Chapter 23
Graham
The soft light of dawn was just beginning to filter through the curtains when I awoke, my body stiff from the awkward position I'd maintained throughout the night. Scarlett was still nestled against my chest, her breathing deep and even in sleep. Brody and Drake were on either side of us, their protective stances unchanged even in slumber.
I allowed myself a moment to simply observe, to take in the scene before me: this unconventional family we'd created, born out of tragedy and fear, was built on a foundation of love and mutual respect. It still amazed me sometimes, how naturally we'd fallen into this arrangement.
Scarlett stirred slightly, a small frown creasing her brow. Instinctively, I tightened my arms around her, murmuring soft words of comfort. Her features relaxed again, and I felt a wave of tenderness wash over me.
Careful not to disturb the others, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. There were several missed calls and messages, all from Detective Rory. My heart rate quickened as I opened the first message.
"DNA results are in. We need to talk. Call ASAP."
I glanced at the time stamp – 5:27 AM. Whatever news they had, it couldn't wait. Gently, I began to extricate myself from the tangle of limbs on the bed.
"Graham?" Scarlett's sleepy voice stopped me. "What's wrong?"
"Shh, it's okay," I soothed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I just need to make a call. Go back to sleep."
But she was already sitting up, fully alert now. The movement roused Brody and Drake, both instantly on guard.
"What's going on?" Brody asked, his voice rough with sleep but eyes sharp.
I sighed, knowing there was no point in trying to keep this from them. "Rory called. They have the DNA results."
A tense silence fell over the room. Scarlett's hand found mine, squeezing tightly. "Call him," she said, her voice steadier than I expected. "We need to know."
With a nod, I dialed Rory's number. He answered on the first ring.
"Graham, thanks for getting back to me. Is Scarlett with you?"
"Yes, we're all here. You're on speaker."
"Good morning, everyone," Rory's voice filled the room. "I'm sorry to disturb you so early, but we have some news that couldn't wait."
Scarlett's grip on my hand tightened. "Is it him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "The man from the cemetery?"
There was a pause, and I could almost see Rory's grimace. "No, I'm afraid not. The DNA doesn't match our suspect."
A collective exhale filled the room, a mixture of relief and disappointment.
"Then who was he?" Drake asked, his arm protectively around Scarlett's shoulders.
"A paparazzo," Rory explained. "He'd gotten wind of the funeral and was trying to get photos. Trying to find out about the woman that Brody got on a flight with back in New York. He ran when he realized he'd been spotted."
"Damn vultures," Brody muttered, his fists clenching.
"So we're back to square one," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.
"Not exactly," Rory countered. "We've made some progress on other fronts. I'd rather not discuss it over the phone. Can you come to the station later today after you get in?"
I looked at Scarlett, silently asking her opinion. She nodded, her jaw set with determination. "We'll be there," I confirmed.
After ending the call, a heavy silence fell over the room. Scarlett was the first to break it. "I need some air," she said abruptly, moving towards the balcony.
We exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between us. Drake nodded, following Scarlett out while Brody and I hung back, giving them some space.
"What do you think this new lead is?" Brody asked quietly.
I shook my head. "I don't know, but Rory seemed cautiously optimistic. Whatever it is, it must be significant for him to want to tell us in person."
Deep down I wondered if it could be something to do with what Sensei saw yesterday outside the gym. My hopes rose against my better judgment that they’d caught him there.
Brody nodded, his gaze fixed on Scarlett's form through the glass doors. "How do you think she's holding up?"
"Better than expected," I admitted. "She's stronger than she gives herself credit for."
"Yeah," Brody agreed, a note of pride in his voice. "She is."
We lapsed into silence, both lost in our own thoughts. After a few minutes, Drake re-entered the room, his expression troubled.
"She wants a moment alone," he explained. "Says she needs to process."
I nodded, understanding her need for space. Still, it was hard to resist the urge to go to her, to try to shoulder some of her burden.
The next hour passed slowly. We took turns showering and dressing, packing and ordering room service for a breakfast that none of us had much appetite for. All the while, our eyes kept drifting to Scarlett's silhouette on the balcony.
Finally, just as I was about to suggest we check on her, Scarlett came back inside. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but there was a determined set to her jaw.
"I'm ready," she announced.
We left the hotel on high alert, watching in every direction. There were no words on the way to the airport and no Mile High Club bathroom sex. Scarlett slept most of the flight while none of us could stop thinking about what would come next.
