The sheriff’s brow quirks up. “The dog will be fine. We should get her statement. Puzzle pieces, Bree. Remember?”
My frown deepens. What good are those pieces if they belong to a whole different box?
Chapter 31
Kade
I’d rather interview Andrea alone, but there’s no way I’m leaving Briana by herself. The stalker’s still out there—lurking, watching. He could strike anytime, anywhere.
With my palm at her back and Becca trotting behind, we climb the steps to my office. After I unlock the door, I turn and cradle Briana’s face in my hands, anchoring her with a slow, grounding kiss.
“I’ll get the truth,” I whisper. “Promise you won’t interrupt.”
Her pure, noncommittal grunt sounds so much like mine, I almost laugh.
Inside, Ronnie’s boots hit the floor as her feet drop from my desk. “Hey, Sheriff O’Malley.”
“Hi, Veronica. Mind taking a short break?” I hold the door open, making it clear it wasn’t a question.
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll be across the street.” She gives the women behind me a curious glance, then shrugs and strolls out.
Once the door shuts, Briana and Andrea take their places at the interrogation table. Arms crossed, jaws set, they glare at each other. The air practically crackles as sweat beads on their foreheads.
Becca lets out a low whine, ears pinned. She feels it—same as I do. Briana is one breath away from snapping.
Elbows on the wood, I unclench my jaw, then lean to the right. “Andrea, any detail—no matter how small—could help us find the killer.”
She blinks, face full of fake innocence. “I thought youdidcatch her.”
Briana jerks as if she’s been slapped. As her nails dig into my knee, I grip the edge of the tabletop and gently nudge her foot with mine.
When she looks up, I give her a short, tight, shake of my head.
I got this, babe. Trust me.
Still thinking she’s in control, Andrea’s eyes flit around the room. “Brett wanted her back. I don’t know anything more.”
The helo pilot snorts.
“It’s true.” Andrea’s voice climbs into a high-pitched soprano. “He asked if I knew where she was and I told him I was meeting her to hike for a couple days.”
Like a cobra sizing its next strike, she watches Briana. “It was supposed to be girl time. I had no idea he would follow. Imaginemyshock seeing his face.”
“Liar! That’s not what you said on the phone.” As the pilot shoots to her feet, Andrea’s mask slips—only for a heartbeat—but I see it.
Fear.
Boom. Finally, a crack in her armor.
“Woof.” Becca glances at me, ears twitching, sensing the shift.
I calm her with a scratch on the head. “Good girl. Sit.”
Miss Bratner blinks twice, her wild eyes swinging toward me. “See what I mean? She needs help.”
“You fucking bitch!” Face flushed, my not-a-victim strikes back. “You brought him there. And instead of pleading his case, you told me all about the affair—made damn sure I’d hate him. You killed him, didn’t you?”
The other woman’s face lights up like she’s just been handed the lead in a high school play. “You’rethe one with PTSD.”
