Shadow Games by J.M. Madden

Author:J.M. Madden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J.M. Madden

8

“So, what is it you do now?”

Wyatt had been watching her type furiously for the past two hours. He’d turned on his phone’s hotspot so that she could research the necklace, but she hadn’t found anything.

“I’m a research assistant at University of Cleveland. I also do some article writing on the side. My degree is in English, but teaching just didn’t appeal to me,” she said with a shrug. “So, I help other teachers out.”

Interesting.

“Most of it can be done online, so I can stay home more. My dad had a heart-attack last year, and I like to keep an eye on him.”

“Ah,” Wyatt said. “Sorry about that.”

She smiled at him. “Not your fault, at all. Just one of those things. Too many years of living rough. He didn’t start taking care of himself until he absolutely had to.”

Wyatt tried to think back to the last time he’d been to the doctor. When he first moved to the mountain his axe had hit a knot in a gnarly piece of wood. It had bounced back and hit him in the shin, cutting a lot more easily than the wood. He’d flayed open a large piece of skin. He’d gone to the cabin and bandaged it, but he’d known it was going to have to be sewn on. So, he’d trundled down the mountain and gone to the closest emergency department. Twenty-eight stitches later, they’d kicked him loose. He’d had a hell of a time healing from that, but at least he hadn’t broken the bone.

He relied on a lot of wild protein to stay healthy. Squirrel, rabbit, deer. With the occasional foraged vegetables. About once a month he would go down the mountain and buy canned foods and essentials. He would like to think he led a fairly decent life, now.

“What about your mom?” he asked curiously. “I don’t remember you talking about her.”

“She left a long time ago. Then it was just my dad and I.”

Nothing like putting your foot in it, Wyatt. “Sorry.”

“No worries.” She smiled, and she didn’t appear to be in any distress over it. “Aren’t your parents in Washington or something?”

“Yeah, outside Olympia. I have a brother up there, too. Haven’t seen them for a while, though. My dad was disappointed in the way I was kicked out. I’m not sure how I wasn’t criminally charged for those deaths. I think they just wanted me gone and quiet.”

“Probably,” she agreed. “I’m sorry about your family.”

“Again,” he said, smiling at her, “no reason for you to be sorry.”

She stood up and stretched, arching her back. Wyatt couldn’t help but watch her. The cabin was warm and cozy, so she’d finally shucked the sweatshirt. And he could see every curve of her body.

“Hey, my eyes are up here.” She waved her hands to get his attention. Wyatt jerked his gaze up and gave her a crooked smile. “Sorry. Just admiring the view.”

Rowan's cheeks went pink. Man, he loved that he could make her blush.

“So, the only thing I can find on the necklace is a very grainy photo.

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