Chapter 28
Wes continued to wait, anxious to hear the rest of Sheriff Sutherland’s update.
“I’ve already had three reporters call the department this morning asking about Rowan,” the sheriff continued. “One somehow got my direct number.”
Naomi shifted. “Can they connect Ro to this place?”
“I’m not sure,” Sheriff Sutherland said. “But once media starts circling in a small town, people talk.”
The warmth in the kitchen dimmed a little more.
Ruby finally sat down at the table, though her eyes stayed fixed on Rowan. “What do we do?”
“We tighten things up,” Wes said. “No one posts online. No one answers questions. And no one goes anywhere alone for a while.”
Rowan let out a soft breath and stared down at the untouched food in front of her. “I should leave.”
“No.” The answer came from three directions at once. From Naomi, Ruby, and Wes.
Ruby reached across the table and covered Rowan’s hand with hers. “You are not facing this alone.”
Rowan looked dangerously close to crying. Then she blinked quickly and looked away before it could happen.
Wes understood the instinct. Some emotions felt safer outrunning than surviving.
“The less oxygen this gets, the better,” Sheriff Sutherland continued.
Rowan gave a distracted nod.
Wes watched her as Sheriff Sutherland ended the call.
She looked exhausted. Not physically, but emotionally. She appeared as if the walls around her life were narrowing one piece at a time.
After Sheriff Sutherland ended the call, Wes remained where he was, with one hand wrapped around a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold.
Everything felt normal. The kitchen still smelled like biscuits and bacon. Outside, sunlight covered the mountainside.
It should feel peaceful.
But it didn’t.
He watched Rowan as she sat at the table.
She still looked wound too tight beneath the surface, like one hard pull would snap something loose.
Her coffee remained untouched. So did most of her breakfast.
Remington lifted his head as Wes’s phone rang.
The number on the screen made Wes straighten.
Hollow House Bed and Breakfast.
He answered. “This is Wes.”
“Mr. Bennett?” Maggie sounded flustered as she said his name. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I thought you’d want to know this right away.”
“Know what?”
“I think . . . well, I think someone’s been in your room.”