by Barb Han
“You’re right. We have to explore every possibility, though. And one of those prospects is that this guy could be involved somehow or wanting you to relive the past.” His jaw clenched and released. His tension level matched hers.
“You mean like a copycat?” Rebecca didn’t want to consider the possibility. If this was some twisted person trying to remind her of that horrible summer, then her chances of figuring out what had happened to her brother were nil.
And if not?
Then she had to face the horrible truth that any whack job could send her spiraling back to that dark place by imitating the crime. “What about the apple tobacco? The officers and FBI were careful about not letting that leak into the press exactly for this reason. How would he know about that?”
Rebecca kept on alert for two things. One was the scent of apple tobacco. The other was Shane’s birthmark. He had a birthmark that looked like Oklahoma on top of his right foot.
Brody’s face set with concentration for a long period. “With Sweeny being related to the sheriff he could get inside information of your case.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that. He would know about the threatening letters. The reporter. It was all common knowledge around the radio station.”
“Why?”
“My boss wanted everyone on the lookout. He figured the best way to protect me and keep his other employees safe was to keep everyone informed.” But could Sweeny, a young kid, pull off an attack at the grocery store without her realizing who he was? “I still think the kid is innocent.”
“And he might be. But until we figure this thing out, we follow through on every possible lead.” Brody turned into Woodrain Park’s lot.
Rebecca hadn’t been back to that place, to those woods...ever. Icy chills raced up her arms. She crossed them to stave off goose bumps.
As if a door had been opened, emotions flooded, crashing into her.
The shed.
The desperation.
She stopped for a moment to stem the tears pouring down her cheeks. “I can’t remember much of what happened in the shed. I must’ve blocked it out or something.”
Brody had pulled over and parked. His hand covered hers, which did little to stop the shaking. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“What if I can’t do it? Can’t go back in there?” She motioned toward the wooded path.
“Then we’ll look somewhere else. The chance he’d return is slim.”
His words, his touch, breathed life into her. And a bit of courage. Besides, she couldn’t avoid those woods forever. Maybe going, facing that horrible place, might help her remember something else. “You’re right. He’s most likely long gone by now. And even if he’s not I have to do this. It might help. I keep thinking about how my brother’s disappearance is my fault.” A sob racked her. “I wish he would’ve stayed home that night instead of sneaking out to follow me. Wish I hadn’t gone out that night and then none of this would’ve happened.”
“I remember how close you two were. How you stood up for him when that bully threatened to beat Shane up after school.”
“And you showed up at the rock quarry to make sure the bully never pulled that on younger kids again,” she said.
Brody shrugged.
“Sorry about the black eye he gave you.”
“That healed. I’m not so sure my pride ever recovered,” he said with a smile that could melt Glacier Bay.
She leaned into him, into his comfort. She rarely ever spoke about the past, let alone laughed at some of the memories. Being with Brody was slowly bringing her back to life. He seemed to understand her need to keep everyone at a safe distance. He did the same. Maybe it was that she knew he’d been a loner most of his life and she could relate—she’d felt the same every day since that summer night when her life inexplicably changed. The only happy thought she’d held on to through college was Brody. He’d been her safe landing.
Regret filled her as he sat there quietly reassuring her, and for a split second she wished she could go back and make things right. Would she have pushed him away if she’d known no other man’s touch would make her feel the way his did?
“You don’t have to do this.” Brody’s voice, warm and understanding, pulled her back to the present. “We can go. Let the others look here. Ryan’s on his way as we speak and he’s bringing Dylan.”
“I want to.” How did she explain that while she realized facing these woods, that shed again, would be the most difficult thing in her life, it was also the only way to begin healing? All these years, she’d been going through the motions of her day, numb. Being with Brody, remembering that it was possible to feel things again, made her want to keep going. Do more than just exist.
“I don’t want to go, believe me. Everything inside me is telling me to run the other way. But I’m afraid I’ll feel even worse if I don’t. What if I could have saved him and didn’t because I was scared to go back? I can’t live with that.”
“I understand.” And the hitch in his voice said he meant those words. He got out of the truck and then opened the passenger door. “It’s not still there, you know. The shed.”
“What happened?”
He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “Me.”
“You came out here?”
“It was after you left for college. I’d signed up for the service. Didn’t want to ship out with unfinished business here.”
She understood he wouldn’t see another answer to his emotions. Brody had been quick to anger before and ready to fight the world. Except when it came to her and his family. He’d been tender and kind, which had made pushing him away all that much more painful.
The military looked to have done good things for him. He seemed to have grown into his own skin, was more at peace with himself and the world. Except when it came to her. There, he seemed as confused as she felt.
“I couldn’t stand this place for what it had done to you. The fact that it was still standing six years later made me furious. I had to make sure another soul would never be taken to that place again. So, I tore it apart with my own hands to make sure.”
“Thank you.” She could totally see Brody doing something like that to protect her, to protect others. Maybe even out of frustration that the guy got away with it. His angry streak never would have been aimed at her or any other innocent person. But a bad guy, someone who was downright mean to others, should watch out.
