Page 37 of Vanish From Sight

He hit dial. It rang a couple of times then she picked up.

“Alicia Michaels, Fish and Game.”

“Hey.”

“Noah? Huh. I almost didn’t answer. Five months without a peep.”

“How you doing?” Noah went into the hallway and opened a towel closet and fished around inside.

“Busy. You?”

“Always. Hey, um, that cabin. Did you get it rebuilt?”

“Why?”

“Just curious.”

The line went quiet.

“Alicia?”

“You’re back, aren’t you?”

“Did you do anything or not?”

“Don’t dodge the question.”

“Yes. I’m back.”

He heard her scoff. “No. It’s not. I mean, it won’t be for a while. You know how these things go with insurance companies. Trying to get them to pay out is like squeezing blood from a stone.” She paused for a second. “Where you staying?”

“Gretchen’s for now.”

“I’m sure there are other properties out there.”

“Did you have a cash-out option?”

“I think so.”

“Then I have a proposition for you. I will buy the land from you.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I like the view.”

“And the neighbor?”

“I would be living beside him, not with him.”

She chuckled. “Do you have the money?”

He didn’t reply with the answer she wanted. “Do we have a deal?”

“I’ll think about it. I need to talk to the insurance company.”

“So, I heard you’re seeing someone.”

“Who told you that?”