Page 52 of The Unknown Colton

“After that conversation this morning, I don’t think you should be alone.”

“Conversation?” Troy repeated. “What conversation? With Seller? What happened?”

Lakin sighed. “I don’t want to rehash all this. And Eli is on his way. You can both take off. Go get a beer. Something.”

It was obvious she didn’t want him or Parker around when she talked to the ABI lieutenant. Or maybe she didn’t want Troy around at all anymore. Maybe last night had been a goodbye. A last time…

The thought jabbed his heart with a sudden pain.

“You look like you could use a beer,” Parker said. “And I know I could, too. Let’s go.”

Troy hesitated. “You won’t leave on your own again?” he asked Lakin. “You’ll have Eli see you safely back to the cabin?”

She sighed but nodded.

“She said she would be careful,” Parker said, as if vouching for her. Or maybe he was trying to convince himself.

He repeated the same words just a short while later when they settled on stools at the bar.

“What did Seller say that rattled you so much?” Troy asked. It was clear that Parker and Lakin had both been rattled.

“He just kept talking about her being single and the damn serial killer.” Parker shuddered.

Troy grimaced. “I’m glad I mentioned him to Eli.”

“I texted Eli, too, to check out the guy,” Parker admitted.

“I thought he was a great customer for RTA,” Troy said.

“You know I love my sister more than I care about business,” Parker said.

Troy clasped the man’s shoulder. “I know.”

“What about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“She told me about the hotel, but it doesn’t sound like you’re doing it with her,” Parker said.

“I…”

“I know you got hurt on the oil rig the last time you were gone,” Parker said. “But that’s just another reason you shouldn’t go back.”

“Wow, everyone’s piling on today about that,” Troy said. “My sister, apparently my mother and now you.”

“You can understand why we all want you to stay in Shelby,” Parker said. “Especially now.”

Troy sighed. “With that serial killer and Jasper Whitlaw running around…”

“Jasper Whitlaw?” Parker asked. “Who’s that?”

Troy grimaced again. “I thought Lakin or Eli might have told you.”

“About this Whitlaw person?”

Troy nodded. “I guess I should have known Lakin wouldn’t tell you.”

“So Eli knows about him,” Parker said. “But why wouldn’t Lakin tell me?”