She’d noticed it before, but there was a sense of purpose to Brody’s stride now. Less anger, more determination. He was quiet calm, but, just like the surface of the ocean, danger lurked below. She had no doubt that if Brody met the man who’d hurt her today, he’d unleash hell. Just like he’d done all those years ago when faced with a bully. This time, Brody would win.
He took her hand as he guided her toward the pathway in the woods.
His cell buzzed. He checked the screen. “It’s Dylan.”
“Let’s hope for good news.”
Brody tipped his chin. “Tell me you found something we can work with.”
He said “uh-huh” a few times into the phone, but Rebecca could tell from his tone there was nothing new to go on.
“We’re at the park. We just got here.” He went quiet. “Then you’re not far from us.” Another pause. “Yeah. That’s exactly where we’re headed. I know, man. I hear you.”
She knew immediately that they were surprised she’d want to go back there. She couldn’t say she was shocked at their reactions. No one in her right mind would do it. Maybe if she followed the killer’s trail, she’d find something. It was a long shot but she had to try for Shane. She’d been a kid before, helpless, but she wasn’t anymore.
She’d thought about this a million times. If she’d screamed for help instead of following and confronting the kidnapper, would things have turned out differently? Or what if she’d left some sort of trail so that others could find them?
A knot formed in her chest, tightening like a coil with each forward step.
It wasn’t hard to tune out the rest of Brody’s conversation. Rebecca was half-afraid of what Dylan thought about her after the way she’d left things with Brody, and she was afraid she’d overhear him warning Brody to stay away from her or something.
The only thing keeping her feet moving at this point was Brody’s hand on her lower back, guiding each forward step, reassuring her.
“Dylan and Ryan are near Mason Ridge Lake. Said they’d head this way.”
She needed to focus her attention on something besides the horror inside her escalating the farther they walked. “How are they?”
“Dylan and Ryan? They’re good. I already told you about Dylan’s little girl.”
“You said he was bringing her up alone. What happened?” She needed to distract herself. Her pulse was rising and she needed to think about something else besides what lay ahead.
“He met someone on leave and fell pretty hard. Guess he was missing home and she reminded him of it. The relationship didn’t last long, which is a long story, but he got Maribel out of it.”
“What about the mother?”
“She was really sick when she finally told Dylan he had a child. He got to see her one last time before...”
“That’s so sad. He didn’t know?”
“No. She didn’t tell him. Said she was afraid of what his reaction would be.”
“He always said parenting was the cruelest thing people could do to children. She must’ve known.”
“He didn’t keep his feelings a secret. You should see him now. Maribel came to live with him when she was two. He had a rough year adjusting, but you wouldn’t know it to see them together now.”
It was hard to think of Dylan being tender with a toddler. If Brody had been tough back in the day, then Dylan had been an outlaw. Throw them both together and they’d be deadly.
Seeing Brody now, thinking about children, made Rebecca wish she’d handled things differently. The deep-seated sense of trust they’d shared was gone. She could see unease in his eyes. He was still as protective as he’d always been—some things would never change.
There were new scars on his body that weren’t there before. He might’ve filled out in good ways, all muscle and strength, but he’d been hurt, too. Her heart squeezed thinking about the pain he must’ve endured. Rebecca knew full well external scars hurt far less than internal ones.
She’d lied to him and pushed him away. The only other time she’d been untruthful was for their friends.
Small towns were known for being bad places to hide secrets. Yet, they’d had to protect their friends. A cold chill raced up her spine, gripping her heart. A mistake?
The uneasy feeling intensified. Her feet felt heavier, legs weaker. A ball tightened in her chest.
Brody stopped. “You sure you want to keep going? You’ve been too quiet, which used to mean you were overthinking something. Now, I have no idea if it still means that. But I can tell that whatever’s going on is spiking your blood pressure.”
A branch snapped.
She turned around and gasped. “Oh. God. No!”
Brody instinctively reacted, dropping down low and pulling her down with him, a second too late to miss the large metal object from cracking his skull.
Chapter Five
Brody fought against the darkness trying to invade his body. The blunt-force blow to his head scrambled his brains. He instinctively felt around for a knot. Didn’t take long to find one the size of an egg.
There was blood on his hand when he brought it back down. Lots of blood. He felt around in his pocket for his cell. It must’ve fallen out when the blow knocked him off balance.
Dizzy, vision blurred, he scrambled to stop a tall man from dragging Rebecca into the thicket. She fought like a wildcat, kicking and screaming, but she was outmatched in height, weight and strength.
Brody grabbed dirt, stumps, anything that would help him gain purchase as he crawled on his belly toward the attacker. He reached out in time to catch the guy’s ankle and latched on to his pants.
The last thing he remembered was being dragged several feet before the darkness clawing at him won.
Now, he forced his eyes open, unsure how long he’d been out.
Dylan was there, consoling Rebecca, who looked shaken to the core.
