Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
I glanced over my shoulder before following him. Just to the right, over the top of Gina’s head, I could see the police lights still flashing between the trees near the Reeds’ house. Sheriff Reed would come this way soon.
I had to make this quick.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
“It’s just in here,” Eddie said in a low voice as he pushed a door open. “Sorry for all the whispering and murmuring. Emily’s asleep. She passed out right after our boat ride.”
“No worries. Again, I’m really sorry for intruding like this, Eddie.”
“Oh, please. Don’t be,” he said. “It’s better that you came here. I told you I didn’t trust those boys or that damn sheriff. It’s a good thing you made it this way. They could’ve killed you too. My God. I can’t imagine how scared you are right now.”
“I was scared,” I confessed. I swallowed thickly, staring at the tips of my dirty shoes. “I . . . ended up shooting Alex,” I said through shaky breaths. “He was chasing me. He tried to take my gun and I . . . I shot him.”
“What?” Eddie’s jaw nearly dropped. “You serious?”
“Yeah.”
“So that’s what that noise was,” he said, eyes wandering out of the room. “Gina said she heard something, but I thought it might’ve been people hunting in the mountains.”
“No. It was me.” I pressed my lips.
“Shit. Well, if the Reeds are involved, that sheriff is gonna cover for them. I’m sure the whole department will cover for them.”
“There’s a cop in their department. Kennedy Windsor. She doesn’t like Sheriff Reed, so she’s agreed to help, but she needs more proof. She’s been in touch with the DA, so we’re prepared. I just need her to come here, see things for herself and hear Rory’s confession on the recording.”
“Right. Of course. Well”—he gestured to the landline—“take as much time as you need. I’ll keep an eye out for any trouble.”
“If they come knocking, please tell them I’m not here,” I pleaded.
“Of course, yeah. I won’t let them get to you. Not on my watch.” Eddie left the room, and I took a moment to breathe in and out and compose myself.
I picked up the phone and dialed Kennedy’s number after checking my cell for it.
She answered after the third ring. “This is Kennedy.”
“Hey, Kennedy! I need you to come to the Reeds’ house. Like, right now. I have more proof. I got a confession out of Rory and a recording of it on my phone. She said her brothers are behind this, and so is James! Can you come this way? I can give you the address.”
“Wait . . . what the hell? Why are you at the Reeds’ house?”
“I’m not at their house right now. I’m at one of the neighbors’. Alex chased me after I spoke to Rory. He tried to attack me so I, um . . . well, I shot him. He was going to hurt me. I could see it in his eyes.”
“You shot him?” she screeched.
“It was self-defense. I know it sounds bad now, but I had no choice, Kennedy.”
“Good Lord, Rose. I told you to stay put and to let me work on this.” Her voice was huffy, like she was moving around, probably collecting her things so she could leave.
“I couldn’t stay put. I told you they were behind this. I went to James’s house. I got pictures and footage of Eve’s car in his garage.”
“And how did you manage that?” she snapped. “Did he invite you in?”
I said nothing in response. Instead, my eyes wandered to the right at a trophy case built into the wall. Medals of all kinds were there, gleaming beneath a recessed light.
“You know what? Never mind, just stay put,” Kennedy fussed. “Who are the neighbors you’re with?”
“Um . . . his name is Eddie. His wife is Gina. At least I think that’s his wife. They live in the house across the lake from the ones the Reeds rent out.”
“Okay. Stay there until I arrive. And please don’t shoot anyone else. Fuck, this will be a mess. I’ll have to call the DA now, let her know what’s going on.” She cursed again.
“I didn’t mean for it to escalate,” I said, eyes carrying to the left of the trophy case. “But if I hadn’t looked, Kennedy, if I’d never come here, I never would’ve found out what happened to Eve. They’re guilty and—”
My mouth parted as my eyes widened. I stared ahead, lowering the phone with trembling hands and stepping around the desk. On the wall was a car emblem. An Aston Martin emblem.
“Kennedy,” I whispered into the phone as my pulse quickened. “Hurry. Please.”
“I’m coming. GPS says sixteen minutes.”
I put the phone back on the receiver, then studied the emblem. There were photos beneath it of Eddie with his wife and daughter. Vacation photos. Candids. In many of them, he was wearing a hat with the Aston Martin logo on it.