Brody shouldn’t want to show Rebecca his ranch, shouldn’t want her to be proud of him. Hell, he’d already had her in his arms twice and he couldn’t deny just how much it felt as if she belonged there, especially with the way her warm body molded to his. She’d asked to go to a hotel instead and his chest had deflated a little. The facts still remained the same. She’d rejected him and stomped on his heart before and she’d do it again. She wasn’t cruel, just scared and confused. And it was all too easy for Brody to slip into his old role of being her shoulder to cry on, her friend. She’d confused those feelings for something else when they were young and she was doing it now. That was the only reason she’d go down that path again. How stupid was he not to figure it out before? Then again, Rebecca Hughes was his kryptonite. He reminded himself of the real reason she was there in the first place. She’d asked for his help.
All he was doing was helping Rebecca get her life back.
He owed her that.
Or maybe he owed it to himself. If he got her squared away, he could put the past behind him and move on. He could stop thinking about those hauntingly beautiful eyes, the fear he saw behind them, the frustration he felt when he couldn’t take it away.
“Got a different idea of where we can hang out the next few days instead of a hotel.”
“Oh, yeah. Where are we headed?”
“How do you feel about camping?” He stole a glance at her as he pulled out of the drive, needing to see the look on her face. She might’ve been born in the country, but Rebecca Hughes didn’t sleep outside.
Based on the look she shot him, his attempt at humor had only made things worse.
“Is that your idea of a joke?” She tapped his arm.
“Yes. It is.” Something needed to break the tension. Get the conversation on a lighter track. It looked as if her muscles were strung so tight she might snap.
“Well, it’s not funny.” Her face screwed up. And she finally smiled, too.
“Sorry about the joke. But your reaction made me laugh. And I needed that.”
“Okay, funny man. Where are we really going?” There was something special about the curve to her lips, the way her eyes flashed toward him looking so alive. The few times he’d broken through to her in high school were some of his happiest moments. And how sad did that make him sound? Then again, after his mother had ripped off the town and disappeared, life had become dark and complicated for him and his father.
“How do you feel about a serious change in plans? Hanging out in a cabin in Texoma for a few days until we sort all this out instead of a hotel? No roughing it. The place will have all the modern luxuries.”
She was shaking her head from the second she heard “Texoma.”
“It’s too far. By the time we drive out there and back, we’ll lose four hours. No way.” Her body had started shaking again, all hint of playfulness gone from her expression. He wondered if she even realized she was doing it.
“You sure you don’t want to get away? I mean really get away?”
“I can’t. I don’t want to be that far from my mother. I need to call work, too. In fact, I should do that right now.” She made a quick call and then dropped her phone in her purse. “I could always stay with my mother.”
“That’s not a good idea. Unless you want to tell her what’s going on.”
“No. You’re right. It’s bad enough that I skipped our visit this morning. That won’t work. I’d rather keep her out of this as much as possible.”
“I figured that’s what you’d say.”
“She needs me here. Can we get another place? Something closer?”
Brody stopped at the four-way stop sign at the end of her block. “My ranch is the perfect place.”
“You bought the old Wakefield place, didn’t you?”
“It’s less than twenty minutes from here and it’ll make it easier for me to check on the horses. If you really don’t want to go there, my dad’s house is another option.”
“It would be nice to see him again. I’d like to stay at your place, though, if we can’t stay at a hotel.”
“It might be best if we don’t leave a credit-card trail.” He turned the steering wheel right. Pride he had no right to feel tugged at his heart. He needed to remember to keep a safe distance from the emotion. Nothing good could happen from touching a fire twice. “Let’s swing by and get you settled before heading out to search for this guy.”
“That’s a better plan.”
“Can I ask a question, though?”
“Okay.” Her tone was tentative.
“Why didn’t you take your father’s call earlier? You two still at odds?”
“I’m not sure ‘at odds’ is the best way to describe our relationship. We don’t really have one.”
