The Storm's Intent by Georgia Wagner

Author:Georgia Wagner [Wagner, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

That first scream turned to two and then three.

Greer’s heart raced as his mind latched onto the idea that someone was being murdered that very moment, the urgency driving him through the stifling halls of Ashbank House.

As Sophie and Greer burst into the music room, they found Riley cowering in the corner, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. Within moments, the Gardiner household, Carter, Eleanor, Sebastian, and Herman rushed in behind them, their voices rising in a clamor of concern and alarm.

"Riley, what happened?" Carter demanded, kneeling beside his trembling sister.

Sebastian's cane, a replacement of solid hickory with a question mark handle, thumped authoritatively on the hardwood floor. "Speak up, girl! Why did you scream?"

Riley shrank further into herself under their questioning, shaking her head mutely. She looked desperately to Sophie and Greer, wordlessly pleading for help. Inarticulate mumbling and half-formed words slipped from her lips as her eyes continued to dart around the room as if she were seeing ghosts.

Sophie stepped forward, holding up a hand to stem the deluge of questions. "Everyone step back; you're overwhelming her. Riley, are you hurt?" Crouching low, Sophie took Riley’s arms, turning the sleeves of her Bohemian dress as she looked for wounds or signs of violence. With a sigh of relief, she saw no bruises or blood, only the pale pallid flesh of Riley Gardiner’s trembling limbs.

Turning to Greer, who was attempting to throw his arms between the crush of family and Riley’s prostrate form, Sophie quickly said, “She doesn’t seem injured.”

When the Gardiners continued to press in, Sophie straightened her back and hardened her voice, authoritative command backing her natural stage presence. "Step back, now!"

Sebastian’s ancient eyes flashed. "She's my daughter."

"With respect, we’re the FBI and there are two unsolved murders in this house," Greer rumbled, his gravelly voice firm as he pointed to the seats on the far side of the room and added, “Take a seat.”

Sophie tilted her chin, her auburn hair rolling over her ear as she met Riley's frightened gaze. "It's alright, take your time. Are you ok? Just nod if you’re not hurt."

Riley gave a small, grateful nod. Sophie stood and slowly helped Riley to her feet.

“Riley, what happened?” Sophie asked gently.

Greer shifted his position as Sebastian again tried to step around him. He caught Carter’s eye, as the handsome older brother gave his sister a fierce, interrogative stare.

“Please… I can’t breathe,” Riley said weakly, her eyes looking away from her family as her fingers gripped Sophie’s arms tightly.

She looked so frail, Greer felt his heart breaking at the blonde-haired woman’s words, and he looked around the room for any sign of what could have happened.

“Greer, get them out of here,” Sophie said firmly.

With a quick grunt of affirmation, Greer clapped his rough hands and whistled sharply. “Alright, folks. We’re going to need a minute. Everyone in the hall. Don’t go anywhere. We need to straighten out what happened here.”

There was another round of protests from the Gardiners, but as Greer cut

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