Falling Fast (Falling Fast #1) - Tina Wainscott Page 0,72

was screwing around with Hank West,” Pax stated so bluntly that it made Raleigh flinch.

“Doesn’t that give him a motive for murder?” Mia asked. “Or, at the least, make it a conflict of interest?”

“Neither of them, my daddy or my mama, is ever going to admit to it. She never has, even when I got in her face about it. ‘Sides, I think it ended when my daddy got suspicious, and that was a long time ago.” There was something in Pax’s expression, a shadow of betrayal, a shard of anger. As far as Raleigh knew, Pax had never confirmed that there had been an affair. In fact, he’d always denied the prospect even as he watched an undeniable chemistry between the two grown-ups out by the pool with a hardened gaze. “My daddy hated Hank and, by extension, Raleigh. Any West was a bad West. It didn’t help that we got into boatloads of trouble together.” Pax looked at Mia. “And, yep, it was usually my idea.”

Raleigh’s hand trembled as he reached out to shake Pax’s hand. “Thanks for the heads-up. Now, haul ass before you get into trouble.” That’s why he’d come in the back way. The sheriff’s deputies were probably on their way over now.

Pax backed toward the door. “I know you didn’t do it.”

Raleigh swallowed hard. “Thanks.”

Pax raced off the deck and disappeared from sight.

Mia’s arms came around him from behind. “Raleigh…I don’t even know what to say.”

He turned into her embrace. “I didn’t kill him.”

“I know.”

He stared at the door, where Cassidy and maybe Sheriff Sullivan would be standing before long. Eager to arrest him. An ex-con son murdering his ex-con good-for-nothing father—wrap it up neat and make it go away. Especially if it got rid of the guy the sheriff never did like hanging with his son.

Her grip tightened. “I’m scared.”

“It’ll be all right.” But his record wouldn’t help his character. Nor would the tumultuous relationship he’d had with his father, as Pax had said. There was more to that, too. More that he didn’t want to tell. Couldn’t tell. It would heap motive onto that pile.

Mia’s phone rang. “My parents.” She took the phone out of her purse and answered. “Hi…yes, he’s here…uh, yeah, sure.” She focused on him. “My parents want to come over. Father wants to apologize.”

Raleigh heard her words, but all he registered was the car doors slamming outside. The footsteps coming up the steps, boots pounding across the porch. Then someone knocking on the door. He quickly wrote down two phone numbers on one of the receipts on the kitchen island, then turned toward the door.

It was the same as when he’d walked into the police station seven years ago to turn himself in, feeling as though each foot weighed forty pounds.

Sheriff Sullivan, an I’m-just-doing-my-job expression on his face. A face nothing like Pax’s lean, angular face with its ability for empathy. Cassidy and another deputy remained out by the squad cars with flashing lights. “You’re under arrest for the murder of Hank West. You have the right to remain silent.”

“No!” Mia ran over. “You don’t have any evidence! This is ridiculous!”

Raleigh pressed the paper into her hand as the sheriff continued to read his Miranda rights. “Call Peter at the garage and Rose, let them know what’s going on. I don’t want her hearing about this through the grapevine. Or from the cops. And call Grace Parnell like someone suggested.” He wouldn’t say Pax’s name and implicate him in any way.

Mia kissed Raleigh, fear written on her face and in the way she gripped his arm. Then he turned and offered his wrists.

The sheriff nodded toward his squad car. “You can walk out.”

“He might run,” Cassidy said, clearly annoyed that his boss was allowing Raleigh that bit of dignity.

“He ain’t running. He just lawyered up.” Sullivan turned to him. “Right?”

“Right.”

Raleigh caught one last glimpse of Mia, who looked as though she were going to race over. She seemed to become aware of the phone in her hand, the buzzing of someone trying to get her attention. Slowly, she lifted it to her ear. If her parents wanted to apologize, they were sure going to change their minds now. They would probably tell Mia to get out of the tangled mess of his life. And rightfully so.

—

It was all Mia could do to stop herself from running after the cruiser. Or jumping into her own car and following. Her mind frantically flew through her options, shoving warnings at her