Chapter 33
Brooke
Brooke stared at the note lying on Joe’s patio table. Two threats neutralized. The clinical language made her skin crawl.
“We need to talk about keeping you safe,” Tyler said, his hand tightening on hers.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve already been attacked once,” Phil said bluntly. “Someone grabbed you on a trail and tried to drag you into the woods. You didn’t get a look at their face, right?”
“You know I didn’t.”
“But do you think it was Adam?”
Brooke stared at the note as she thought back to that awful day. “It could’ve been Adam. The height is right.”
“What about the game warden? Could it be him?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I only saw him from a distance.” She closed her eyes and thought back to that day. “He was standing next to Edi . . . no, I don’t think so. He was shorter than her by several inches. Edi is about the same height as Adam. Same build too. The game warden is shorter.”
“Could it have been Edi?” Joe asked, his voice soft.
“I never would’ve thought it was a woman, but Edi . . . she’s tall.”
“And big,” Phil added.
“Phil.” Brooke pursed her lips. “Be nice.”
“Hey, I’m telling the truth. Edi’s always been a big girl. Back in elementary school, kids teased her something awful. You remember, Tyler? They’d chant, ‘Edi, Edi two-by-four can’t fit through the schoolhouse door.’”
Tyler shook his head. “I don’t remember doing that.”
“Not you. Not me either, but some of them did. Like . . . ” He glanced out toward the yard, as if trying to remember. “Sheila. I’m pretty sure she was one of them.”
“Sheila used to make fun of Edi?” Joe sat up straight. “What about Monique?”
Phil shook his head. “She didn’t live here when we were young. Not until . . . ”
“Middle school,” Joe said, shuffling through his notes. “I’m pretty sure she moved to Irma sometime around then.”
“Yes,” Brooke said. “You told me before about this. Sixth grade. Then Monique and Sheila were best friends.”
“Thick as thieves.” Phil nodded. “They were always together. Had a few others in their posse, too, but if Sheila was around, you could count on seeing Monique too.”
“And Edi?” Joe asked, making a note on his timeline.
“Nothing really changed for her. She was always on the outside looking in. I don’t think it bothered her much. She wasn’t part of the popular crowd, but she didn’t need to be.”
Joe’s pen stopped moving. “Why is that?”
“You know about Edi’s family?”
“Can’t say I do. She hasn’t been the focus of my research. Something I intend to remedy with this new information.”
Phil detailed how Edi’s family had long ties with the community and plenty of money. “Her mom’s a Goldworth.”
“As in former US Senator Davidson Goldworth?”
“That’s her grandpa. I take it you’ve heard of him.”
Joe snickered. “Everyone’s heard of Davidson Goldworth.”
Brooke knew he was right. Goldworth had been a major political figure, and his failed reelection had been all anyone talked about for weeks. Even Brooke, away at college by then, had heard plenty.
She rarely thought about the connection between Edi and Senator Goldworth, although she knew Edi had grown up wealthy.
You’d never guess it now. Edi worked steadily as a deputy, drove an ordinary-looking car during her off-hours, and had told Brooke more than once, usually while stopping in for coffee, about her modest condo and her two cats.
“Back to Brooke,” Phil said, pointing at her. “She’s been attacked once already.”
“I already told you, I’m fine,” she said, giving her brother a look.
“Fine is not the word I would use. You could’ve been killed.”
“I fought them off.”
“Because hikers showed up,” Tyler said quietly. “What if they hadn’t? What if next time there’s no one around?”
The fear in his voice stopped her protest. She looked at his face and saw the genuine terror there. This wasn’t about controlling her. It was about not losing her.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m already being extra careful. I never go anywhere alone.”
“Not enough.” Phil shook his head.
“What do you suggest?”
“You should move home. Dad’s there most of the time. You’d never be alone.”
Brooke made a face. “Don’t remind me.”
“What’s wrong with Dad?”
“Nothing’s wrong with Dad. But I’m thirty-two years old. I’m not moving back into my childhood bedroom because I’m scared.”
“Hey, I live at home. It’s not that bad. Besides, it’s not about being scared. It’s about being smart.”
“I can be smart and stay in my own house.”
Tyler cleared his throat. “What if I stayed with you? At your place. Just until this is sorted out.”
The offer hung in the air. Brooke felt heat creep up her neck. Tyler quickly added, “I can stay in your extra room.”
“So, you two are really together?” Phil asked, looking between them.
Joe grinned. “Oh, you missed it earlier. Right after Tyler got here. Very romantic.”
“Joe,” Brooke warned.
“What? It was. The whole ‘I love you; I love you too’ thing. Very sweet.”
Phil’s eyebrows shot up. “You said that? Out loud? In front of people?”
“In front of Joe,” Brooke said, lifting her chin. “I did. We did. We love each other.”
“It’s about time,” Phil said, his face splitting into a genuine smile. “You two can be good together. If you both wouldn’t be such boneheads.” He bugged his eyes out at her.
“Thanks, bro,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Even with his silliness, Brooke felt something warm in her chest. Phil’s approval mattered more than she realized. He’d been Tyler’s friend first, had believed in his innocence when others didn’t. Having his support for their relationship felt like a blessing.
