“Ouch.” It waits for my input.
“Funny enough. The cheating is not what hurts the most. It’s what she said after.”
“Care to share?”
Sighing, I glance up at the double white blazes painted on the tree trunk. Below, in the shade, dew glistens on bright green fronds near a patch of stubborn snow. It’s supposed to top seventy bynoon. Perfect hiking weather—especially alone, without the woman who was my alleged BFF.
“Are you still there, Briana?” The concern in the voice is so real, it’s a bit scary.
“Yeah. Sorry. My ex told her I was too frigid, independent, too much of a rebel—too lesbo.”
“Would you like my opinion?”
“Shoot.”
“You’re not cold, you’re cool. Huge difference. Unfeeling people don’t risk their lives delivering meds into disaster zones. They don’t cry over cheating jerks and broken friendships. Okay, let’s be honest— ‘too independent’ is probably code for ‘you didn’t cook him dinner or ask him to kill your spiders.’”
When tears well, I swallow back all the loathsome emotions. “I never suspected a thing. People suck.”
“Well, perhaps it’s time to find some who don’t?” For a bot, he sure can shrink.
I snort my derision. “Where? Another planet?”
“Probably better to start your search here on earth. How about we—”
A twig snaps, stopping me in my tracks, I hit mute. It wasn’t the casual noise of a cute furry animal. This one whispered,someone is following you.
It’s not Andrea. She couldn’t catch me if she tried. No, this sound is closer. Heavier. Ifeelthe breathing before I hear it.
Slowly, I reach into my side pocket, wrapping my fingers around the bear spray. No way am I calling out like some idiot in a slasher flick. That’s how you die.
After a long moment, the woods slowly exhale. Birds chirp as a squirrel skitters across the path. Whoever it was—if there was someone—is gone now.
Probably, it's me being paranoid. While I’ve got my cell out, I check my texts.Holy crap. Not counting last week, I’ve got overfifty messages from my parents and five siblings—each one a notch higher in panic level.
I open the family group thread and type.
Me: Hiking. Having fun. Talk soon.
Hitting send, I slip the phone into airplane mode, zip the pouch shut, then keep walking.
Chapter 3
Kade
Present Day
We’ve driven halfway up the mountain when my phone pings.
“Shit, it’s Griffin.” Pulling to the curb, I read the text. “He sent a number. Says this Andrea Bratner was the last person to see Gainsborough alive. Wants me to call her.”
Shaking his head, Jeff takes a sip of coffee. “Isn’t that his job?”
“Yeah. Probably thinks it’s beneath him.” After entering the digits, I press the green icon, then ease back onto the road.
“Hello?” The oddly high soprano voice makes me pause, wondering if I got her kid.
“May I speak to Ms. Bratner?” I put the phone on speaker.
