Steph reached for Brooke’s hand. “That was intense.”
“Threatening to call the sheriff, Steph. Really?” Brooke let out a breath.
“Well...” Steph shrugged. “Obviously, it worked. Boverman left.” She paused and met Brooke’s gaze. “He really does think Tyler is guilty. Thinks he killed Sheila and his family.”
“He’s not.”
“You’re sure?”
“I know him, plus Phil believes him. And you know how Phil is.”
“Phil’s been wrong before.” Steph waggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t tell him that.” Brooke smiled. Steph and Phil had casually dated several years earlier. He’d broken up with her, saying he didn’t think they wanted the same things. Truth was, he couldn’t keep up with her, and he was embarrassed to admit it. “Will you grab me my phone?”
“For?”
“I’m calling Tyler.”
Steph hesitated before shuffling through the plastic bag holding Brooke’s personal belongings. There wasn’t much, only what she had on her when the paramedics arrived. Her car was still in the parking lot. She’d need to get that later.
“Thanks.” Brooke swiped the phone until she found his number. It rang four times, then went to voicemail.
“Hey, it’s me. Can you call me when you get this? It’s important.”
She hung up and tried the shop. The line rang, then an automated message: “Thank you for calling Morgan’s Auto Repair. We’re currently closed. Our hours are—”
Closed? But Tyler said they were open today. He said that’s why he couldn’t come on the run.
Brooke checked the time. 1:15. Maybe they’d closed early?
She called his cell again. Voicemail.
“Tyler, it’s me again. I really need to talk to you. Please call me back.”
Gina came back in, her shift finally over. “Ready to go? You’re staying with me tonight.”
“I should go home.”
“Too bad. You’re concussed and shouldn’t be alone.” Gina’s tone left no room for argument. “Come on. Nick is making dinner. Want to join us, Steph?”
“What time?”
“Six?”
Steph checked her watch. “I don’t think so. I’ve got a run to get in.”
Gina shook her head. “Not today. Not after...” She gestured toward Brooke. “They’re still out there.”
“Joe’s going with me.”
Gina sighed. “Fine.”
Brooke let herself be led out, Steph walking on her other side.
After she got settled into Gina’s car, Brooke tried Tyler’s number one more time. Voicemail. Again.
Where was he?
