Page 126 of Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage 1)

Jack hung his head. There. He’d told her everything. And with the words, the deep ache of loss and failure racked through his body.

“I should have told you, but I didn’t know how.” And he struggled to live with himself—all his efforts seemed like they were for nothing.

Aunt Nadine composed herself. “You can’t carry that burden. You did your best. Sarah made the choice to leave with her no-good boyfriend. Her subsequent disappearance isn’t on you. It never was. I’ve come to terms with her death, and you need to do the same.”

She remained silent a few breaths, then said, “Now that we’re confessing, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you too. You worked hard to be different from your dad, but you’re just like him, Jack. You’re a hero.”

What? Jack stared at his aunt. Was she losing a grip on reality again?

A nurse stepped into the room. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

He nodded but hated the interruption. The nurse set papers to be signed on the small table.

Nathan rushed into the room. “Am I late?”

Jack signed the discharge papers. “I don’t know. That depends on why you’re here.”

“Your aunt asked me to pick you guys up.”

“Why? I can drive.” Then Jack remembered his obliterated vehicle and his aunt’s injured wrist. Neither of them was driving today.

Jack stood in the conference room staring at the crime board. He needed to make quite a few corrections. Someone had tried to tie everything together.

He spotted another clue, a connection he hadn’t known about. In high school, Neva Bolz had been best friends with Jocelyn Porcella, the daughter of Princess Leia/Luke Skywalker, or Mabel and Dirk Porcella.

This association raised questions. Were the memorabilia collectors showing the world their interest in more contemporary pop culture while secretly trafficking artifacts?

Someone had written that question on the crime board. Jack guessed Nathan.

Nathan had dropped Aunt Nadine off at home. She was worried that Freckles’s lost boy might stop by the house, and she needed to be there for him. But her poster only included her cell number, not the house address. Reuniting a dog and his boy was a worthy cause for someone as conscientious and compassionate as his aunt.

He’d come back to be here for her and never could have imagined what had transpired in the last few days. Somehow, he’d have to do better—for her sake. But today, Jack needed to be at the county offices to work. He needed to see this through.

He could have stayed home to listen to what Aunt Nadine wanted to tell him about his father, but he couldn’t take it right now, because she wasn’t making any sense. Had she even understood what he’d told her about Sarah?

Nathan shoved through the door to join him in the conference room, carrying a drink holder with extra creamers and cups of coffee—the good stuff from the café down the street. “How are you feeling?”

“How am I feeling?” Jack repeated the question because he didn’t know how to answer it. He slumped at the table. “I need coffee.”

“Here you go.” Nathan set the drink holder down.

Jack grabbed a cup and dumped in the creamer. “Thanks, man.”

Nathan fixed his own coffee, then stared at the board. “You didn’t answer my question. How are you feeling?”

“Concerned about Terra.”

“Yeah, I get that. She can take care of herself, but she’s more than a special agent. She’s special to you, isn’t she?”

Again, Jack wasn’t sure how to answer.

Nathan chuckled. “It’s okay. She cares about you too. You should have seen her last night. Man, she was ripped up.”

“I figured she would be here by now, that’s all. She didn’t return my call, but I texted to invite her to join us. She responded that she had a few things to do but would try to stop by.” She was definitely avoiding him, and what did he expect, given their kiss and the way she’d walked out on him?

He’d deserved that and needed to accept her decision and move on. Leave her alone.

“Are you sure you shouldn’t stay home and rest today?” Nathan asked. “I can question whoever you think needs questioning. Just bring me up to speed.”