“Sure. Why not?” Avery said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. He pulled three dinner plates from a cupboard and brought out napkins and silverware. “Would you like a beer, too?”
Jeremy sat at the counter and opened the bag, pulling the box of chicken out. He either ignored Avery’s tone or didn’t pick up on it. “I’m still working. A soda is fine.”
“I’ll have a beer,” Rachel said. Anything to get through this next conversation with Jeremy.
They all settled at the counter in a semi-circle and started to eat. Rachel was hungry, and the comfort food of fried chicken and mashed potatoes actually made her feel better.
After a few bites of chicken, Jeremy wiped his hands on a napkin and started speaking. “Having the press here has made everything explode. Archie is in an uproar, and so is the DA. Usually, on a Friday, you can’t get anyone to approve anything. But you guys sure have lit a fire under everyone’s ass.”
“What are you talking about?” Avery asked impatiently.
“That lawyer friend of yours has already petitioned the court to exhume the body of the little girl for identification. He must have some amazing contacts in high places because the court has already agreed, and your mother,” Jeremy looked at Rachel, “swears you are really Rachel Parnell and signed for them to exhume the body. I’ve never seen anything work this quickly.”
Rachel stopped eating and stared at Jeremy. “So, you believe I’m really Rachel?”
“Honestly? I’ve always believed you were her. You look like her despite being years older. But I can’t just open a case on one woman’s demands. Now, it looks like the county and state want it taken care of, pronto.” He scooped more potatoes onto his plate and covered them in gravy. “My officers are tenting the burial site as we speak, and the county will dig up the coffin tomorrow morning.”
“Wow. That is fast,” Rachel said, stunned. “But it’s good. We can finally move forward and learn the truth.”
Jeremy stared down at his plate. “Yeah, well, there are some people who don’t want the truth dug up, but there’s no hiding it now.”
“Who’s hiding what?” Avery demanded.
Jeremy raised his eyes to Avery’s. “We’ll find out soon enough.” He stood. “Thanks for the food. I hadn’t eaten all day. They’ll be digging at eight tomorrow morning in case you want to be there. The press will be pushed back as far as possible, but we’re expecting helicopters. It’s going to be a circus.”
He headed for the stairs but stopped when Rachel called his name. “Jeremy. If there’s anything you know about this case that you haven’t told anyone, you should do it now.”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Oh, I forgot to tell you. We can look at the evidence on Monday. Nine o’clock at my office. They’re digging it out of storage.” His steps thudded down the stairs and faded away.
She stared after him, completely shocked that she was finally going to see the evidence.
“This is moving fast,” Avery said, elated. “Finally. And all because the press showed up.”
Rachel turned and eyed him. “Hmm. Are you sure you weren’t the one who called the press?”
Avery raised his hands up as if to ward off a blow. “I swear. I had nothing to do with it. But aren’t you glad it’s all finally happening?”
She nodded solemnly. “I am. I really didn’t want my face all over the news, but I guess sometimes that’s what it takes.”
She helped Avery stack the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and they both sat on the living room sofa, side-by-side, exhausted.
“I’m still trying to figure out what Robert Mitchell was getting at earlier today,” Avery said. “Why would we care where Archie and Jeremy went to college? ‘A lot can happen in a town in four years,’ he’d said. What did he mean?”
“I don’t know. I’m too tired to care.” Rachel looked over at Avery. “Could you drive me back to the hotel? Maybe I can sneak in a back door, away from the reporters. I want to check in with my daughter and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be another crazy day.”
Avery nodded, and they walked downstairs to his car. He drove her across town to the hotel, and since it was dinnertime, they figured the reporters were off eating somewhere. He walked with her inside, and they rode up the elevator in silence. When the doors opened, a movement in the hallway made Rachel jump.
“Sorry, ma’am,” the young officer from the night before said as he moved into view. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was told to stay here another night to make sure no one bothered you.”
She let out a long breath. “Thanks. That makes me feel better.”
Avery followed her inside the room. “Are you sure you feel safe enough to stay here alone?”
She grinned. “Why? Are you offering to stay?”
He crossed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. Their kiss was sweet, then slowly grew deeper. Rachel’s heart beat faster, and that delicious feeling in the pit of her stomach—the one she hadn’t felt in so long—returned.
“I would make that sacrifice just for you,” he teased as he pulled away.
“The offer sounds glorious, but I’m afraid I’m too tired to be much fun tonight,” Rachel said. “Can I get a rain check?”
He grinned. “Oh, yeah. Definitely.” Avery walked over to the curtains to see if the press vans were still dark and silent. Rachel followed him and glanced out too. She tensed.
“That car is out there. The one that was at the motel. Look. There’s someone in the car.”
Avery stared where she was pointing. “Stay here. Lock the door. I’m going to see who it is.” He ran from the room, calling to the officer to follow him.
Rachel bolted the door behind him and hurried to the window again. The four-door car was still there under one of the parking lot
