think this has anything to do with Colin Brooks and Morgan Roche, do you? Joseph Ramsey was looking into the possibility of them embezzling money from the resort.”
Sean sighed. “I thought of that the moment I found out who it was. After our talk, it’s more than crossed my mind. I’m having my guys look into where both Colin and Morgan were today.”
Cade relaxed back. “Is Blue okay?” he asked after he heard his dog bark again.
Sean chuckled. “Yeah, he’s got a squirrel trapped in the tree. I was just about to get him and take him back to my place.”
“Thanks. You can bring him here in the morning. Raven claims she’s okay with him visiting the lobby and, to be honest, I think she’d like seeing him after today.”
“How is she?” Sean asked.
“She’s sleeping. Dropped off quickly.” He glanced towards the darkened bedroom. “Sean, if it wasn’t Colin or Morgan…”
“We’ll find out who it was,” Sean assured him. “Get some sleep. We’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thanks,” Cade said and hung up.
He removed his shoes and jacket. Then he grabbed an extra blanket, sat on the sofa, and turned the television on, making sure to mute the set. He watched the replays from a college football game.
He woke when he heard Raven scream. His body instantly went on full alert. He jumped up from the sofa and tripped when his legs got tangled in the blanket.
It took him longer to get to her than he liked. Seeing her asleep and fidgeting in the bed, he relaxed slightly. By the time he gently shook her awake from the nightmare, he’d settled his racing heart.
“Raven?” He pulled her up into his arms. “Shh,” he said, stroking her now dry hair. “I’m here. You’re safe.”
“Blood and fire,” she mumbled. “So much of it.”
“I’ve got you,” he murmured against her hair as he held onto her. He felt the moment she relaxed back into sleep.
Leaning his head back, he tried to get comfortable as he followed her into sleep.
The next time he woke, it was to the feeling of Raven tensing in his arms. He smiled slightly when she tried to pull away slowly, so as to not wake him up.
“Too late,” he said, opening his eyes. “I’m awake.” He looked down at her.
Her crystal eyes looked up at him, and he could tell she had a million questions.
Chuckling, he answered the unspoken first one.
“I only came in her a few hours ago when you were having a nightmare.” He felt her instantly relax.
“I wasn’t concerned,” she said with a slight nod. “I was just trying to determine if last night really happened. But since you’re here…” She sighed.
“Yeah,” he sighed, “you really did find your murdered CPA’s body in an elevator,” he said before really thinking it through.
The moment her body tensed and her eyes grew wide, he groaned.
“Shit, that wasn’t how I was going to tell you.” He took her shoulders and sat up a little. “I’m not really fully awake. It usually takes a long shower or two cups of coffee.”
“Murdered? Joe was murdered?” She wrapped her arms around herself as she leaned against the headboard. “Why? How?”
“I don’t know the details yet; we’re supposed to meet my uncle in the lobby at nine.” He glanced down at his phone. “We have some time, if you want to get ready. We can grab something to eat while we wait.”
A look crossed her face, and he could tell she was going to turn the offer of food down.
“You skipped dinner last night and something tells me you missed lunch yesterday as well,” he jumped in.
Her shoulders sagged, and then she nodded. “I’ll get dressed.” She rolled out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom.
Heading back into the other room, he realized the television was still on and paused when a picture of Joseph Ramsey flashed on the screen.
After finding the remote, he turned on the sound to hear the last part of the story from the local Redding news station. He switched it off quickly when they offered no more updates. Raven wasn’t going to like the negative publicity of someone being murdered at her resort before she could reopen the doors.
It broke his heart a little seeing her step out with red eyes. She’d tried to cover her distress with makeup, but he could see right through it.
She’d dressed in a pair of dark dress pants, a dark grey button-up blouse, and matching low-heeled boots. She had slicked her hair