grinned.

"He's rubbing off on you." I rolled my eyes.

"That's not all he does," Justin leaned down to whisper in my ear.

I shoved him away but I laughed. I glanced around surreptitiously as we found a table to sit down. I didn't see Raymond anywhere but now that I knew he was here it was like I couldn't relax.

"The games or rides next?" Colton asked, his words garbled around a bite of the fried oreo.

"Definitely the games," I said, rubbing my stomach. "I don't think I could handle any rides right now."

"Fair," Justin agreed. "Besides, we have to see who can win the biggest stuffed animal."

"Game on!" Colton said. Games were a good idea. It would get us away from the food and around more people. And it would distract the guys so maybe Conrad could find Raymond before anyone realized what was happening.

Throwing our trash away, we walked over to where the games and rides were set up. There were lots of your standard carnival games like ring toss, balloon darts, and various shooting games. The guys quickly got sucked into competition. I was pretty decent at the games having grown up going to the fair every summer but I bided my time, waiting for a game I was really good at. When we got to the first shooting game, I made my move.

"I want to play too." I stepped up next to the guys.

Colton raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Of course, baby girl." He paid the attendant for three players.

"Shall we make it interesting?" I tried to keep the smirk off my face but Justin's eyes narrowed.

"Winner gets one favor from the other two?" Colton suggested.

"That works for me." I said.

Justin nodded. I let Colton go first to "show me how it was done." Then Justin went. Both men did well. These games weren't really designed for anyone to win but Colton knocked down four out of the seven targets and Justin got five. Then it was my turn. I had been paying attention to which targets fell easier and which ones were ‘stickier'. Pulling the trigger in quick succession, I fired seven shots, knocking out six of the seven targets. The seventh leaned back dangerously but ultimately righted itself.

Both guys stared at me. Justin had a knowing look in his eyes and he laughed while Colton just looked shocked. "Well done, baby girl," he recovered quickly. "I guess we owe you a favor."

I smiled at him. "I'll collect." And maybe I would get a chance to. I glanced around but didn't see any sign of Raymond. Hopefully he disappeared.

We headed to the next game and I hung back to check my phone as the guys stepped up, laughing and shoving each other playfully. I smiled and shook my head before pulling out my phone and checking it. Conrad hadn't texted again so I slid it back into my pocket.

Cold metal pressed against my back, instantly sending chills up my spine.

"So you're the whore my son found."