Wicked Games (Hartley Grace Featherstone Mysteries Book 3), Gemma Halliday [free ebooks romance novels txt] 📗

"Thanks, Mrs. Featherstone," he called after her.

She gave him a wave before disappearing through the kitchen doorway. Though, I had the distinct feeling she might be hovering just this side of earshot.

I turned to Chase. "Are you okay?" I couldn't help my eyes going to the bandage on his head.

He shrugged, giving me a lopsided smile. "I've been better. But, yeah, the doctor said I should be fine. Gave me some good pain pills for the headache, but nothing too serious."

I'd beg to differ that being knocked unconscious by a killer was kinda serious, but I let it go. I could tell he was doing his best to put on a brave face.

"Sorry," I told him.

He raised an eyebrow my way. "For?"

"For getting you hit on the head."

He frowned. "You didn't do anything."

"Yes, I did. I should have seen that Sophia was playing us. And I shouldn't have left you alone. You put yourself out there as bait, and I should have had your back more."

"Hartley." Chase took a step forward, deleting any space between us. His hand reached out and grabbed mine, enveloping it in sudden warmth. "It's not your fault. None of us knew what Sophia had done."

I licked my lips, having a hard time concentrating on the conversation with the way Chase's hand holding mine felt. "But you got hurt trying to protect me."

But Chase shook his head again. "You would have done the same thing."

Would I? Maybe. Probably. Hopefully. But it didn't erase the guilt that had been gnawing at me ever since I'd seen his combat boots in the same position Connor had died in.

"Besides," Chase went on. "Me baiting Phoebe had nothing to do with how things ended up. I mean, Phoebe was totally innocent."

It didn't escape me that his voice suddenly had a cheerful lift to it at that last thought. "Not totally innocent," I argued. "She did bug my phone." Which, by the way, I'd had to hand over to Raley as evidence. To be honest, I'd been happy to fork it over—not wanting to use it again until I was sure it was de-bugged.

Chase shrugged in concession. "Fair point. But I talked to her about that."

"You talked to her?" An uncomfortable feeling hit the pit of my stomach.

He nodded. "She said she only put the spy program on your phone because she thought you knew something that might help her lawsuit."

I frowned. "Which, I guess, we did. We led her right to Tyler."

He nodded again. "Right. And when she contracted Tyler, in addition to getting him to sign on with Peak to create the next Athena's Quest, she also got him to detail how he had created the epic game while working as an intern for Peak. With Tyler's testimony, she's expecting to have full rights to the game."

"Goody for her," I mumbled. "I suppose she's hired you on as her intern too?"

He let out a soft laugh. "Nah. Not really my scene, you know? I was thinking I might apply for an internship at the Mercury News instead."

"So, you're not going to be spending the summer with Phoebe?" I asked, cringing internally at how stalkerish I sounded.

He shook his head and shrugged. "Probably won't ever see her again, truth be told. Can't imagine why I would."

Neither could I. Which put a little pep in my step.

"I guess with the cat out of the bag about Connor, that's the end of Jason Pruit's gravy train," I noted.

"Oh, I don't know about that. Did you see his public statement?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm phoneless until my new one arrives." I hadn't realized how disconnected it would make me feel. "What did he say?"

Chase pulled his own phone from his pocket, swiping to pull up a video clip on YouTube. "Check it out."

I did, watching Jason face the camera at some sort of impromptu news conference outside the offices of Silicon Valley Management. "We're all very shocked by the arrest of Sophia Larson in connection with Connor Simon's death, and we hope that justice is served in the matter."

"What about allegations that your client was a fraud?" someone in the crowd shouted.

I could see him wince as microphones were shoved at him, but he answered smoothly. "While Connor Simon may have had some help in creating his content, his legacy in the gaming world is one that should be honored for being the driving force behind the goddess games."

"Driving force?" I asked. "Is that code for thief?"

"Oh, it gets better," Chase said, nodding toward his phone.

I leaned in, watching the screen as another question I couldn't really hear was lobbed Pruit's way.

"I'm glad you asked," Pruit said. "We're very pleased to announce our latest talent acquisition here at Silicon Valley Management, Tyler McGowan."

"No way!" I said, laughing.

"Way." Chase nodded at the screen as Tyler's face appeared, looking distinctly young and a little shellshocked at all the attention.

"Tyler was Connor's protégé," Pruit went on, "and we're excited to see what kind of wonderful things he'll be bringing to Peak Games in the future. Now, if you'll excuse us, no more questions please."

The clip cut out as Jason ushered Tyler inside the building.

I shook my head. "Poor Tyler. He doesn't have a clue what he's got himself into."

"Well, let's just hope he fares better than Jason's last client." Chase put his phone back in his pocket. "Anyway, I just wanted to stop by to make sure you were okay."

"Me?"

"You weren't in school today."

"Right, mental health day. Mom's, not mine."

"I heard that!" I heard Mom call from the kitchen.

See, I knew she was listening.

Chase and I both shared a grin before I followed him out the door onto the front porch.