October 2025
Tuesday – 3:36pm
Hadley stepped onto the porch of the police station, her mind fixed on locating Ty’s friends. If he had a favorite camping spot at Buffalo River, there was a chance they would have the name of that area. Engaging with Allen Hobbs could tip their hand. If he were the one who had abducted those women, he had never been backed into a corner before. There was no telling how he would react in such a scenario.
Hadley had just reached the bottom step when a familiar truck rumbled past. The vehicle's mud-spattered side panels and worn paint job were unmistakable even from a distance. The flash of blonde hair behind the wheel revealed Brandy Hobbs as the driver, and not her husband.
Hadley stood still, observing the truck as it continued down Main Street toward Maisy's Convenience Store. It dawned on her that there was another way to gain access to the Hobbs’ property.
Today was the last day of rain before the weather front moved on, allowing those attending the festival to enjoy perfect autumn weather. Hadley thought of it as sweater weather. At least until sunset, when a jacket was needed to fend off the cooler temps.
The second she witnessed Brandy pull the truck alongside one of the gas pumps, Hadley quickly retraced her steps and re-entered the station. The door banged against the wall in her haste as she strode back to Reed's desk.It didn’t take her long to collect the map and fold the paper along its well-worn creases. She had maybe four minutes before Brandy finished topping off the gas tank.
Hadley made sure the door was secured and locked behind her as she exited the station. She tucked the map under her arm and jogged down the steps, her keys already in hand. She slid behind the steering wheel, glancing to her left to ensure that Brandy was still at the pump.
If Nick had any idea what she was about to do, he'd have words for her about proper procedure. He’d also throw in her face that she was no better than Elijah. But proper procedure hadn't gotten her anywhere with eight missing women, a brother behind bars, and a dead police chief. She should have been able to call Reed a friend, but she’d left him behind long ago.
“These people are my family. Your family, and you’re acting like you’ve forgotten what that means.”
Elijah’s words came back to haunt her. She muttered a couple of expletives as she switched the gear into reverse. She’d been assigned this case, and she was going to see it through. Coloring outside the lines was fine, as long as she stuck to the grey hues.
Brandy had pulled both sides of her sweater tighter to keep the chill at bay as she stood next to the gas pump, monitoring the monetary numbers change instantly as the fuel filled up thetank. Hadley deliberately parked in one of the three spots in front of the store rather than at a pump.
Brandy’s faded blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that did nothing to soften the hard angles of her face. Her cardigan and shirt shared the same muddy brown tone, which coincidentally matched the dirt smudges on her jeans.
Hadley opened the door and exited her vehicle, keeping the map tucked between her elbow and side. Rena must have put some hot dogs on the rollers, because the air was heavy with grease.
As Hadley closed the distance from the SUV to the gas pumps, Brandy's posture stiffened. Her shoulders drew back, her chin lifted slightly, and her fingers squeezed the fabric of her cardigan. The modest physical reactions told Hadley everything she needed to know about the woman's wariness.
“Mrs. Hobbs, I’m glad that I spotted you driving through town,” Hadley said with a smile. “I was just about to drive out to the farm to speak with your husband.”
“What for?” Brandy's eyes narrowed as she didn’t mince words. “He already told you that Ty’s camping at Buffalo River.”
The numbers on the gas pump came to a sudden stop, punctuated by the loud sound indicating the tank was full. Hadley was running out of time, but she still maintained a pleasant expression despite the cool reception.
“I was hoping to ask Allen for a favor regarding the investigation.”
“A favor?” Brandy's eyebrow arched, but Hadley had caught the woman’s interest. “What kind of favor?”
“Nothing big,” Hadley assured her with a slight shrug. “I just need access to part of your property. A dirt road that runs along the eastern edge.”
Brandy carefully replaced the nozzle, as if she were buying time to consider her response. When she finally turned toface Hadley, her expression had shifted from wariness to open suspicion.
“Well, maybe you can ask him tomorrow. Allen is out fixing fences on the south side of the property. Won't be back until sundown.”
“That's unfortunate.” Hadley grimaced in disappointment. She waited a heartbeat while Brandy grabbed the printed receipt that had curled against the slot. “I was hoping to get this checked out today. It’s been difficult since Reed’s death.”
Brandy had been about to walk around the truck, but the mention of Reed brought her up short. Her hesitation was visible in the slight tightening of her jaw.
“Do you mind if I show you something?” Hadley asked politely, not waiting for a reply as she opened the map. Stepping closer to Brandy, Hadley traced an area with her finger to give the woman a clear picture of why their land had captured her interest. “See this thin line? It represents a dirt road that runs through the eastern edge of your property.”
“I wouldn’t call it a road,” Brandy countered as she stepped back and crossed her arms once more. “It’s a dirt path that Allen and Ty use as a shortcut. It’s easier for them to drive the tractors through there than it is to take the county road all the way around.”
“Exactly,” Hadley said, nodding as if Brandy had made an important point. “It's not well-known to people outside the area. But it’s come to our attention that Reed's killer might have used this path as a shortcut to get to the main road without being seen.”
“What kind of evidence?”
Seeing as Hadley had carefully constructed her words to ensure they couldn’t be used against her later, she avoided answering the question. She hadn’t mentioned evidence of any kind.
