Page 41

CHAPTER 41

“ W hat are you doing here, Jason?” Olive nestled back on the couch and pulled a knee to her chest.

“It’s like I told you earlier.” Jason stretched his muscular arm across the back of the couch, his fingers close enough to brush her shoulder. “This case concerns me. But the thought of you being here in Oasis, and me not seizing the opportunity to see you . . . seemed like a no-brainer. But I am sorry to show up unannounced. I’m not trying to cramp your style or distract you.”

He was definitely going to be a distraction. But a good kind, Olive supposed as she tore her gaze away from his defined bicep and the tattoo stretched across it.

One day, she’d ask him if she could see that tattoo. She’d ask why he’d gotten it. What it meant.

But that day wasn’t today. Today was the day she maintained her distance from the man.

“Did you drive or fly?” The question sounded unimportant, but she needed the filler as she continued to sort her thoughts.

“Drive? I’m not that crazy. I flew in and picked up a rental car.”

“A Range Rover? With a first aid kit?”

He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “You can pay extra to get one.”

“And you just happened to find me at my old house?” She still couldn’t quite figure that one out.

“I wasn’t sure where you’d be. I drove into town about twenty minutes before I found you, and your old home was the first place I thought to come. When I pulled up, a neighbor mentioned a woman who’d just walked around to the back of the house. I stepped inside, heard the fight, and sprang into action.”

Her throat clenched at the thought of that confrontation. She was so grateful the fight hadn’t been any worse. Things could have ended so much differently.

She swallowed hard, determined to keep her thoughts focused. “I wonder if the neighbor saw my attacker leave.”

“Right after I talked to him, he had to go inside to check on some greens he was cooking. I don’t think he came back out, so it’s doubtful.”

“When you got there, did you by chance see a motorcycle anywhere nearby?” The questions kept coming.

Jason’s eyes narrowed. “A motorcycle? No, I can’t say I did.”

Olive nodded, knowing he was waiting for an explanation.

Then again, she had a lot to update him on.

She blew out a breath. “Listen, how about we order some sandwiches? I’m suddenly very hungry. As we eat, I’ll fill you in on everything.”

And she did mean everything.

Olive took the last bite of her Italian grinder and carefully chewed, her aching jaw slowing her movements. The sub had been surprisingly delicious with its mix of oil and vinegar dressing, along with some herbs slathered on the cured meats, provolone cheese, and vegetables.

She’d timed out her meal perfectly because she’d also just finished telling Jason her update.

Jason leaned back on the couch, his eyebrows raised. He’d finished his Philly cheesesteak at least ten minutes ago. “Wow. That’s a lot.”

“It is a lot. Nova and I have been busy, although progress has been slow. This is one crime that’s hard to prove.”

“I know.” Jason blew out a breath. “That’s why I wanted to hire you. If anyone could find the truth, it would be you.”

Warmth spread through her chest. “I appreciate the confidence.”

“You earned it.” He paused and shook his head. “What makes this case even more complicated is the fact that it’s not a crime to lie. You can’t get the local police involved because they won’t be able to do anything.”

“But we can get Rebecca and Matt on the wire fraud if this is true.” Olive paused. “What concerns me is if Rebecca and Matt have already spent all this money that’s been donated. If they’ve spent it, then it’s going to be really hard for them to pay it back to the good-hearted people who donated.”

“They can liquidate their belongings, but it would still be difficult.” Jason frowned and shifted. “So what’s next?”

“I need to follow up with Nova and Tevin on a couple of things. I’m also very curious about Matt and the fact he used to ride a motorcycle.”

“You really think he could be the one taking pictures? Does that really make any sense?”

Olive frowned. She had issues with the theory also, especially since Motorcycle Man had shot at them. “It’s hard to say. But if Matt is in on this scheme, then maybe he’s paranoid we’ll find something and ruin everything he and his wife have set up.”

“And if he’s not?”

“And if he’s not in on this, then maybe he’s looking for evidence that Rebecca has been lying to him—or having an affair.” Olive shrugged. “It’s an angle worth pursuing at least.”

“I agree it’s worth pursuing. Do you think he’s the one who attacked you tonight?”

She didn’t have to think about it. “No. This man’s build was different. It wasn’t Matt.”

Jason frowned and ran a hand over his face. “I just never thought this case would take a dangerous turn.”

“I didn’t either. It seemed pretty cut and dried when you asked me to look into this. But there’s clearly more going on here than we ever assumed.”

“Clearly,” Jason said.

As much as Olive would love just to have some time alone with Jason, that wasn’t a possibility right now. There were too many other things going on. If this fundraiser took place on Saturday, there was a good chance a huge chunk of money would be going to Rebecca and Matt.

Instead, she grabbed her phone. “I’m going to call Nova and see if she can join us now. Maybe she has some updates. And I need to call Tevin too. I want him to look into my old house and see if anyone has lived there since my family moved out.”

Jason gave her a questioning look.

Olive shrugged. “I know the request might sound crazy, but the inside of the place looks just like my family left it. Is that normal?”

He shrugged this time. “It’s hard to say, but . . . maybe. Some people don’t care about decorating or style, so new owners may not have touched anything.”

Olive considered his words.

“You could be right,” she finally said. “But my gut tells me there’s something else going on here, and I’m dying to know what.”