When they broke apart, Joe was standing in the kitchen doorway with a satisfied smile.
“Glad that’s settled,” he said. “Now, can we get to work? We need to sort out who is framing Tyler and prove it before they kill again.”
Chapter 32
Tyler
Tyler couldn’t take his eyes off Brooke. She sat close to him on Joe’s couch, her hand in his. Every time their eyes met, his chest tightened with something he couldn’t name.
She loved him. She had said it out loud, in front of Joe, without hesitation.
And he loved her back, more fiercely than he had realized he could.
“All right,” Joe said, appearing from the kitchen with three bottles of water. “I’ve got burgers ready to grill. We can eat first, if you want, or go over everything first. Your call.”
Tyler glanced at Brooke. “What do you think?”
“It’s nice out,” she said. “Maybe we could sit on the patio? You could grill while we talk?”
“Works for me.” Joe headed back to the kitchen. “Tyler, can you help me carry things out?”
They moved food and drinks to Joe’s small patio. The evening air was cooling down. Joe fired up the grill while Tyler set plates and condiments on the table.
“Phil should be here any minute.” Joe gestured toward the slider. It was open with the screen in place. “We’ll hear when he gets here.”
“I would’ve thought he’d be here by now,” Brooke said, checking her watch.
“Maybe something came up?” Tyler suggested.
“He would’ve called,” Joe said. “He’s probably—”
A knock at the door interrupted him. Joe looked at Tyler. “And there we go. Mind grabbing the door?”
Tyler walked back through the house and opened the door. Phil stood there, but his usual easy smile was gone, replaced by a tight, concerned expression.
“What’s wrong?” Tyler asked.
Phil held up a piece of paper. “Pulled up behind your truck. When I was walking by, I saw this stuck under the windshield wiper.”
Tyler’s stomach dropped. He took the paper, his hands already shaking.
Generic printer paper. Same as before. But the message was different.
Two threats neutralized. All your fault! You made this necessary!!
“You found this on my windshield?” Tyler managed.
“Yep. I parked, walked by, and there it was.”
Tyler rushed past Phil out into the street. His truck sat at the curb, exactly where he’d left it twenty minutes ago. He scanned the street in both directions. There were a few parked cars and an elderly woman walking a dog down the block. Nothing suspicious. No one watching.
“Did you see anyone?” Tyler called back to Phil.
“No, sorry.”
Tyler stared at the paper in his hand.Two threats neutralized.Sheila and Monique.All your fault! You made this necessary!!
The murderer blamed him, but he still didn’t know why.
