Page 146 of The Mountain Echoes

Maverick smirks, shaking his head. “She’s smarter than she lets on.”

“She made it a federal case the moment she wiredpayment to Wes through an offshore account in the Caribbean,” Special Agent Belushi says, picking up a brownie and examining it before taking a bite. “We traced it easily. She didn’t even try to cover her tracks.”

“That’s why the feds are involved.” The sheriff jerks his chin toward the fed. “And good thing, too, ‘cause they’re helping expedite a whole lot of the computer and data stuff that would take us weeks.”

Maverick’s arm comes around me. I lean into him.

I have so many emotions playing inside of me.

Hudson was probably trying to save the ranch. Was this his way of making amends for a mistake he made when we were kids?

Maverick was right when he said I never loved Hudson. Now that I know what real love feels like, what Hudson and I had was young, tender, and fragile. It broke easily. Celine probably didn’t even have to put in much of an effort.

“What happens to Celine?” I ask.

“We’ve got enough to charge her with conspiracy, attempted murder, and destruction of property,” Agent Belushi answers. “She’s going to be under federal remand.”

“So…she’s been arrested?”

The sheriff purses his lips and then draws in a long breath. “Aspen PD picked her up at the airport. She had a one-way ticket to Havana.”

She was running away. The thought seems remarkably alien. This is my little sister, not some international criminal.

“Tate was with her. He thought they were going on vacation.” The sheriff doesn’t bother to hide his amusement at that.

“To a non-extradition country?” Maverick snorts. “How dumb is Tate?”

“From all the evidence we have,very,” Agent Belushi deadpans.

Anger and despair roil inside of me. Was all this worth it just for some money? What the hell had I lost Earl for?

I don’t know how to feel.

“Is there anything else?”

They shake their heads. “Just that…there will be a trial, and you’ll probably have to be witnesses,” the FBI agent informs me.

I push back my chair. My hands shake, but I stand. “I need to plan Earl’s funeral.”

Maverick rises with me, his presence filling me with warmth when I’m feeling very cold.

The sheriff and Agent Belushi stand up as well.

Sheriff Hugh tips his hat, grief softening his usually stern face. “Earl was a good man.”

“One of the best,” I whisper.

They leave. The screen door creaks and shuts. Maverick stays behind, watching me.

“Is any of this worth it? Worth Earl’s life?” I demand, voice barely audible.

Maverick grabs my hands. “Earl definitely thought so.”

I nod, tears silently slipping downmy cheeks.

“I can’t believe the shit Celine pulled. Going to Havana? Seriously? What happened to her?”

Maverick cups my face with both hands. “I’m no psychologist, but I’d say with some certainty that Celine is a narcissistic sociopath. I don’t know if somethinghappenedto her per se, or if she was just born with some bad circuitry.”