And he was right about her being a bonehead.
She’d been so indecisive about Tyler. Sometimes, she was sure they could make it work, and other times she was full of doubt.
Not because she thought he was a killer, more because she was still a mess from what happened with Kelsey.
That whole thing still stung and left her questioning her own judgement.
That ended now.
She supposed she should talk to her dad about Tyler too. She’d mostly kept a lid on the relationship since it was so complicated, but the truth was, she could no longer deny her feelings and didn’t care who knew.
“So that settles one problem,” Joe said. “Tyler stays with Brooke for now. What else?”
“We take the evidence to the sheriff,” Tyler said. “Show him the notes, explain our concerns.”
“About one of his deputies possibly being a killer?” Phil shook his head. “That’s not going to go over well.”
“It has to be done,” Joe said. “We can’t sit on this. Two women are dead. There’s been another threat. The sheriff needs to know.”
Brooke thought about the sheriff. She knew him casually—he came into the coffee shop sometimes and always ordered the same thing. Black coffee and whatever pastry looked good. He was fair, from what she’d heard. But asking him to investigate one of his own people?
“Steph could help,” Brooke said suddenly.
“Steph?” Joe asked.
“Yeah. She was engaged to the sheriff’s son.
That ended . . . oh, I guess about a year and a half ago.
Steph was treated like family. And she’s still friendly with most of them.
Even her former fiancé and his new wife.
She could get us a meeting, make sure he takes it seriously instead of dismissing it as paranoia. ”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Joe said, already pulling out his phone. “Mind if I call her now?”
“Go ahead.”
Joe stepped back inside the house, his voice fading as he moved toward the living room.
Phil stood and started clearing plates. “I’ll clean up. You two talk.”
Once they were alone on the patio, Tyler turned to face Brooke fully. The sun had dropped below the Beartooth Mountains, casting long shadows across the small space. He looked tired but determined.
“I meant what I said,” Tyler told her. “About staying with you. Whatever happens, we face it together.”
“Even if it’s dangerous?”
“Especially then.” His hand came up to cup her face. “I love you, Brooke. I’m not going to let doubt keep us apart. Not anymore.”
She leaned into his touch. “I love you, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m finished letting fear make my decisions.”
“We’re really doing this?”
“We’re really doing this.” She smiled. “Fair warning, though—I’m terrible at sharing my space. I like things a certain way. And I’m not great at compromise. And you already know how I can sometimes fixate on things.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
They kissed, soft and sweet, a promise of more to come.
When they pulled apart, Brooke rested her forehead against his. “This is going to be complicated.”
“Everything worth having is.”
Phil appeared in the doorway. “Joe’s still on the phone with Steph. Sounds like she’s on board to help.”
They went back inside. Joe was pacing near the couch, phone to his ear, nodding along to whatever Steph was saying.
“Yeah, I think that could work,” Joe said. “Okay. Call me back when you know. Thanks, Steph.” He hung up and turned to the group. “She’s going to reach out to the sheriff tonight, see if she can set up a meeting for tomorrow morning.”
“What’d you tell her?” Brooke asked.
“Just that we have evidence related to the murders that needs to get to him directly. I didn’t go into details about suspecting a deputy.”
“Smart,” Phil said.
Tyler checked his watch. “I should head to my place and pack a bag. It’s getting late.”
“I’ll follow Brooke home and wait there until you arrive,” Phil offered.
“You don’t have to do that,” Brooke said.
“Yes, I do. You’re my little sister. Someone’s threatening you. I’m not leaving you alone.”
The protectiveness in his voice made her throat tight. “Thanks, Phil.”
They gathered their things and headed for the door. Joe walked them out to the street where their vehicles were parked.
“Be careful,” Joe said. “All of you. If we’re right about this, the killer may find out we’re getting close.”
“We will,” Tyler promised.
Brooke climbed into her SUV, looking in the rearview mirror as Tyler walked to his truck. Phil was already in his car, engine running, waiting to follow her.
The drive home felt longer than usual. Every shadow seemed suspicious. Every car behind her could be a threat. By the time she pulled into her driveway, her hands were shaking.
Phil parked on the street and followed her to the door. “Let me check inside first.”
“Phil— ”
“Humor me.”
She unlocked the door and let him go in ahead of her while she waited in the entry. He moved through the house methodically, checking the upstairs bedrooms first. When he returned to the living room, his expression was satisfied.
“So . . . little sister,” Phil said, with a smirk. “You and Tyler. Two official love birds.”
“Stop.” She walked past him and into the kitchen. He followed.
“And he’s really staying in the spare room?”
She turned around, hand on her hip. “I’m a grown woman, Phil. I can have him stay with me if I want. Besides, do you really think we can’t control ourselves?”
“I think you and Tyler could make a great life together. But I know how you get. All obsessed with things. Like your running. This investigation. I don’t want to see you spiral again. Maybe . . . maybe you should take things slow.”
Brooke braced herself against the counter. She knew he was right about the way she could get. But she also knew her feelings for Tyler were real. She would never replace Jen and Garrett in his heart, yet she understood there was a place for her, too, one that was entirely her own.
“I’ve got this,” Brooke said, and for the first time in a long while, she meant it.