“He said you made a mistake.” Diane’s voice had gone colder now, more precise. “That the man in the photo isn’t right for you. That you just don’t understand what you need yet. But he’s going to make you understand.”
A chill slid down Cody’s spine.
“He said that you’ll realize soon enough who you really belong to.”
Silence stretched out between them, thick and suffocating.
Cody swallowed. “That’s not all, is it?”
“No.”
Reid’s hand settled on the back of Cody’s neck, steadying. Grounding.
“My diary was open,” she said. “Turned to a specific page.”
Cody’s heart stuttered. “What page?”
Diane didn’t hesitate this time. “The one with Reid’s contact details.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“His name,” she went on, voice tight, “his company name, his number… and the address of the ranch.”
Cody’s breath left him in a rush.
Reid went completely still behind him.
“He didn’t take it,” Diane said. “He didn’t need to. He left it open, almost like wanted us to know.”
For a second, no one spoke. Then Reid’s voice, low and controlled:
“When did this happen?”
Cody put the phone on speaker without thinking.
“I’m not sure,” Diane said. “It could have been last night, or early hours this morning. I was here yesterday and everything was fine then.”
Cody dragged a hand through his hair and turned to look at Reid. “He found me,” he said, the words coming out hollow. “Reid—he found me and he was just here. Watching me.”
Diane went very quiet. “What?”
Reid’s voice cut in, sharp. “Cody just saw someone standing at the tree line. I tracked him, but I lost him at the road—he must have gotten into his vehicle and left.”
There was another silence then Diane swore softly. “Goddamn it. Well, I guess it’s pretty clear that this isn’t a coincidence.”
“No,” Reid said. “It’s not.”
Cody’s chest felt tight, like the walls were closing in around him.
“He’s escalating,” Reid said.
Diane exhaled slowly. “I’m calling this in. Pushing for full escalation with the police. This changes things.”
“It already has,” Cody said quietly.
“I call you back if I hear anything,” Diane said. “Stay safe.”
“Thanks.”
