Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles

Author:Ava Miles [Miles, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, small town
Published: 2013-06-26T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Ray,” Tanner called out as class broke up two days later. “Could you stay after?”

The boy immediately dropped a book. When he looked up, his red-rimmed eyes gleamed like a cornered rabbit’s. Poor kid.

“It’s about your last article,” Tanner added, putting a leading hand on Ray’s back. The muscles bunched under his green shirt. “It wasn’t up to your usual standard.” He lowered his voice but not enough to make sure they weren’t overhead. If they were going to have a cover, people had to believe it. “I figured you might be a bit distracted. A bunch of people have been upset about that young woman dying.”

The kid’s eyelid twitched. He rubbed it with ink-stained fingers.

“Did you know her?”

Ray choked like he’d inhaled a bug. “Yes.”

Tanner led him out. “Let’s go to my office. I want to walk you through some of my comments.”

The minute the door was shut, the kid lunged at him. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Creating a believable way for us to talk. You can’t come to my house again. Trouble with an assignment was the best I could do.”

Ray paced in the small windowless office. “Man, I almost had a heart attack. What the hell were you asking about Jemma for? There were people out there!”

“Because if I said you were getting bad grades without a reason, people would begin to wonder what the hell was going on with you. Everyone knows you’re an honor student.” He kept his voice low and gentle. “Other students have been upset by Jemma’s death too. It was a good excuse. Plus, you won’t have to fake that.”

He thrust his hand in the air. “No, I won’t have to fake that. I’m freaking out here!”

“Settle down. We don’t have much time. I need you to get me that sample you mentioned. I’m going to have it tested by someone I trust. The autopsy report was a dead-end, Ray.” He almost winced at the pun. “Can you do that?”

The kid ran his hands over his face. “I have the drugs she took. I’ll give you something from that batch and another sample.”

“Good. Bring it to class next time. We can have another conference about your homework. Trust me, Ray.”

“I do, but you don’t know what it’s like. I feel like shit! Every day. A few people have wanted to buy from me to help them cruise through exams. I told them I was out right now, but I can’t keep that up for long.”

“Have you talked to your guy at the garage?”

Ray popped in a stick of gum, chewing hard and fast. “Yes, Kenny called. I told him I needed some time off. I was upset about Jemma. Got backed up at school. People weren’t buying as much. He started yelling at me to grow some balls…He wouldn’t listen.”

Tanner’s gut burned.

“Okay, don’t visit the garage. Call him. Tell him you understand, and you’ll man up.”

Sometimes that’s all the bad guys needed to hear. Bullies never questioned their power of intimidation.

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