“A journalist came in the other day, and she put on a great act. It was pretty funny, actually.” I can’t help but smile, remembering her bad country accent and how the journalist believed it immediately.
“So the journalist mugged her?” Griffin needs to stick to building. I mentally note never to be his partner in a murder mystery game.
“No, I gave her a tip. A hundred. To say thanks.”
All three pairs of eyes stare right at me in silence before Tanner breaks it.
“Mighty generous,” he murmurs.
“Whatever. Anyway, some guys saw it and followed her when her shift ended. They jumped her and James at the back of the diner on their way home.”
“What the hell?” Tanner is ropeable, nearly barking his outrage.
“What did the sheriff say?” Griffin frowns.
My lips purse, knowing this won’t go over well. “That’s the thing… No sheriff.”
“No sheriff?” he pushes.
“Yeah, Nikki keeps to herself,” I add, looking at Griffin, and I see the moment it registers.
“She has secrets,” Tanner says with a pinched expression, rubbing his chin like he’s coming up with a plan.
“Have you had anything like this happen around town before?” I ask him.
“No. No petty crime. Sure, the local kids can be a bit troublesome at times, but they’re all usually okay and certainly wouldn’t hurt someone deliberately like that.”
My brother looks concerned. “Is Nikki alright?”
“Yeah. I drove her home last night. I didn’t want her walking.” I swallow the fury building inside me, hating that she won’t feel safe now. Glancing at the bench, I wonder if I can push out a few more, needing to expel this frustration from my body.
“You drove her home?” Sawyer confirms.
I nod mindlessly. “Yeah. Did you know she walks over three miles per day?”
“She’s up the back of town, in the middle of the pines, isn’t she?” Of course Tanner would know.
I nearly shiver. “In the middle of the fucking serial killer forest, you mean? The ones so dense, I don’t think you would hear anyone scream?”
He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Slightly dramatic, but yes, those would be the ones.”
“She’s an adult, Sutton. She chose to live there.” My brother, as usual, tries to be the voice of reason.
“Yeaaaah, I’m not sure it was a choice.”
“Me neither,” Tanner agrees, and we have a silent conversation with our eyes.
He’s just as worried as I am. But his perspective is ensuring everyone in his town is safe and happy. Me, I just want Nikki to be safe and happy. Maybe even safe and happy with me.
“We’ll keep an eye out. I’ll tell Connor and Hudson too. I assume Rochelle knows, which means the sheriff will find out?” Tanner adds, and I feel somewhat better that others now know and will be on the lookout in case it happens to anyone else.
“Yeah, I guess.” I should ask Nikki, but I don't want to push her. But if I saw her face, then so did Rochelle and she’s a smart woman. She would know something isn’t right.
“Let’s go for a walk, check out the site, and talk more about what you want. Sounds like security needs to be a priority for you. These two assholes can stay here and talk business.” Griffin nods to Sawyer and Tanner, who are already talking about Gertie’s Soaps, the small brand that has just exploded, all thanks to a strategic business deal from Sawyer and some perfectly timed celebrity endorsement from me on my social media.
At the thought of social media, I grab my cell from where I left it on the floor near my towel and internally curse when I see a message from Nikki. Shit, I missed it. But I grin. She sent me a text, with an image of my face on some magazines.
