Anonymous(15)

Nodding, I set Tripp’s picture aside and twiddle my fingers. From the look on Owen’s face, I know who’s coming up next. My chest tightens.

Owen hands me a picture of Bryan Snyder, a guy I’d dated just briefly, but had stayed friends with for years. Was there ever a time I was in love with him? Yes, but timing was never on our side. I think I fell in love with how great we meshed together. His friends had called us mac and cheese. It was silly, but that’s how it’d been. I’d met him at the community college when I was eighteen years old. We had English class together. It hadn’t taken long to realize there was a connection between us. Soon, we started dating, but then I transferred out to culinary school while he moved on to pursue a degree to be a park ranger.

It hits me that I have no clue if he ever achieved his dream or not.

In the picture, Bryan is standing in line at a coffee shop, looking down at his phone while he waits. His hair is a little longer on top, and still the same dark blond as before. The jeans he has on aren’t cheap and neither is the gray sweater. He’s obviously taken care of himself over the years. It’s not until I recognize the layout of the shop that my heart stops.

“Please tell me that’s not Tea Time Café,” I say, meeting Owen’s gaze.

He glances at the picture and then back to me. “I can’t . . . because it is. You wouldn’t believe what I found out about your friend here.”

My stomach clenches even more. “Just tell me.” Reaching behind the small stack of papers, he pulls out another photo. This one is of Bryan in a police uniform. “Holy fucking shit. He’s a police officer now?”

“Yep,” Owen replies, sliding the picture back into the pile. “For the city of Pinecrest.”

The blood rushes from my face and I know I’m probably ghostly pale. “Every morning before the bakery opens, there’s a cop who always drives by,” I whisper. I close my eyes and I can see the cop car as it slowly moves down the street.

Owen’s eyes widen. “Seriously?”

I nod. “Every morning. I never thought anything of it. I guess it made me feel safe. Now I don’t know what to think.”

“Let me help you with that.” Owen slides a paper from out of his stack and shows it to me. It’s a receipt from Walmart for an Arrow costume. Bryan’s name is on it as the purchaser.

With a loud gasp, I slap a hand over my mouth. “Oh, my God. It’s him.”

“I’m pretty sure it is,” Owen confirms. “All he had to do was look at your Facebook to see that you were going to be at my party. One of the problems I’m having is that I can’t trace the phone numbers to him. I need more time.”

“And what are the other problems?” I ask nervously.

His jaw clenches. “The main one would be that he’s gone.”

“What? What do you mean he’s gone?”

Owen closes the folder and sets it on the bench. “I went to the station to find him and found out from his supervisor that he’s working a case . . . an undercover one. They won’t tell me where he’s at or what case it is. He’s most likely using one of his alias names and that’s definitely not going to work in our favor.”

Owen has numerous alias’ he’s gone by over the years. My favorite being Jaxon Harding. I’d always thought it sounded rough and intimidating, perfect for his line of work.

My chest tightens to a level where it becomes uncomfortable, so I stand and walk around. “He could be anywhere, Owen. That doesn’t exactly make me feel warm and fuzzy.”

Owen stands and squeezes my shoulder. “I know, but at least we have a good idea of who it is. Give me some time and I’ll find him.”

“What if you get called on another case? I won’t have you here to help me.”

He turns me around. “I’m not going anywhere. Whatever happens, I won’t take another case until this one gets solved. That way, you’ll feel protected. With me and Jake around, Bryan isn’t going to do anything stupid.”

I would be lying if I didn’t say I was scared. Now that he’s a police officer, there’s no telling what he can do as far as tampering with evidence. What if he’s friends with some of the higher-ups and they cover for him? It’ll be Owen’s word against his.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I pull out my phone. “We have to tell Jake.”





Seven





Ellie





Monday is here, and Jake’s plane is about to land. He’s taken the news better than I thought, but I won’t know for sure until he gets home and I see him face to face. Telling him over the phone probably wasn’t the best, but he needed to know. I won’t be withholding any information from him from here on out.

My phone beeps and my stomach clenches. I hate that every time I get a text, I’m afraid to look at it. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see it’s Jake.

Jake: Just landed. Be home in 30.

Me: Can’t wait! Just got back from the gym.

What I’m most excited about is hearing his good news. Maybe that’s why he’s in better spirits. After taking a shower, I sit down in the living room and peer out the window at the mountains. Snow will soon be coming. It’s one of the things I love about winter time in the mountains.