“Why is that, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I know.” He kept his gaze on the road ahead. “I realize why you kept your distance before...how screwed up your mom was. I’m sure you felt conflicted. Love him and it betrays her. I get it. But, why now? Your mom’s sick. You’re doing all this alone and you don’t have to.”
“She’s not his problem anymore.”
“He said that?”
“No. Not in so many words. But he walked out. Divorced us.”
“Her. He divorced her. There’s a big difference.”
“Same thing.”
“Is it?” He shrugged. “I see Dylan with Maribel and just because he’s not together with her mom doesn’t mean he loves that little girl any less.”
“Dylan has a daughter?” She couldn’t contain her shock.
“Long story, but yeah. He’s a great dad, too.”
“He’s the last person I’d expect to have a family. Especially after what happened to him with his own parents. Didn’t we vote him most likely to become a career criminal?”
“What can I say? The guy cleaned up his act. He’d do anything for Maribel. He’s a changed man.”
Brody’s phone vibrated again, another text. “Can you check that for me?”
Rebecca picked it up from the seat and checked the screen, staring for a long moment.
“It’s from Ryan. He spoke to Lisa and she said one of her cousins was in Woodrain Park when a strange-looking guy ran past. He fit the basic description of our guy.” Her voice cracked on the last few words.
Brody gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles went white. He ground his back teeth. “Looks like we have a place to start our search.”
* * *
“SOMETHING’S BEEN BOTHERING me about this whole scenario.” Brody finally broke the silence. “You asked the question before and it’s the same one that’s been on my mind. Why now? What’s so significant about today?”
“I keep racking my brain, too. I always go back to the fact that it’s the fifteenth anniversary.”
“Yeah, but what’s so important about this one? Why not the fifth, or the tenth?”
Good question. “Could it be the extra newspaper coverage we’re getting this year?”
“It’s possible. They run stories every year, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Makes me think there was some kind of trigger that we haven’t figured out yet.”
“That makes sense. But what? I haven’t done anything differently. I’ve been here working, taking care of my mother. My routine hasn’t changed.” Her life sounded depressing when she spoke about it out loud. It was true, though. Her entire world had been about existing and nothing more for more years than she could remember. Maybe didn’t want to, either.
“You moved back a few years ago, so that’s not it.” He tapped the steering wheel with his thumb. “Any new friends?”
“I don’t have time.” She glanced down at her feet when she said it. Was that true? Or had she simply not made time?
“What about those letters? Anything stand out?”
“No. I get the same stuff every year,” she said on a sigh.
“Any new employees at work?”
“We have a summer intern who started last month.”
“Male or female?” His tone deepened a fraction, but she noticed it. He was onto something.
“Male. What are you getting at?”
“Who is it?” Brody’s gaze stayed fixed on the road ahead.
“Alex Sweeny. Why?”
“How tall is he?”
“Six feet, I guess.” Surely Brody wasn’t saying what she thought. That Alex was somehow involved. She was already shaking her head. “He’s way too young to be the guy we’re looking for. Plus, he’s related to the sheriff.”
“You’re right. We have to explore every possibility, though. And one of those prospects is that this guy could be involved somehow or wanting you to relive the past.” His jaw clenched and released. His tension level matched hers.
“You mean like a copycat?” Rebecca didn’t want to consider the possibility. If this was some twisted person trying to remind her of that horrible summer, then her chances of figuring out what had happened to her brother were nil.
And if not?
Then she had to face the horrible truth that any whack job could send her spiraling back to that dark place by imitating the crime. “What about the apple tobacco? The officers and FBI were careful about not letting that leak into the press exactly for this reason. How would he know about that?”
Rebecca kept on alert for two things. One was the scent of apple tobacco. The other was Shane’s birthmark. He had a birthmark that looked like Oklahoma on top of his right foot.
Brody’s face set with concentration for a long period. “With Sweeny being related to the sheriff he could get inside information of your case.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that. He would know about the threatening letters. The reporter. It was all common knowledge around the radio station.”
“Why?”
