Chapter 4 #2
“Maybe. I don’t know yet.” I ran a hand through my hair.
“I’ve got my mom’s business to figure out.
She had a popular outdoor excursion company, and this house is bigger than it looks.
Five bedrooms, three baths. One of the bedrooms is an office right now, another is a home gym, but they can be converted while you figure out where to go from here. ”
“If you stay,” Archer said.
“If I stay,” I agreed.
“You know how to run a business?” Colton asked.
“No. But I know how to learn.” I met their eyes. “And I know it’ll be a hell of a lot harder to do it alone. If you two wanted to stick around, help me build something, expand what she started, maybe there’s something here for all of us.”
Archer and Colton exchanged a look. Some silent communication I couldn’t quite read.
“We’ll think about it,” Archer said finally. “Right now, we’d better take a look at those notes.”
I led them to the living room where I’d spread Mom’s notebooks and manila folders across the coffee table. Newspaper clippings, printed social media profiles, and trail maps marked in red. Her handwriting filled the margins with questions and observations.
Archer and Colton moved to the table with the efficient focus of men who’d conducted a thousand intelligence briefings. They didn’t touch anything at first, just studied the layout with careful eyes.
Colton picked up the trail map first.
“Your mom marked significant locations in red,” Archer noted. “What’s the pattern?”
“I don’t know yet, or if there is one. I only know she was looking.
She made notes about all three women visiting Island Adventures before they disappeared.
Getting trail recommendations, renting equipment.
” I pointed to my mother’s handwriting in the margins.
“I’m guessing she felt as if she was already involved, because she played a part in the women’s last days.
She saw them. She’d spoken to them and helped them choose a path for their hikes.
Then none of them came back.” I couldn’t imagine how Mom must’ve felt the first time.
But the second? Then the third? I would’ve started looking in earnest too.
Assuming there was a connection, something more than her shop.
The guys got comfortable on the couch and pulled papers into their hands for a closer look.
I checked my watch. “I’ve got to help a friend in a bit, but you two can go through everything. See if anything stands out to you.”
“We’ll start by building a timeline,” Archer said. “Cross-reference the disappearances with witness reports she pulled, weather conditions, moon phases. See if there’s a pattern in when he hunts.”
“And we’ll map out the trail locations,” Colton added. “Look for common features. Isolated areas, limited visibility, places where someone could intercept a hiker without being seen.”
Pride welled in my chest. It was good to be working with my brothers again. This was the kind of tactical thinking that could make a difference.
The sound of another vehicle interrupted my thoughts. I moved to the window and saw Maggie’s red pickup truck pulling into the driveway.
“That’s Maggie,” I said. “I’ve told you about her. Closest thing to a little sister I have. Sheriff’s actual sister. Remember that.”
Archer and Colton looked up as the front door opened without a knock.
“Whose truck is in the driveway?” she asked, a moment before wrinkling her nose at my appearance. “Oh, geez. I hope you’re not planning to show up at this party looking like that.” Maggie froze in the doorway when her gaze landed on the guys. “Oh. You have company.”
“Maggie, this is Archer Stone and Colton O’Connor. Guys, this is Maggie Sullivan.”
Maggie crossed the room and shook each man’s hand in turn. Professional. Friendly. But her eyes lingered on Colton a fraction longer than necessary. Then I watched Colton’s ears turn slightly pink when she smiled at him.
“Nice to meet you both,” she said. “Thanks for coming out to be with Knox. I know it means a lot to him.”
“Wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Archer said simply.
Maggie’s expression softened before she turned her attention back to me. “My brother told me what happened yesterday. With Sloane Mercer.”
I tensed. “Nash told you?”
“Of course he told me. Every woman on this island is terrified to go anywhere alone.” Maggie crossed her arms. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” Maggie glanced at the papers spread across the coffee table, then back at me. “Your mom’s stuff?”
“Yeah. I think she was looking for the missing hikers.”
Maggie’s expression was solemn as her gaze raked over the newspaper clippings. “Mama Bear to any and all. Right up to the end.”
I set a hand on her shoulder, appreciating the words.
The touch seemed to remind her why she’d come. “Are you still able to help at the party tonight? I won’t keep you long. I just need a little extra muscle for moving things from the catering van into the house. I didn’t ask anyone else after you agreed, so I hope we’re still on.”
“Yeah. I’m good. What time?”
“Seven. It’s the big white house on the sound, about three miles north.” She pulled out her phone and texted me the address. “You can’t miss it. Just look for the place that’s trying too hard.”
Colton coughed to hide what might’ve been a laugh. Maggie’s eyes flicked to him, something passing between them, and I shook my head at him.
“I’ll be there,” I said. “Let me know if you need me to swing back later and help you clean up.”
“Sounds good.” Maggie headed for the door, then paused with her hand on the frame. She looked back at Colton. “You should come too. If you want. There’ll be food, and you look like you could use a good meal after driving all day.”
Colton opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “They’re going to be busy here. Going through Mom’s files.”
Maggie’s eyebrows rose slightly, but she didn’t argue. “Suit yourself. Knox, don’t be late.”
“I won’t.”
She slipped out the door, and I heard her truck start up a moment later. When I turned back to Archer and Colton, Archer was grinning.
“She seems nice,” he said.
“She is. She’s also like a little sister to me, as I mentioned.” I directed the comment at Colton, whose ears were still pink. “So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t even think about her again.”
“I wasn’t thinking about anything,” Colton protested.
“Sure you weren’t.” I moved toward the hallway. “I’m going to clean up before I head out. You two get started on those notes. I shouldn’t be more than an hour.”
“Take your time,” Archer said, already picking up another of my mother’s trail maps. “We’ve got plenty to keep us busy.”
I took the stairs two at a time and headed for the shower. The hot water felt good on muscles that had been tight for days. I scrubbed off the grime and sweat and tried to organize my thoughts into something resembling a plan.
Keep Sloane safe. Work with Archer and Colton to analyze my mother’s research. Build a profile for the person behind this. Then stop him before he takes another woman.
I turned off the water and grabbed a towel. My reflection in the steam-fogged mirror looked like hell. Dark circles hung beneath my eyes. Hair in desperate need of a cut and longer than I’d worn it in ages. Stubble was already making a reappearance having just shaved hours ago.
I ran a razor over my cheeks and jaw. There wasn’t much to do about the rest right now.
I grabbed a white button-down and dark pants to match the uniforms of Maggie and the catering staff. Then I headed back downstairs.
Archer and Colton were exactly where I’d left them, surrounded by papers, deep in conversation about trail patterns and hunting behavior.
“I’m heading out,” I said, grabbing my keys from the counter.
“We’ll be here.” Colton answered without looking up. “If there’s anything to find, we’ll find it.”
Of that, I had no doubt.