Page 119 of Vanish From Sight

Kerri looked troubled, she cast her eyes down then looked back at him.

“What is it?”

“The LLC buys and sells properties. It has several owners; your father is one of them.”

“What?” He felt his heart sink. He had suspected something was amiss with the property, but this only confirmed his suspicion.

She continued, “I know. Why would he be involved in that kind of real estate and what is his connection to the Ashford family?”

A conversation with Gabriel came back to Noah.

“What’s to stop me from raiding your casino right now and arresting you?”

He replied confidently. “Nothing. By all means, if you think that’sthe way to handle this, do so. But have a conversation with your father first and see what happened to those who tried in the past.”

“What are you going to do?” Kerri asked. She looked at him, her eyes searching his face, no doubt seeing Luke.

Noah paced for a moment or two, considering all options. “I don’t know.”

“You won’t take the property, will you?” she asked. “Who knows what he’s gotten himself tied up in?”

Noah hesitated, then sighed. “Those kids need a home of their own,” he said, his voice determined. “They can’t go back to Lena’s rental. I can’t stay at Gretchen’s forever. And I’ve all but used up what money I had for Alicia’s property.”

He took a deep breath.

“So, you’re taking it?”

“There’s an old saying that goes, ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’”

“But do you know who your enemy is?” she asked.

“That, I plan to find out.”

Kerri looked at him for a moment longer, then nodded. “Okay,” she said, her voice resigned. “But be careful, Noah. It’s not just you now you have to think about,” she said.

She nodded, then turned and walked back out.

Noah took out his phone and placed a call to Harland and Stafford.

“Suzanne Gilford, please.”

A second or two later she came on the line.

“Noah. Good to hear your voice. Have you considered the offer?”

“Yes. I’ll take it.”

“Very good. I will make the arrangements to have the keys ready for pickup here, tomorrow, how’s that sound?”

“That works. Thank you.”

He hung up and stood there for a few minutes longer beforereturning and joining the others. As he sat down, he glanced across at his father, seeing him through new eyes. Suspicion swirled in his mind as memories of his conversation with Gabriel Ironwood came back to him. Noah knew that he had to be careful, and he was determined to do what was best for his family, but to understand how entangled his father had become and what had changed in the county since he’d been away, it would require some risk.Lieswere the backbone of every criminal enterprise,secretsits currency, and now he was about to find out how deep the two went in High Peaks.