The Edens, #1
Indigo Ridge
by Devney Perry
Contents
Chapter 11
Overview
Griffin delivers women’s boots his uncle found on Indigo Ridge, likely Lily Green’s missing pair, giving Winn a new lead. Winn catalogs the evidence and plans to question Uncle Briggs. After clarifying rumors about Emily, Griffin admits concern for Winn’s reputation. They resume their relationship, and Winn finds brief peace.
Summary
Griffin arrives at Winslow Covington’s office carrying women’s boots his uncle Briggs had repurposed as planters, claiming he’d found them while hiking Indigo Ridge. Believing they might be Lily Green’s missing boots, Winslow photographs them and asks Officer Allen to bag, catalog, and check them for prints, and to confirm with Lily’s mother.
Winslow plans to visit Briggs for details, while she and Griffin discuss the case. She admits lingering doubts about Lily’s supposed suicide because no one close to Lily saw warning signs, though evidence still points that way. The boots might provide a new lead if any trace evidence remains.
Before Griffin leaves, Winslow bluntly asks if he is sleeping with Emily Nelsen. Offended, Griffin insists he doesn’t sleep with two women at once and denies any current involvement with Emily. Later that evening, Griffin confronts Winslow at her home, asking if she is seeing anyone else; she is not.
Griffin explains that Emily saw his truck and may gossip, and while he doesn’t care about talk about himself, he doesn’t want rumors undermining Winslow’s credibility as police chief or implying nepotism. Winslow accepts that people will talk regardless, and they decide not to let it dictate their choices.
They give in to their attraction and have sex, agreeing to be exclusive and unprotected based on recent testing and birth control. The rekindled intimacy steadies Winslow, and for the first time in days, she sleeps through the night, even as the investigation gains a tangible new clue.
Who Appears
- Winslow (Winn) CovingtonPolice chief; processes boots as potential evidence, plans to visit Briggs, questions Griffin about Emily, and resumes intimacy with Griffin.
- Griffin EdenRancher; brings women’s boots found by his uncle, denies involvement with Emily, worries about Winn’s reputation, and rekindles their relationship.
- AllenOfficer; bags the boots as evidence and will confirm identification with Lily’s mother.
- Briggs EdenGriffin’s uncle with dementia; found the boots on Indigo Ridge and used them as planters.
- Emily NelsenReporter; past hookup with Griffin and source of gossip that pressures Griffin and Winn.
- Lily GreenDeceased victim; likely owner of the recovered boots central to the investigation.