Don't Make a Sound (Sawyer Brooks #1)(42)

“I always am.” She stepped out of the cottage and walked the path through the side yard to the driveway. She climbed into her car, relieved when the engine started right up on the first try.





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Aria read Sawyer’s story about the snake at the birthday party online. The thought of losing someone so tragically caused a heaviness to settle in her chest. She then read about Kylie Hartford, another tragic story. A thumbnail picture revealed the authorities’ number one suspect—Zach Jordan.

Aria sat up in her chair.

She knew Zach. For years he’d volunteered at the SPCA. He was one of her mentors, a genuinely nice guy. And for someone like Aria, who tended to avoid people, that was saying a lot.

Never judge a book by its cover. The thought hit her hard, stopping her from being too quick to assume someone like Zach would never kill his girlfriend. She knew firsthand what nice, kind-looking men could do.

It was the reason she carried a gun.

It was the reason she’d been seeing a therapist.

It was the reason she hardly slept at night.

But still.

She thought about what Sawyer had said she would do if she were here in Sacramento. She’d said she would talk to Zach and ask him questions.

Aria finished reading the article.

It didn’t look good for Zach, mostly because he was the last person seen with Kylie. He’d been spending a lot of time at Kylie’s apartment when she wasn’t there. He worked in construction, so why wasn’t he at work during the day? And why were Kylie’s neighbors suspicious of him?

Aria put Zach’s name into a popular search engine. His address popped right up. He lived on the outskirts of Curtis Park, less than ten minutes away. She looked at the time. It was six o’clock. She thought about giving Sawyer a call, then decided against it. What good would it do, worrying anyone?

She shut down her computer, opened Mr. Baguette’s cage and dropped some millet in, then made sure there was still plenty of food and water for Raccoon. She grabbed a backpack from her closet, where she noticed Raccoon curled up in the corner. Slowly she reached out, hoping he’d sniff her or let her pet him, but instead he darted away and disappeared under the bed.

Poor thing. He was scared to death of people.

She and Raccoon had a lot in common.

Aria left the studio, then made her way to the house to let Harper know she wouldn’t be joining them for dinner. She found Harper in the kitchen, making a salad to go with the lasagna she had in the oven.

“I don’t know how you do it all,” Aria said.

“And it’s only just begun,” Harper said wearily as she glided a hand over her stomach.

Aria’s mouth fell open. “Are you pregnant?”

“Don’t say anything. I haven’t told anyone. Not even Nate.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know how to tell him.” Harper’s shoulders fell. “This wasn’t part of the plan. Nate’s construction business is doing okay, but it’s not like we’re rolling in dough. The mood changes and headaches I was experiencing were too much, so I stopped taking the pill and made an appointment to get an IUD. I screwed up. Another child will definitely put more pressure on everyone.”

“Hey,” Lennon called out from the living room. “Look at this!”

Harper followed Aria into the family room, where Lennon was pointing a finger at the television. “That’s Brad Vicente. He works for Zeon, one of the gaming giants. Vicente created my favorite game, Total Diplomacy.”

Two men appeared on the screen. The camera zoomed in close on the man on the left. “Brad Vicente, known for his creation of a popular video game, is in the hospital after having his penis cut off. A surgeon skilled in microsurgery was called in to reattach the appendage. Penile replantation is rare, but the doctors are hopeful that the surgery will be successful. It could be days before authorities are able to piece together what happened.”

“Is he married?” Aria asked.

Lennon chuckled. “A little desperate, aren’t you, Aunt Aria?”

Aria thumbed her nose at her nephew. “I don’t want to date the guy. I’m just wondering who cut off his penis. I thought maybe it was his wife.”

Harper crossed her arms. “Who cares? He probably deserved it.”

“That’s a little harsh, Mom. We don’t even know what happened.”

Harper went back to the kitchen to finish chopping vegetables.

“I’ve gotta go,” Aria said as she made her way to the door. “I just wanted to let you know I won’t be here for dinner.”

“Why not?” Harper asked.

“Someone called in sick down at the shelter. They need me. Save me some lasagna, will you? Bye!” Aria left before Harper could interrogate her.

It took her only twelve minutes with traffic to get to Zach’s house. It was a single story. Aria looked inside her backpack at her gun. Even if he had killed his girlfriend, surely he wouldn’t risk killing her too. She decided not to load it. She’d use it to scare him if the need arose.

She shouldered her bag and climbed out of the car. Planter boxes filled with weeds lined the walkway. The place looked severely neglected. She heard noise inside the house. She rapped her knuckles hard against the wood door. The guy who answered was probably in his midtwenties, younger than Zach, who she guessed to be in his early thirties. “Is Zach Jordan here?” she asked.