Three Pines Cast Novels & Stories

She had no choice but to play along. "Please tell me you have that lunatic in custody," she said, eyeing the officers with convincing yet completely feigned question as she entered the room. "Not yet, Ms. Woods," Leontowich grinned, nodding his head as if to say hello. His partner, Michelle Tochar, stood next to him and also offered a greeting. "So, why are you here then? Randy emailed the footage. It's pretty self-explanatory," Cassie said.

“The nerve of some people!” “Oh my god, Samantha!” Emily’s other friend, Rebecca responded in exaggerated shock as she lifted her deeply tanned hand to cover her berry-stained lips. “Is that Ari McKenna?! Girl, we haven't seen you in what…” she paused, pretending to think as if she hadn’t just been gossiping about me a moment before, “3 years?” “She’s here to be Dr. Winchester’s assistant,” Emily mocked, her blue eyes flashing as she tilted her head elegantly and laughed sweetly. “We should let her pass, really, I’m sure she has a spill to mop up or a toilet to clean.”

EPILOGUE The sun was warm on the garden that afternoon. Two boys, seven and five, ran in circles around the old oak tree, laughing so loudly that the birds flew away in protest. Their names were Elias and Theo, and they had inherited their fathers’ stubbornness and their mother’s golden eyes. Rowan sat on the stone bench beneath the tree, one hand resting on the gentle swell of his stomach. He was pregnant again — their third child. This one had been a surprise, but a welcome one. He watched his sons play with a small, tired smile on his face.

“What about the rest of them?” “Vexx, Nightling, and Ravenswood—who are all my family either by blood or marriage—I can tell you the most about. Grimes was elected onto the Council last year which will make him hard to get to, and a bigger threat to the queen. Same with Morse and Bentwood, they are both politicians. But Hexfort and Perill are businessmen, they run shipping companies on opposite coasts. Ashmouth is a smuggler in Florida. Oh, and Caster is going to be a problem. He’s the Dean of Nox Grove Academy.” Claire glanced up at Agent Martin. “How does that check out against your intel?”

“Don’t worry. Callum isn’t the type to be petty over something so trivial. He won’t mind.” “Alright then.” Gavin gripped the handle with a wide grin while Tanya took her place by his side, cradling Sarah. They were only inches apart. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect couple. Meanwhile, I stood in the shadowed corner, a clown hidden from view. My mind flew back to that winter three years ago. At the time, the Coxes fell into financial ruin. Tanya’s father ran away with the money, and her mother lay dying. Tanya, born of her father’s side piece, was left to shoulder the mounting debt.

Even if she didn’t know I was there. The Pines Resort sat nestled between two lakes and surrounded by pine trees that stretched toward the sky. It was way too fancy for what Naya had called a “chill weekend for a group project,” but that was Naya for you; everything had to be dramatic. I parked behind the main lodge and stepped out into the crisp mountain air, tugging my jacket straight as I headed toward the guest cabins. I didn’t even make it ten steps before someone noticed me. “Oh my god, is that Luca Moretti?”

The unofficial end of the meeting happened when Ellen Harlow opened the chicken casserole on the porch and everyone ate, because apparently that was what happened in Cedarwood Falls at the end of any organized event. Eli found himself on the porch steps with a plate he hadn't planned to accept and Pat Okafor standing beside him talking about the Harlow's northwest corner pier with the focused enthusiasm of someone who had been waiting to have this conversation for two years. He listened and ate and across the porch he could see Noah talking to Greta Walsh, leaning down slightly to her height, and whatever she was saying was making the corner of his mouth do something that was almost a smile.

"I was in a dungeon the last time someone tried to make me believe it." I looked at the faces. At Maren. At Elias, standing with his shoulders fractionally less tight than they had been a month ago. At Sera beside him with her chin up. At Pira holding her infant. At the young man who had been the lookout in the tree and was now standing in a field in the morning sun choosing to be counted. At Cole and Eliana at the back of the crowd with their hands joined and their faces entirely open. At Margret, standing alone with sixty years of council authority and something in her eyes that was entirely personal.

Oliver had worked tirelessly all week to clear his schedule, just so he could spend the entire weekend taking Daisy out to have fun. While Daisy and I were buying ice cream, we ran into someone completely unexpected—Connor. He wasn't in a suit like usual—his shoulders slumped, his hair had grown long enough to cover part of his face, and a patchy beard lined his jaw. He looked worn out, like someone who hadn't slept in days. But the moment he saw me and Daisy, life seemed to return to his eyes. He jogged toward us, voice trembling with relief as he said, "Averie, Daisy… I finally found you two."

“Thanks, Higgins. Higgins, let me ask you something.” “Shoot.” “Are you a triplet?” His brow furrowed. “Yes, Barry, as a matter of fact I am.” “Did you know that Dianna is also a triplet?” Wrecked as his face was, it could not conceal the shadow that surfaced. “No, Barry. I did not know that.” His throat tightened, voice falling significantly in volume as he supplemented, “But I know Maya is . . . ” “What is this?” Ritter said. He held the needle aloft, a grotesque accent to the revelations happening.