Oh shit! How was I supposed to do that without her seeing what I had? The only other option was to tell her no, and I couldn't do that. Not without sounding like a complete ass.
Blowing out a breath, I dropped my chin to my chest. "Can you keep a secret?"
Valerie was a little too quick to agree. "Absolutely."
This was taking a huge risk considering one of the stipulations was that I couldn't tell anyone what I was doing. Not without my sister getting hurt, but after all this time in town, if there was anyone I felt I could trust, it was Valerie.
"Go ahead and grab the folder."
I waited as Valerie stood up and moved the covers back to grab the folder I had hastily shoved there just seconds before she walked in. I continued to stay quiet as she opened it up and started to riffle through everything I had collected.
"What is all this?" With each new piece she turned over, I could see the confusion grow.
"Someone is blackmailing me to figure out who B. Feather is."
Valerie looked genuinely shocked by my statement.
"Why haven't you told the guys? I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you."
I was already shaking my head before she could even finish her statement. "They said if I told anyone, they would hurt my sister, and believe me, this isn't a threat they made lightly."
Realization dawned on my former boss. "So you've been dealing with this all on your own? And the attack?"
"A message that I need to hurry up or my sister dies."
"Do they have your sister because I can promise you the guys would find her and bring her back?"
I guess I was about to confess more than just what I was doing.
"No, my sister is in a drug rehab program."
The look I hated the most crossed Valerie's face.
Pity.
"She's not safe there?"
"I thought she was. That's where I went when I had to leave for a few days. I was getting her checked in and dealing with the mess she left behind in her wake. Unfortunately she called me to tell me another patient checked in who was simply there to threaten her. I've done what I could to make sure they're kept apart, but my blackmailer is getting impatient."
"Is it someone in town? I guess I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this is worth that much to someone."
You and me both.
"No, I've never seen them in town, and the few times we've met have always been out of the area. I have no idea how they have a connection to Willow Creek. Honestly I've racked my brain trying to figure this out and constantly come up blank."
It was so damn frustrating. I was being held accountable for something that should never even be on my damn radar.
"Is that why you moved here?"
At least that was an easy question to answer.
"No. I moved here like so many others because I wanted a fresh start. My mother died when I was nine, and I've been taking care of my sister ever since. We used to live close to each other, but after years of watching her destroy her life, I needed to put space between us."
"Then this happened."
I sighed. "Yes, then this happened, and my new home suddenly felt constricting. Everything I loved about Willow Creek just vanished because I was now spending my time looking at everyone like they were suspects in some crime novel."
"How come you didn't tell me sooner? I would've helped you."