“My boss wanted everyone on the lookout. He figured the best way to protect me and keep his other employees safe was to keep everyone informed.” But could Sweeny, a young kid, pull off an attack at the grocery store without her realizing who he was? “I still think the kid is innocent.”
“And he might be. But until we figure this thing out, we follow through on every possible lead.” Brody turned into Woodrain Park’s lot.
Rebecca hadn’t been back to that place, to those woods...ever. Icy chills raced up her arms. She crossed them to stave off goose bumps.
As if a door had been opened, emotions flooded, crashing into her.
The shed.
The desperation.
She stopped for a moment to stem the tears pouring down her cheeks. “I can’t remember much of what happened in the shed. I must’ve blocked it out or something.”
Brody had pulled over and parked. His hand covered hers, which did little to stop the shaking. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“What if I can’t do it? Can’t go back in there?” She motioned toward the wooded path.
“Then we’ll look somewhere else. The chance he’d return is slim.”
His words, his touch, breathed life into her. And a bit of courage. Besides, she couldn’t avoid those woods forever. Maybe going, facing that horrible place, might help her remember something else. “You’re right. He’s most likely long gone by now. And even if he’s not I have to do this. It might help. I keep thinking about how my brother’s disappearance is my fault.” A sob racked her. “I wish he would’ve stayed home that night instead of sneaking out to follow me. Wish I hadn’t gone out that night and then none of this would’ve happened.”
“I remember how close you two were. How you stood up for him when that bully threatened to beat Shane up after school.”
“And you showed up at the rock quarry to make sure the bully never pulled that on younger kids again,” she said.
Brody shrugged.
“Sorry about the black eye he gave you.”
“That healed. I’m not so sure my pride ever recovered,” he said with a smile that could melt Glacier Bay.
She leaned into him, into his comfort. She rarely ever spoke about the past, let alone laughed at some of the memories. Being with Brody was slowly bringing her back to life. He seemed to understand her need to keep everyone at a safe distance. He did the same. Maybe it was that she knew he’d been a loner most of his life and she could relate—she’d felt the same every day since that summer night when her life inexplicably changed. The only happy thought she’d held on to through college was Brody. He’d been her safe landing.
Regret filled her as he sat there quietly reassuring her, and for a split second she wished she could go back and make things right. Would she have pushed him away if she’d known no other man’s touch would make her feel the way his did?
“You don’t have to do this.” Brody’s voice, warm and understanding, pulled her back to the present. “We can go. Let the others look here. Ryan’s on his way as we speak and he’s bringing Dylan.”
“I want to.” How did she explain that while she realized facing these woods, that shed again, would be the most difficult thing in her life, it was also the only way to begin healing? All these years, she’d been going through the motions of her day, numb. Being with Brody, remembering that it was possible to feel things again, made her want to keep going. Do more than just exist.
“I don’t want to go, believe me. Everything inside me is telling me to run the other way. But I’m afraid I’ll feel even worse if I don’t. What if I could have saved him and didn’t because I was scared to go back? I can’t live with that.”
“I understand.” And the hitch in his voice said he meant those words. He got out of the truck and then opened the passenger door. “It’s not still there, you know. The shed.”
“What happened?”
He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “Me.”
“You came out here?”
“It was after you left for college. I’d signed up for the service. Didn’t want to ship out with unfinished business here.”
She understood he wouldn’t see another answer to his emotions. Brody had been quick to anger before and ready to fight the world. Except when it came to her and his family. He’d been tender and kind, which had made pushing him away all that much more painful.
The military looked to have done good things for him. He seemed to have grown into his own skin, was more at peace with himself and the world. Except when it came to her. There, he seemed as confused as she felt.
“I couldn’t stand this place for what it had done to you. The fact that it was still standing six years later made me furious. I had to make sure another soul would never be taken to that place again. So, I tore it apart with my own hands to make sure.”
“Thank you.” She could totally see Brody doing something like that to protect her, to protect others. Maybe even out of frustration that the guy got away with it. His angry streak never would have been aimed at her or any other innocent person. But a bad guy, someone who was downright mean to others, should watch out.
