Page 77 of Smokescreen

Her dad chuckled and waved his finger. “I always knew you were a smart one, Olive Louise. You should always think for yourself. But I still stand behind my words. Not all lies are bad.”

Her dad sounded like he honestly believed that. Did he do so to make himself feel better?

“Maybe they can be bad but still necessary. Are the two exclusive?”

He snapped his fingers. “That’s an excellent way of wording it.”

Olive still wasn’t sure she believed the words she’d spoken. But she supposed the concept made sense at least.

She took another bite of her pancake, letting the gooey syrup cover her tastebuds.

Speaking of smokescreens . . . was this conversation a smokescreen on her dad’s account? Had he commented on that politician on screen so Olive wouldn’t ask any more questions about what she’d overheard last night?

It seemed like a good possibility.

CHAPTER 33

TODAY

Olive, Reid, Trick, and Tevin left after breakfast the next morning to look for the body Tevin had spotted with his drone.

Did it look suspicious that the four of them were going somewhere together? Probably.

But they had no choice right now. They needed to keep this part of the investigation under wraps until they figured out some answers.

“Turn here,” Tevin said as he stared at his computer screen.

Reid did as he was told.

They continued to drive deeper into the wilderness on Reid’s property.

It was really so beautiful and pure.

Too bad so many bad things were happening here, Olive mused.

Reid pulled to a stop on the side of the service road. “We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot. There are no roads leading to the stream—I didn’t want to make it any easier for hunters and fishermen to use my property. Everyone, gear up.”

He parked and then they pulled some backpacks from the back.

From all appearances, it would only be a two-mile hike. But they needed to be prepared for anything.

Olive heaved her backpack onto her shoulders. She’d packed it carefully, complete with water, beef jerky, and nuts. She’d also brought a flashlight and blanket, just in case.

Her gun was tucked into a holster at her waist.

After what happened to Tevin yesterday, they had to be careful. Very careful.

Reid led the way, Tevin behind him calling out directions. Olive came next, and Trick brought up the rear.

As they walked, they all kept their eyes wide open for trouble.

“How long ago did Andy disappear?” Tevin asked.

“It’s been almost three weeks now,” Reid said. “Part of me hoped he’d just left. I didn’t want to see any harm come to him.”

Olive remembered the gun she’d seen Edgar and Jon placing in Skip Carson’s desk.

Had they been trying to set Skip up? The man was married to Edgar’s sister—although there could be bad blood between them. It was an angle they hadn’t explored yet.