The Slow Burn of Silence (A Snowy Creek Novel) by Loreth Anne White

Author:Loreth Anne White [White, Loreth Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2014-06-24T04:00:00+00:00

I’m shaking with adrenaline as I place my palms on the saloon doors. But before I can push through them, something splats against the wood near my head. I spin round in shock, just in time to duck another flying tomato, which explodes against the wall, spattering warm juice across my face. My heart jackhammers.

“That’s her! Snowy Creek Golden Girl, the publisher giving voice to a murderer! Traitor!” An egg is lobbed into the air. It cracks against the door, slimy contents sliding down the wood.

“Where is the sex pervert! Where is Merilee Zukanov! Where is her body!” A chant starts up.

Where in hell did these people come from?

Quickly I push through the doors as another egg comes flying. The doors swing heavily shut behind me, cutting out the heckling sounds. Momentarily blinded by the dim interior, I stall and wipe warm tomato spittle from my cheek and brow. I feel sick.

As my vision accommodates, I see Jeb and Cass at a table in the far corner. Jeb glances up. Our gazes meet across the room. I swallow, then turn to go sit at the bar. I shouldn’t have come.

As I near the long bar counter, I feel eyes on me. Clint Rudiger and his core team of firefighters, including female Assistant Fire Chief Kerrigan Kaye, have taken command of a big round table at the end of the counter. Harvey Zink and Trey are also with them. The group of men and lone woman at the round table stare, hostile. A challenge. My heart punches even harder. I know Kerrigan well. We used to ski together. I know them all. I have made myself their enemy.

Bracing my shoulders, I raise my chin and go take a seat on a stool at the bar.

Olivia Banrock, Shady Lady’s manager, is working the bar herself today. I order a gin and tonic from her. I don’t usually drink during the day, but I can use one.

“I wish you hadn’t done that, Rachel,” Olivia says as she slides over a coaster. Her eyes are sparking with a quiet anger. “Advertising this on social media like that, making this bar a hotspot for trouble. I don’t like the mood in here, or out there. Thank God the cops arrived or I would’ve called them myself.”

I take a sip, try to calm my slamming heart. “I’m sorry, Liv. I didn’t expect this level of . . . passion.”

“What in hell did you expect then?”

My eyes flick up in surprise. I know Olivia well. We’ve always gotten on.

“My paper is just covering the news. Jeb needed to meet in public because he’s already been attacked in private, in the dark, by men in masks.” My eyes flicker to the table. Zink’s gaze is intent on me.

She glowers at me. “So you pick this bar?”

“He’ll be done soon.” I take another gulp of my drink.

“I can just imagine my father’s face when he hears about this. He’ll have your ass in a sling.”

“Excuse me?”

She flushes. “I mean, he owns half the paper, right? This is going to hurt business.

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