She’d noticed it before, but there was a sense of purpose to Brody’s stride now. Less anger, more determination. He was quiet calm, but, just like the surface of the ocean, danger lurked below. She had no doubt that if Brody met the man who’d hurt her today, he’d unleash hell. Just like he’d done all those years ago when faced with a bully. This time, Brody would win.
He took her hand as he guided her toward the pathway in the woods.
His cell buzzed. He checked the screen. “It’s Dylan.”
“Let’s hope for good news.”
Brody tipped his chin. “Tell me you found something we can work with.”
He said “uh-huh” a few times into the phone, but Rebecca could tell from his tone there was nothing new to go on.
“We’re at the park. We just got here.” He went quiet. “Then you’re not far from us.” Another pause. “Yeah. That’s exactly where we’re headed. I know, man. I hear you.”
She knew immediately that they were surprised she’d want to go back there. She couldn’t say she was shocked at their reactions. No one in her right mind would do it. Maybe if she followed the killer’s trail, she’d find something. It was a long shot but she had to try for Shane. She’d been a kid before, helpless, but she wasn’t anymore.
She’d thought about this a million times. If she’d screamed for help instead of following and confronting the kidnapper, would things have turned out differently? Or what if she’d left some sort of trail so that others could find them?
A knot formed in her chest, tightening like a coil with each forward step.
It wasn’t hard to tune out the rest of Brody’s conversation. Rebecca was half-afraid of what Dylan thought about her after the way she’d left things with Brody, and she was afraid she’d overhear him warning Brody to stay away from her or something.
The only thing keeping her feet moving at this point was Brody’s hand on her lower back, guiding each forward step, reassuring her.
“Dylan and Ryan are near Mason Ridge Lake. Said they’d head this way.”
She needed to focus her attention on something besides the horror inside her escalating the farther they walked. “How are they?”
“Dylan and Ryan? They’re good. I already told you about Dylan’s little girl.”
“You said he was bringing her up alone. What happened?” She needed to distract herself. Her pulse was rising and she needed to think about something else besides what lay ahead.
“He met someone on leave and fell pretty hard. Guess he was missing home and she reminded him of it. The relationship didn’t last long, which is a long story, but he got Maribel out of it.”
“What about the mother?”
“She was really sick when she finally told Dylan he had a child. He got to see her one last time before...”
“That’s so sad. He didn’t know?”
“No. She didn’t tell him. Said she was afraid of what his reaction would be.”
“He always said parenting was the cruelest thing people could do to children. She must’ve known.”
“He didn’t keep his feelings a secret. You should see him now. Maribel came to live with him when she was two. He had a rough year adjusting, but you wouldn’t know it to see them together now.”
It was hard to think of Dylan being tender with a toddler. If Brody had been tough back in the day, then Dylan had been an outlaw. Throw them both together and they’d be deadly.
Seeing Brody now, thinking about children, made Rebecca wish she’d handled things differently. The deep-seated sense of trust they’d shared was gone. She could see unease in his eyes. He was still as protective as he’d always been—some things would never change.
There were new scars on his body that weren’t there before. He might’ve filled out in good ways, all muscle and strength, but he’d been hurt, too. Her heart squeezed thinking about the pain he must’ve endured. Rebecca knew full well external scars hurt far less than internal ones.
She’d lied to him and pushed him away. The only other time she’d been untruthful was for their friends.
Small towns were known for being bad places to hide secrets. Yet, they’d had to protect their friends. A cold chill raced up her spine, gripping her heart. A mistake?
The uneasy feeling intensified. Her feet felt heavier, legs weaker. A ball tightened in her chest.
Brody stopped. “You sure you want to keep going? You’ve been too quiet, which used to mean you were overthinking something. Now, I have no idea if it still means that. But I can tell that whatever’s going on is spiking your blood pressure.”
A branch snapped.
She turned around and gasped. “Oh. God. No!”
Brody instinctively reacted, dropping down low and pulling her down with him, a second too late to miss the large metal object from cracking his skull.