Anonymous(46)

“Hey, babe. How’s Canada?”

I look out at the mountains. “Gorgeous and cold. I’m ready for you to get here tomorrow.”

He sighs. “I’m ready to get there too.”

“So . . . I heard you hung out with Bryan today?” I ask, gliding my hands across the soft snow on the fence.

“How did you hear that?”

“Owen’s been keeping in touch with Detective Bradshaw. He told him that you two went to look for evidence together.”

The line goes silent for a second. “We did. Why does it sound like you’re not happy about that? I thought it’d make you happy that Bryan’s innocent.”

“Is he though?” I retort.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I saw the video. It wasn’t him who killed Samantha.”

Releasing a heavy sigh, there are so many emotions warring inside me. I wish I knew what to believe. “Owen said he doesn’t think you should get involved with Bryan. It’s not safe.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t forgotten about him trying to sabotage our wedding, but he’s fucked up right now. He lost the love of his life, and he’s trying to help figure out who did it.”

“That’s the thing,” I say cautiously. “Owen thinks he might still be a part in this, that he has an accomplice. All I’m saying is, you might want to keep your guard up. I don’t think I want you anywhere near him.”

He huffs incredulously. “Seriously, Ellie? Owen’s up there and I’m down here. I might not be a detective, but I can see what’s right in front of me.”

It kills me to doubt him. “Still. Can you please just stay away from him, for me?” The line goes silent again. Just the sound of his breathing is all I can hear. “Jake?”

“Okay, I’ll stay away from him,” he says, giving in. “Does that make you happy?”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Yes. What makes me even happier is knowing you’ll be here tomorrow night.”

“Same here, cupcake. We have a lot of time to make up for.”

“Yes, we do. I don’t want to think of anything other than that.”





Twenty-Two





Jake





My flight leaves in four hours, but there’s somewhere I need to be. Ellie doesn’t want me anywhere near Bryan, yet I can’t let this go. If Owen thinks he’s still guilty, there has to be some truth in it. I’ve always trusted his judgment. I don’t like being played for a fool, and Bryan’s going to find that out.

Samantha’s funeral is almost over by the time I arrive at the graveyard. Her parents can barely walk as they retreat to the limo to be driven back to the funeral home. Bryan is nowhere in sight, until I finally see him standing behind a tree several yards away. He doesn’t sense me as I come up behind him. The second he turns around, I grab him by the throat, and slam him against the large oak.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he croaks, grabbing at my arms.

I get right up in his face. “Sending a message. I don’t know who’s right and who’s wrong, but if you’re playing games, I will kill you if you so much as get near Ellie.”

“Playing games. What the fuck are you talking about?” He pushes me off and gets right back in my face.

“If you’ve been a part of this all along, we will find out.”

Eyes blazing, he stands his ground but then backs up, throwing his arms in the air. “I don’t understand. You saw someone else attack Samantha.”

I did, and that’s what makes the situation even more messed up. “You could’ve had an accomplice. A cocky guy like you, with all your skills, probably wanted to get off on committing crimes right out in the open.”

His mouth gapes. “Are you serious right now? Who the hell have you been talking to?”

Turning on my heel, I march back toward my truck. “Doesn’t matter. Just stay the hell away from me and my wife.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, Jake!” he shouts. “Whether you help me or not, I’m not giving up.”

I get into my truck and speed away. All I have to do now is stop by home and grab my bags, so I can head to the airport. Tires squeal behind me and Bryan is right there, keeping up with me. “Motherfucker,” I growl, speeding up. With my old truck, he has no problem staying on my tail.

Clenching my teeth, I pull into my driveway and jump out. Bryan pulls in behind me and I’m ready to go. If it’s a fight he wants, he’s going to get it.

He opens his car door and pulls out a computer bag. “You didn’t give me enough time to explain,” he huffs angrily.

“I suggest you get out of here. You’re trespassing on my property.”

Bryan stops and holds up his hands. “If I wanted to go after Ellie, I could’ve already done it by now.”

I scoff. “You don’t even know where she is.”

His brows lift. “Wanna bet?”

My eyes narrow. “You’re bluffing.”

“You think so, huh?” He pulls out his laptop and sets it on my truck, his fingers typing away on the keys. “I knew where she was last night, Jake. If I want her, like you supposedly think I do, don’t you think I’d already be in Canada by now?”