23. Raven

23

RAVEN

W hen I wake up the next morning, it’s time to tell my mother and father that I’m moving back to my own place.

I’m stunned when I find the police at our house, taking down the barriers to my room.

“What’s going on?” I ask my father.

“The investigation is being closed. The police have gotten all the evidence they can, and it’s not enough to continue,” Dad says. “So you can have your room back, Raven.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want it back.”

“I understand.”

I fold my arms. “How can it no longer be a crime scene? A man was murdered here.” I swallow down a fresh wave of nausea. “Or…murdered elsewhere and placed here.”

Dad takes a deep breath and sighs it out. “As I’ve told you, the police have determined that none of us are suspects, and because there’s no other evidence that they found in this room—fingerprints for anyone else—the investigation is currently closed.”

I drop my jaw. “But someone killed him,” I say. “How can they close the investigation?”

“Raven, this is a good thing for us. Trust me on that.”

“But an innocent man is dead—” I stop abruptly.

He says nothing.

Oh my God.

“You don’t think he was innocent, do you? You think Brick was involved in something…”

Dad looks down the hall. “I have no proof of anything, Raven. I don’t plan to look for proof. But I can only repeat what I told you. The attorneys at his firm were looking for an excuse to get rid of him.”

“They didn’t have to have him killed.”

“I don’t for a moment think that his partners are behind this. But whoever did this to Latham did his firm a favor.”

I gasp. “Daddy, I can’t believe those words are coming out of your mouth. A man is dead. I thought he was a good man, and maybe I was wrong. But he didn’t deserve to be killed. He didn’t deserve to have his throat cut.”

Dad frowns, scratches the side of his head. “You’re right. He probably didn’t.”

“There’s no probably about it. What happened to him was horrific.”

Dad says nothing.

He’s a powerful man in Texas. That much is sure. But he couldn’t keep Falcon out of prison. He doesn’t have the kind of power that Vinnie’s grandfather has.

“I’m not moving back into my room, Daddy.”

“I don’t blame you. Go ahead and stay in the guestroom. We’ll make that your room. We’ll turn this one into… I don’t know. More storage space or something.”

“No. You don’t understand. I’m not moving back into my room because I’m moving back to my place.”

Dad widens his eyes. “Raven, you’re not ready.”

“Believe me, I’m more than ready. I’ve got a state-of-the-art security system and a bodyguard vetted by Falcon and Leif. You can meet him if you want. He’s waiting in the SUV.”

I expect my father to pounce on that, but he doesn’t.

Just as I suspected. He already knows about Jared.

“Does this bodyguard know how to take care of you if you have a medical emergency?”

I smirk. “You and Mom don’t know how to take care of me if I have a medical emergency. Neither does anyone on your staff.” I wrinkle my forehead. “Come to think of it, isn’t it weird that no one was home Friday night when Brick was killed? None of your staff?”

“It was a Friday night, Raven. They always have Friday nights off. Your mother explained all that to the authorities.”

I don’t press it further.

Brick is gone, and nothing I say can bring him back. I suppose I should be happy that the police have ceased their investigation of our family. Still, someone killed Brick, and if the police have dropped the case, I’ll never know why.

Vinnie might be able to find out, but he’s out of town for a month and doesn’t want me to contact him.

I sigh. I know it’s for my own safety.

I need to get on with my life. I’m moving back to my home, and I’m going to work doggedly at this foundation project. That and I’m going to concentrate on living my life to the fullest. Of course, living to the fullest would mean living with the man I love, but since that’s not possible, I’m going to smell every flower I come across. Watch every sunset. And work hard at my foundation, so I can help other people like me—people who may not have my financial resources—to combat their illness.

I force myself to walk into my bedroom so I can pack up my things. I try not to look at the bed. The bloody sheets are long gone, stuffed in an evidence bag somewhere, along with the comforter and everything else that was on my bed.

It’s bare now, only the mattress, with the bloodstain that soaked through.

I’m surprised they didn’t take that into evidence, but I suppose they had enough of Brick’s blood.

I avoid looking at the mattress as I get everything packed up into a couple of suitcases.

Jared is waiting in his SUV.

What a horrible job. Sitting around in a car. I should have invited him inside.

But he’s getting paid through the roof for his services, so I suppose I shouldn’t worry too much about him.

I’m ready to go when I hear a buzzing sound from my purse.

I open it up, and then I jerk and gasp.

The buzzing sound isn’t coming from my regular phone, but from the burner phone that the Uber driver gave me. The same one I called Vinnie on…

I take a look at the text message.

Stay away from Gallo.

What?

Vinnie’s out of town for the next month. What do they think I’m going to do? I don’t even know where he jetted off to. Probably for the best. If I knew, I might try to go after him, text or no text. I assume they’re talking about Vinnie. They can’t be talking about Savannah, can they? Or Vinnie’s father?

He’s in prison, for goodness’ sake.

I’m not sure who to ask about this. The person I would normally ask is Vinnie, but he’s out of the country and basically told me not to contact him. I could ask Jared, but he’s my bodyguard, not my private investigator.

I suppose Falcon is the best choice. I dial his number.

“Raven, everything okay?”

“Yeah. But I need to talk to you. Can I come over?”

He pauses a moment. “I’m actually in Austin.”

“In Austin? What for?”

“Savannah’s mother had a heart attack. She’s in surgery right now having a triple bypass.”

I throw my hand over my mouth. “Oh my God. Are you two all right? We’ve got to tell Vinnie. He’s out of town.”

“Actually, Ray, Vinnie’s right here.”

I nearly drop my phone. “So he didn’t get on that plane.”

“I didn’t know he was supposed to be on a plane. But no, he’s here. Ray, you’ve got to?—”

“Don’t start telling me to stay away from him right now. He needs me. I’m on my way. Which hospital?”

“Ray…”

“You can tell me, or I can have Jared drive me to every hospital in Austin, Falcon. Telling me will make it easier on both of us.”

He sighs. “Austin General.”

“See you soon.” I end the call, grab all my suitcases, and walk out the door.

Jared helps me load them up. “You ready to go home, Raven?”

“No, Jared. We’re going to Austin. Austin General Hospital. And step on it.”