She caught Brody’s gaze and locked on, immediately moving toward him. “Thank God, you’re awake.”
Brody tried to speak, but his mouth didn’t immediately move. He took a few slow breaths and reset.
“What happened?” he managed to get out. Brody didn’t even want to think about what would’ve happened to Rebecca if the others hadn’t shown.
“He was here.” One look at Rebecca’s dilated pupils, her wide, fearful eyes, and Brody figured she’d retreated to that space deep inside her that no one could reach. He’d seen it a few times in high school and nothing good ever came of it. The most notable time was when she’d broken up with him.
“Did you guys get him?”
She shook her head. Damn if her disappointment and fear wasn’t a sucker punch to his gut. Not to mention the way her hands shook when Dylan gave her a bottle of water.
“When did you guys get here?” Brody was still fuzzy. He remembered having a conversation with Ryan a little while ago.
“We were nearby. Called the sheriff as soon as we got here. They’re searching the woods for him as we speak. We’d be out there, too, but—”
“Thank you for sticking around.” His gaze immediately shifted to Rebecca.
“No problem, bro. She fought like a banshee. It’s the only reason she’s still here and not God knows where.”
Dylan helped Brody sit up and handed him a bottle of water. “Did you get a good look at the guy?”
“He’s tall and thin, but quick. She got the best view. He nailed me before I had a chance to react. He knows these woods.” Brody glanced around, trying to get his bearings.
“Think you can help her work with a sketch artist?” Dylan asked.
“Yeah. I can try. Like I said, he practically cracked my skull in two when he surprised me, so mostly he looked like a tall, skinny blur.” Brody made a move to get up but sat right back down when his head felt like someone had split it open with an ax. “Any idea what he used on me?”
“We’re lucky it wasn’t a gun.”
Brody glanced at Rebecca, who stood there stiff, looking like she might jump out of her skin if someone said boo to her.
“Get her out of here.”
She whirled around on him. Determination set her jaw. “No. I’m not leaving. Not without you.”
“Ryan can take you to the ranch and stay with you there.” He checked his head and came back with more blood on his hand. “I’m not getting up anytime soon.”
She stood there, brown eyes piercing through him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“How long was I out?” Brody’s gaze shifted from Rebecca to Dylan.
Dylan cleared his throat before he spoke. “Not long. I’d say we arrived within a few seconds of you blacking out.”
Rebecca might be there, standing close, but a wall had gone up around her. Her muscles were stiff, her jaw tight, and her arms were crossed over her chest. Everything about her body language had changed. “I’m not leaving with you still here.”
“She should be fine. We’re all here,” Ryan said as he walked over. “EMTs are close.”
About that time Brody heard sticks crunching in the brush behind him, growing louder. “You guys can’t stay here. This is the closest anyone’s been to him. I’m fine and he can’t be far. Go, get him. I’ll pick up the search when I’m cleared.”
Ryan’s expression said he’d carry Brody to the hospital himself if he had to. Dylan was just as unmoving.
“Let the paramedics get here and take a look at you first. Then, we can go together,” Ryan said.
Brody blew out a breath, closed his eyes and leaned back. They were saying that they didn’t want him doing anythin
g stupid, like not getting proper medical attention. “Fine. But I’m going out there.” He motioned toward the thicket. Nausea gripped him as blood trickled down his nose. He didn’t want to admit how close he was to passing out again. It was in that moment his drill sergeant’s words chose to wind through his thoughts. The first rule of being a good soldier was to take care of injuries.
The next time Brody woke, he was in the back of an ambulance.
He blacked out again, then woke to the news he was in the hospital being treated for lacerations and a possible concussion. “How long was I out this time?”
“A half hour?” The muscles in Rebecca’s face tensed and he could see her pulse thumping at her neck. She was stressed. As shaken as she was, and emotionally closed off, she’d refused to leave Brody’s side. He didn’t want to acknowledge what that did to his heart.
“What’s going on? Is everyone okay?” he asked.
She thanked the nurse and then waited for the older woman to leave the room and close the door behind her. “No. You’re seriously hurt. And it’s my fault.”
He put his hand up before she could get too worked up. “Hold on a minute. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes. It does. I brought you into this mess and now look.” When she turned to him a tear spilled down her cheek. Something quick and explosive hit his chest when she made eye contact.
“Sweetheart, none of this is on you. If anything, I should’ve been more careful in the woods. I should’ve realized he would know that area like the back of his hand. Plus, we got a look at him this time. The sheriff has a better description to work with. And that’s a good thing, right?”
She nodded as a few more tears escaped. She quickly wiped them away.
“Look at me. I’m here because I made a mistake. I underestimated the situation. I won’t do that twice. And, I’m going to be okay. Believe it or not, I have a pretty hard head.”
At least that last comment got a smile out of her.
The haunted look in her eyes had returned, though. Brody had no idea how to break through that. He’d tried and failed before. Didn’t figure much had changed since then. Even so, it was good to see her again. Better than he wanted to admit.