Don't Make a Sound (Sawyer Brooks #1)(75)

And what about the day Sawyer went to the crime scene to take a look around? Had Mom been the one hiding in the woods watching her?

It all seemed doubtful.

She pulled up to the bookstore just as Melanie was unlocking the door. Sawyer tooted the horn to catch her attention. Melanie opened the passenger door. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to come say goodbye and tell you thank you before I head back to Sacramento.”

Melanie smiled. “You’re welcome.” There was a crumpled paper on the seat that she picked up before taking a seat.

“How’s your head feeling?” Sawyer wanted to know.

“Great. I think that whack from your mom actually knocked some sense into me.” She frowned. “I shouldn’t talk about your mom under the circumstances.”

“It’s okay,” Sawyer said, stiffening when she saw the piece of paper Melanie had flattened between her palms and was now reading.

“Who killed Isabella?” Melanie read aloud before proceeding to name everyone on Sawyer’s list. “I’m on your list of suspects?”

Sawyer inwardly scolded herself for not being more careful. “Not anymore,” Sawyer said.

“Well, duh.” Melanie shook the piece of paper. “You thought I was a possible murderer?”

“No. Of course not. I crossed you off the list.” Sawyer pointed to the line where she’d scribbled through Melanie’s name. “See?”

“Oh, great. I feel so much better.”

Sawyer sighed. “You had a troubled life, so I added your name to the list. It was stupid.”

“You had a troubled life too,” Melanie pointed out. “Why didn’t you put your name on the list?”

“Because I was the one doing the investigation. I would know if I was the killer.”

Melanie rolled her eyes. “I was kidding.”

“I really am sorry,” Sawyer said. “I didn’t come here to offend you. I came to say goodbye. Are you angry?”

“Me? No. I don’t like it, but life is way too short to be mad about that.”

“I didn’t only come here to say goodbye,” Sawyer said. “I also wanted to invite you to come visit me—us—me and my sisters in Sacramento if you ever get a chance. Maybe get out of River Rock for a while.”

“I’ll think about it, okay?”

“Okay.”

Melanie slid out of the car, shut the door, and headed into the bookstore.

Sawyer knew she’d hurt Melanie’s feelings. She could see it in her eyes, but there was nothing she could do about that now. Once she got settled in Sacramento again, she’d give Melanie a call and check up on her, see how she was doing.

Sawyer plugged Aspen’s address into her navigation system and merged onto the main road. He lived only a minute away. Everyone in this town lived a minute away.

When she pulled up to his house, she was taken aback by the picture-perfect front yard. When his mom was alive, the place had been severely neglected, peeling paint and overgrown weeds. It was 8:00 a.m. He was probably getting ready for work. Since she only planned on being a few minutes, she left her purse and her keys on the passenger seat. She’d only knocked twice when he opened the door. He looked as if he’d just showered and shaved. His hair was still damp, his jaw smooth.

“Wow, look at you!” she said. “Snazzy.”

He rubbed a hand over his chin. “I have been told I clean up pretty well.”

She smiled. “Mind if I come in?”

“Please do.” He opened the door wide, then shut it behind her as she made her way farther inside, stunned by everything he’d done to the place. Gleaming hardwood floors, stone fireplace, and fresh paint. No more sagging old couch or broken windows. The place looked like a model home. “This is amazing,” she said. “Did you hire a decorator?”

“Nope. I did it all myself.”

“Impressive,” Sawyer said. “I came by this morning because I wanted to say goodbye properly this time.”

His eyes widened. “Goodbye?”

She nodded. “I’m heading back home this morning.”

“I thought you were going to stay and work on solving the Estrada murder?”

“I’ve changed my mind,” she told him. “With everything that’s happened, I’m sure you understand why I need to get away from here.”

He rubbed a hand over his face. For a second there she thought he might be about to cry, but he collected himself. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But I was hoping we could hang out before you left.”

“I’m sorry.”

“How about some tea?” he asked. “The water is still hot.”

She didn’t like tea. Never had. What she really wanted to do was go back to the house, sign the police report, and get the hell out of River Rock. But judging by the reaction he’d had to her leaving sooner than planned, she said, “That would be great.”

While he was in the kitchen, she walked around the living room, admiring the coaching plaques on the wall. She had no idea he’d become so involved at the school, coaching track and field and basketball.

He brought her a mug of hot tea. “It’s still steeping, but I think you’ll like it. I added a little honey to it.”