“I’m connecting the dots, Kayl, and that’s the pattern that’s emerging. Tell me I’m nuts.”
“Let me ask you this: Exactly how involved are you with Noah?”
Hailey sighed.
Her sister chuckled. “That bad, huh? Are you falling for him?”
Too late. I’ve already fallen. “I really like him, Kaylee. He’s funny and sweet and smart and hot as sin. Could my judgment be out of whack because of my personal feelings? Hell yes. Except when I look at the facts, they add up to a boatload of shenanigans.” Hailey could practicallyhearher sister’s gears grinding on the other end. “Tell me my suspicions are off base and that I’m making this scenario up. Tell me I’m seeing something that isn’t there.”
“I can’t because if everything you’re telling me is true—and I have no reason to believe otherwise—then it adds up for me too. But what about the dead rodents? They can’t be explained away.”
“I have a theory about them too, and it all ties together, but I have some more checking to do. I need to find an expert who can tell the difference between deer mice and store-raised mice.”
“Vince might be able to help you. He works for the CDC, and his specialty is hantaviruses.”
“Meaning …?”
“Hantavirus is spread by rodents, mainly deer mice. You’re in the mountains, and I suspect those are the kinds of mice that would invade buildings.”
“Yes! These weren’t deer mice, I’m sure of it! If I can get my hands on the evidence, do you think he could tell me what kind of mice they are?”
“I don’t know, but I bet he could tell you whether or not they’re an indigenous species for that area.”
“I could kiss you right now—and him!”
Kaylee chuckled. “I like the sound of this Noah guy. I also like that despite all the crap you’ve just gone through, you sound happier than you have in a long time. Is that because of him or because you’re a free-wheeling, unemployed woman?”
“Probably a bit of both.”
“We both have someones we need to meet.”
“Maybe. Mine’s pretty new.”
“Yes, but you sound mighty smitten, baby sister. I don’t remember ever hearing you gush before.”
How could Haileynotbe smitten when the guy suggested ideas like setting up a mini bookstore in the coffee shop? Hegother. He got her dream. And he wanted to help. This was a man who commanded the respect of an entire town. He was Fall River royalty, and he wantedher, little nothing Hailey Bailey. The realization made bubbles of pure joy effervesce and pop inside her, and she wasn’t too proud to let her fangirl freak flag fly.
Chapter 30
Mouse Hunt
Noah yanked a handthrough his hair and paced his office while Chance watched him march with worried brown eyes. Noah didn’t need the phone conversation he was having right now. It was more shit being shoveled into the pit where he currently found himself treading as he struggled to keep himself from going under and gagging.
“Don’t be mad at your mother because I found out,” his father’s stern voice boomed.
“I’mnotmad at Mom. How could I be? She’s … Mom.”She believed in me, and I blew it. I’m mad at myself.
Hugh Hunnicutt surprised him when he chuckled. “I know what you mean.” And just like that, the humor evaporated. “For the record, Noah, I’ve known about her ‘little business investment’ this whole time, and not because she told me. When you live with someone as long as we have, you justknow. I chose to stay out of it because I wanted to see how far youran with it.”
“And now that it’s in the crapper, you’re stepping in to tell me how badly I fucked up?”
“No, I’mstepping into find out what you’re doing about getting your bar opened so you can feed yourself and pay your mother back. In that order. Have you at least gotten the place cleaned up?”
Noah’s defenses lined themselves up in a barricade. “Of course it’s been cleaned up, and I haven’t caught anything in the traps since. I’d like to point out that it was never a problem before. Even the exterminator was scratching his head over how so many suddenly appeared because he couldn’t find evidence of how or where they got in. Not that any of it matters because no one will want to come here anyway,” he added in a grumble.
“Feeling sorry for yourself won’t get you squat, son.”
Well, fuck. Was he about to get the “Be a Man” speech again?
