“I loved you!” she screamed. “I’ve always loved you. And you never even looked at me. Not the way you should. I mean...why not? You were always so nice to me. I thought...I thought, maybe...remember how we used to always talk? When I worked at the county office, and you’d need to get your titles changed over for your latest project car?”
“I do, Edi. You were great. Always very helpful.”
Brooke pressed her hand over her mouth, phone still to her ear. The operator was saying something about units being dispatched and staying on the line, but Brooke couldn’t respond. If she said anything, they’d hear her.
“I was so certain.” Edi’s voice took on a new quality, something almost nostalgic. “That day when you brought in that old Jeep, you said how you’d got it for a song and it was going to be beautiful when you were done. I understood you, Tyler. I understood what you were saying, even though you didn’t say it. I knew your wife would understand too.”
“My wife? The old Jeep? You mean...Edi, what did you do?”
“It was an accident. I went to tell her the truth. That you loved me. That you were going to leave her. But she laughed at me.Laughed.” Edi’s voice broke. “We fought. She fell. Hit her head. I panicked. Set the fire to cover it. I didn’t know Garrett was there. You said you were takinghim hiking. You told me just the day before you were taking him hiking.”
“He was sick.” Tyler’s voice was raw. “He was home sick, and you killed him? Killed both of them.”
“I didn’t mean to! I loved you! Everything I did was for you!”
“They thought I did it. Did you . . . you framed me?”
“Only a little bit. I had to. Don’t you see? If they arrested you, you’d need me. You’d need my connections. My family’s money. But they didn’t have enough evidence. I didn’t do things right, and you left instead. You left, and I had to put my life back together without you.”
“I’m sorry, Edi. There was never—”
“I took care of you after Sheila too. Remember? The lawyer who showed up? I sent him.”
“You sent the attorney?”
“I tried to take care of you. Even with Brooke.”
Brooke heard the way Edi said her name. Full of hate.
“When she wouldn’t stay away from you, I tried to warn her. Tried to scare her on that trail. But she fought back. She always fights back.”
There was a sharp noise, followed by the scrape of furniture moving across the floor.
“No, no, no,” Edi sang, the words almost playful. “You stay right there. Keep your distance.” She gave a soft, almost pleased laugh. “You think I didn’t notice those muscles you came back to Irma with?”
Her tone sharpened. “They’re not going to do you any good. Not when I have the gun.”
“Everything’s fine, Edi.” Tyler’s tone was placating. Brooke could almost imagine him raising his hands, trying to calm her.
“Fine? You really think so, Tyler? You think it’s fine?”
“It can be, Edi. We can—”
Edi laughed, a kind of laugh that sent a sick feeling through Brooke.
“It’s not fine, Tyler. It won’t ever be fine again. When that reporter walked in today, along with the prissy woman who teaches at the college, I knew.”
Brooke leaned against the wall. They should’ve planned better. Steph should’ve arranged for the sheriff to meet her and Joe at a different location. It was too late for that now. It was now up to Tyler to keep Edi calm and talking until help showed up.
“Where’s your little girlfriend? That’s what she is, right? Your girlfriend?”
“She’s safe. She went out the back door when you came in the front.”
Glass shattered as Edi let out a string of profanity. “No, no, no. That is not how this is supposed to happen. She must be here. I planned it so it ends here.”
A wave of understanding rushed over Brooke. Edi didn’t plan on any of them walking away. Not Tyler. Not Brooke. Not Edi.
Tyler must have understood too. “Edi, let’s talk about this. We’re just having a conversation, right? Two old friends.”
