First step? I need to replace my camping gear.
With no Uber available for hours, I call my brother. “I need a chauffeur. Can you help?”
“Depends. What for?” As always, his aid comes at a price.
“Just do it. After you drop me off, you can call the lawyer Dad hired—tell him whatever you want. I promise to accept his services.”
It’s a safe bet. By the time I return, I’ll either have found the killer or be dead. I’ve lost everything. I will not add my reputation to the pile.
Chapter 19
Kade
Hunt and I review evidence and plan our next steps for over an hour.
After checking the time, I stand. “Better Bree hears about the warrant in person.”Besides, I have a little groveling to do. I could’ve handled last night a whole lot better.
My friend glances at me askew. “If what you’ve said about her is true, she’ll be safer behind bars while we search.”
Before I can make my escape, my office phone rings. Seconds later, my assistant calls out, “Sheriff, this guy needs to talk to you. Says it’s important.”
Of course he does.“Who is it?”
She snaps her gum. “I don’t know. I’ll transfer him to your cell phone.”
“Right.” The minute this case is over, I’m signing her up for some basic classes in professionalism.
Until then, I stomp to my desk, push her feet off the top, and take the offered receiver. “Kade here.”
“Thank God, I caught you. This is Pol, Briana’s brother. I just dropped her off near the trail—the gravel lot? She bought a week’s worth of supplies—camping gear—says she’s going to find the killer.”
My heart pounds as I race to my truck. “You didn’t stop her? What kind of brother are you?”
“This is your fault.” Despite my shouting, he remains calm. “If you didn’t want her to bolt, you should’ve kept your windows shut.”
“Fuck!” I jerk my Ford into gear, snap the bulb to the roof.
As I tear out of the parking lot, his tone softens. “Listen. Nothing I said or did would’ve changed her mind. If you don’tmind me saying, she’s doing the right thing. She didn’t kill Brett. You should be out looking for the real killer.”
I think back to our pillow talk. Dark ages? More like keeping me in the dark.“Did your sister ask you to call me?”
“No, but she had to know I would.”
“Of all the manipulative—”
“Stop right there. If she’d asked you to go with her, would you have?”
Knuckles white, I swerve onto the highway. “Hell no. I would’ve stopped her. We have Federal agents on the way—professionals with all the resources needed to find this madman. She’ll either force him to hide or be his next victim. I’ll call you as soon as I find her.”
Tossing my phone on the seat, I pick up my dog along with something for her to smell. As I speed up the mountain, I ream myself a new asshole. I’m a fool. Hoping to distract me, she’d seduced me. What kind of woman walks straight into hell after barely escaping it the first time?
At the foot of the trail, I send up my drone. Finding nothing but a herd of deer, I widen the search.
Bingo. There she is.
Not far behind? A man with a rifle.
Dammit.Adrenaline spikes my pulse as I shove the t-shirt Briana wore last night under Becca’s nose. “Find her, girl.”
