Page 19 of Veil of Silence

“I insist.”

She started to protest, then caught sight of a familiar badge beneath his jacket. “Wait. You’re FBI too?”

“I am.”

That made her feel a little better. “Okay then. Thank you.”

She grabbed another bag and headed toward the house while Austin followed with three bags from the trunk.

As soon as Nora opened the door, Bo exploded across the threshold. The dog barked once at Austin, then shoved his nose directly into the man’s hand.

Austin looked down. “Security is clearly tight around here.”

She frowned at the dog. “Bo has many strengths.”

The dog leaned his full weight against Austin’s leg. “Does he?”

“Not really.” Nora frowned at the canine.

Austin let out a small chuckle.

She stepped into the house. “Mom, I’m home.”

Her mother glanced back from the sink and immediately noticed Austin. “Nora? You have a guest with you?”

“Mom, this is Austin Donnelly. Agent Donnelly’s son.”

Her mother’s face lifted.

Austin set the groceries on the counter. “Mrs. Loveless.”

“Your father . . .” Mom dried her hands on a dish towel. “He worked so hard trying to find Christian.”

“He was determined to help.”

Something in her expression shifted. “Is he here with you?”

Nora stepped in before Austin had to answer. “He’s not. But Austin and I need to talk about something. Where’s Christian?”

“Upstairs in his room. He’s been in there a while.” Her mother nodded at the groceries. “I’ll put these away.”

“Thank you.”

Nora led Austin through the kitchen and into the small room off the front hall. It had mostly become a catchall space over the years—an old desk lined one wall, boxes of Christmas decorations were stacked in one corner, and two Amazon returns rested near the door.

Nora closed the door then she folded her arms and faced Austin. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Austin wished he knew how to answer Nora’s question.

He’d spent most of the drive to Fog Lake wondering what Nora Loveless would be like.

He hadn’t expected this.

She was more striking in person than she’d appeared in the news footage. Straight, dark hair fell past her shoulders, and she had the same clear blue eyes as her sisters—the kind that probably looked warm when she was happy.

Right now, she didn’t look happy.

She stood with her arms folded, studying him as if she’d already decided not to trust him.