After we landed, Scarlett seemed much better. “Let's go see what Rory has to say,” she said.
The ride to the police station was apprehensive, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Scarlett sat between Brody and Drake in the back seat, while I sat up front, my eyes constantly scanning our surroundings out of habit.
At the station, we were immediately ushered into a private conference room. Rory was waiting for us, along with a female detective I didn't recognize.
"Scarlett, gentlemen, thank you for coming," Rory greeted us. "This is Detective Sarah Martinez. She's been working on a related case that we think might be connected to yours."
After introductions were made, we settled around the table. Scarlett was flanked by Brody and Drake, while I sat directly across from Rory, my hand resting protectively on Scarlett's.
"What have you found?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
Rory and Detective Martinez exchanged glances before Rory began. "We've been digging into Maddy's work history, trying to find any connection to our suspect. What we found was... unexpected."
He paused, his eyes fixing on Scarlett. "Scarlett, did you know that Maddy had been working as a private investigator?"
Scarlett's brow furrowed in confusion. "What? No, that's impossible. Maddy was an airline stewardess and travel writer. We talked about her trips all the time."
"It seems that was her cover," Detective Martinez interjected gently. "We found evidence that she'd been investigating a series of murders across several states. Murders that match the M.O. of your attacker."
The room fell silent as we absorbed this information. I felt Scarlett stiffen beside me, her grip on my hand becoming almost painful.
"Are you saying..." Scarlett's voice trailed off, unable to complete the thought.
Rory nodded grimly. "We believe Maddy was killed because she was getting close to identifying the killer. Your attacker."
A choked sob escaped Scarlett, and instantly, we were all there, surrounding her with our support. Brody's arm around her shoulders, Drake's hand on her back, my fingers intertwined with hers.
"I don't understand," Scarlett said once she'd regained her composure. "Why wouldn't she tell me? We told each other everything. When I told her what happened to me that first time, she didn’t know anything about this. Sure she was mad, but this? No way!”
"She was probably trying to protect you," Detective Martinez suggested. "Especially given your history with the suspect."
Scarlett was angry, upset, scared, all at once with the thought of Maddy carrying this burden alone, putting herself in danger. I was starting to worry about her capacity to handle all this, but I pushed it aside, focusing on what was important now.
"What does this mean for the investigation?" I asked.
Rory leaned forward, his expression intense. "It means we have a new angle to pursue. Maddy's research, her notes – they could lead us right to him."
"But?" Brody prompted, sensing there was more.
"But," Rory continued, "we haven't been able to locate her files. We think she must have hidden them somewhere, knowing the risks she was taking."
Understanding dawned on me. "And you think Scarlett might know where."
Rory nodded. "You were her best friend, Scarlett. This has something to do with you. She went in search of this guy after the local P.D. dropped the ball. If Maddy hid something important, it might be somewhere only you would think to look."
Scarlett was quiet for a long moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "There might be... Our old apartment. There was a loose floorboard in Maddy's room. We used to hide things there. Valuable stuff because, the neighborhood. You know?"
A spark of hope ignited in Rory's eyes. "That's exactly the kind of thing we're looking for. Would you be willing to go back there? To see if you can find anything?" [4]
Scarlett hesitated, and I could feel the conflict radiating off her. The thought of returning to the scene of so much trauma was clearly daunting. But I could also see the determination in her eyes, the need to do something, anything, to bring Maddy's killer to justice.
"I'll go," she said finally. "But not alone."
"Of course not," I assured her immediately. "We'll all go with you."
Rory nodded. "We'll be there too. We can't take any chances."
As we hammered out the details of the plan, I kept a close eye on Scarlett. She was putting on a brave face, but I could see the toll this was taking on her. The revelation about Maddy, the prospect of returning to her old apartment – it was a lot to process.
When the meeting finally concluded, we made our way back to the car in silence. As soon as we were inside, Scarlett broke down, her body shaking with silent sobs. We enveloped her immediately, offering what comfort we could.
"It's okay, Cheri," Drake murmured, stroking her hair. "Let it out."
"We're here, Bella," Brody added, his voice gruff with emotion. "You're not alone in this."
I simply held her hand, pouring all my love and support into the embrace. When her sobs finally subsided, she looked up at us, her eyes red but determined.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you all."
"You'll never have to find out," I promised, pulling her forward and pressing a kiss to her forehead.