Chapter 18 #2
Robert explained the weird visit before saying, “You need to report this. Henry or whoever left it didn’t mean it as a joke.”
“Report it to who? Deputy Boverman?” Tyler shook his head. “He’d probably use it as evidence I’m guilty, say I wrote it myself to throw suspicion elsewhere.”
“Not to Boverman,” Sue said. “To Edi. You two are friends, aren’t you? She’ll take this seriously.”
Tyler wasn’t sure she would, but Sue was right that Edi was the better option.
“I’ll call her,” Sue offered, already reaching for her purse. “I still have her card from when we found— ” She stopped, not finishing the sentence: from when they found Sheila’s body.
“I’ll do it,” Tyler said. “This is my problem.”
He made the call. Edi answered on the third ring, sounding harried. “Deputy Reeves.”
“Edi, it’s Tyler. Tyler Gillis.”
A pause. “Hey. Everything okay?”
“Not really. Someone left a threatening note on my truck. I think you should see it.”
Another pause. “Where are you?”
“Work. The shop.”
“I’m in the middle of something, but I’ll be there when I can.”
Edi showed up around two o’clock, her expression serious as Tyler and Robert entered the office. Sue opened a file folder.
“I put it in here.”
Edi read the note, her face giving nothing away. “When did you find this?”
“A couple of hours ago. When I went to lunch. It was under my windshield wiper.”
“Anyone see who put it there?”
“Not that I know of. I was working inside. Didn’t notice it until I went out.”
Sue told her about the visit from the game warden while Edi turned the note over, examining both sides of the paper. “Could’ve come from anywhere. But Henry?” She made a face and shook her head. “I can’t imagine him leaving something like this.”
“Well, someone did,” Sue said. “Whether it was him or whoever. It’s a threat. What are you going to do about it?” Her voice was sharp.
“I’ll file a report, make sure it’s on record.” Edi looked at Tyler. “But honestly? This is probably just a prank. Your name’s all over social media right now. People are talking about you in the grocery store, at church, everywhere. Someone probably thought it’d be funny to scare you.”
“Funny?” Sue’s voice rose. “You think it’s funny? ‘Who’s next?’ That’s not funny, Deputy. That’s dangerous.”
“I understand your concern— ”
“Do you? Because if something happens to Tyler, or to someone he cares about, and you dismissed this as a prank, how are you going to feel?”
Edi’s jaw tightened. “Mrs. Toles, I’m taking this seriously. I’ll make sure it’s documented. I’ll ask about increasing patrols in this area. But the reality is, we get stuff like this sometimes. Especially in high-profile cases. Nine times out of ten, it’s nothing.”
“And what about the one time it’s not nothing?” Sue pressed.
“Then we’ll deal with it.” Edi pulled a baggie out of a pocket and put the note inside. “In the meantime, I’d suggest you all use precautions. Lock your vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t go anywhere alone if you can help it.”
“That’s it?” Sue asked. “Lock your doors and hope for the best?”
“That’s all I can do right now. I’m sorry, but without more to go on . . . ” Edi trailed off. “Look, Tyler, I know this is scary. But try not to let it get in your head.”
Tyler shook his head. Easy for her to say.
Edi left, taking the note with her. The three of them stood in the office.
“She’s wrong,” Sue said finally. “This isn’t a prank. Someone’s threatening you.”
“Maybe.” Tyler wasn’t sure what he believed anymore.
“Brooke needs to know,” Sue said. “If someone’s watching you, if they know about her— ”
“We don’t know that they do,” Robert interrupted. “The note doesn’t mention her specifically. Could just be general intimidation.”
“Who’s next?” Sue repeated. “That’s specific enough.”
They both looked at Tyler, waiting for him to decide.
He thought about Brooke’s smile last night. The way she’d kissed him. The hope he’d felt this morning, fragile and new and terrifying in how much he wanted it.
He thought about Jen and Garrett. About the fire. About how everyone he loved seemed to end up hurt.
What if Edi was wrong? What if this wasn’t a prank? What if getting close to Brooke was the worst thing he could do for her?
“I don’t know,” Tyler said quietly. “I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should just, you know, not see her again.”
“You can’t push her away,” Sue said firmly. “Tyler, that woman chose you while knowing you came with baggage. You don’t get to make that decision for her.”
“But what if knowing me puts her in danger?” Tyler’s voice was rough. “What if the person who wrote this goes after her because of me?”
“Or what if they don’t? What if you push away the best thing that’s happened to you in years because you’re too scared to take a chance?”
“Distance might be safer, though,” Robert said quietly. “Not forever. Just until this is sorted out. Until we know who killed Sheila and why they’re coming after you.”
Tyler looked between them. Sue, passionate and certain. Robert, practical and cautious.
Both of them were right. And both of them were wrong.
“I need to think,” Tyler said finally.
They let him go, let him retreat to the bay where a simple job waited. Tyler threw himself into work, trying to quiet the war in his head.
He wanted Brooke. Wanted what they’d started building. Wanted to believe he could have something good without destroying it.
But the note in Edi’s evidence bag suggested something else.
You have blood on your hands. Who’s next?
What if it was Brooke? What if his curse, his poison, his whatever-it-was that killed everyone he loved, reached out and took her too?
Could he live with that? Could he look at himself in the mirror if something happened to her because he’d been too selfish to stay away?
His phone buzzed. It was another text from Brooke.
The running club is planning a trail run this weekend if you want to come. No pressure though. :)
Tyler stared at the message. He could go. Could see her, be near her, and pretend everything was fine.
Or he could stay away, keep his distance and protect her the only way he knew how.
He didn’t know which choice was right, or even if there was a right choice.