The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

“I’m going to get some answers.”

“I hope they’re the ones you want to hear.”

It had started snowing by the time Cam pulled into Blue’s driveway. The place looked deserted, dead leaves piled up near the edges of the concrete steps leading to front door, and a bundle of flyers to the left. Cam strode up the steps and grabbed the advertisements before ringing the doorbell. He heard the echo inside and waited. And waited some more.

He rang it again and added a few hits with his fist, and still no answer. Maybe she was at the studio? Or Poppy’s shop? Or maybe he was crazy and should let things be. Did he really want another rejection? He turned on his heel and had taken exactly one step down when the door flew open and a gruff voice greeted him.

“This better be good.” Blue’s brother glared down at him. The guy looked like he’d just crawled out of bed, and though dressed in jeans, he was shirtless with no socks or shoes.

“I’m looking for your sister.”

“She’s not here.”

“Where is she?”

Cash Bodine muttered something under his breath—he was obviously irritated. “What’s this about?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“She’s my sister. She is my business.”

Cam had to rein in his anger. He didn’t know this man at all, but he knew family. And if some angry guy showed up at his house demanding to see his sister, well, Cam would have a problem with it. And if that guy got in his face, things would get ugly. Cam didn’t have the time or energy to go that route today.

“Look. Your sister and me… We’ve got some things to sort out. I just need to talk to her.”

“I thought you two were done.”

“Well, I need more than the bullshit excuse she gave me yesterday. I need to know what happened because none of this makes sense. I didn’t recognize the woman who came to my house.”

Cash’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward. “No means no, pal. So you better back away or…” He stopped cold. “Wait. You said you saw her yesterday?”

Pissed off and angrier than he could ever remember, Cam spoke through gritted teeth. “She’s practically been living at my house, so yeah, I saw her yesterday. Then she—” He looked away, his anger getting the best of him and stealing his words. “Something happened. I need to know what it is. She owes me that much.”

Just then, a small yellow-and-white van pulled in behind Cam’s truck. A young man, fresh out of his teens by the looks of it, jumped out. His thick yellow-and-white hat leaned toward the side of ridiculous, but it looked warm. His dark pants matched his parka, which sported a bright yellow logo across the chest: Zippy Courier. He approached the two men with quick steps as if in a hurry and waved hello.

“I’m here to pick up a package.” He glanced at the small tablet in his hands. “From Blue Barnes? Says here, by the front door.” He shrugged and looked up. “I’m covering for the regular guy, Mickey. Are you Blue?”

“Hold on.” Cash disappeared inside the house, and Cam turned to the courier.

“Where’s this package going?” he asked.

The kid glanced back at his tablet. “I don’t think I’m supposed to give out that kind of information.”

Cam gave him his full attention. He was way beyond pissed now, and the kid shuffled his feet nervously. “Where?”

The young man hesitated but was saved from bodily harm when Cash appeared in the doorway. He looked at Cam pointedly. “You better come inside.” Then to Kid Courier. “There’s nothing here. Sorry.”

Cam followed Blue’s brother into the house. On the small table beside the front door was a large envelope addressed to Edward Barnes and a smaller one addressed to Poppy. Cam frowned, uneasy now. He looked at Cash.

“Something’s going on.”

“I agree. Last night, Blue told me you two had been over for weeks. Now you tell me she’s been spending all her time with you. Blue doesn’t lie. Not unless she’s protecting something or someone.” He nodded at the table. “I know who Edward Barnes is, and I know Blue disliked him almost as much as she disliked Pete.”

“Pete?”

“She never got around to talking about our family?”

Cam shook his head. “No. Blue didn’t share much.”