Page 141 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“You asked if she had left anything in the pockets.”

The room went silent.

Evan’s gaze shifted to the sweatshirt.

There it was.

Small.

Almost nothing.

But I saw it.

Fear.

“You asked me twice,” Rylie continued. “You wanted to know if I’d found anything inside it.”

“I was conducting an investigation.”

“You just said her death wasn’t considered suspicious.”

“Missing-person cases still require interviews.”

“Why were you worried about the pockets?”

“I wasn’t worried.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“Because teenagers carry things in their pockets.”

Rylie stared at him. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Not to me.”

Trigger reached back and took her hand.

Evan noticed the movement. His eyes settled on their joined hands before returning to Rylie.

“I’m sorry about what happened to Emily,” he said. “We all were.”

“Were you?” she asked.

His face hardened. “Be careful.”

Trigger took one step forward.

Evan immediately raised his hands. “That wasn’t a threat.”

“It sounded like one,” Mace said.

“I meant she needs to be careful about accusing people when she doesn’t remember everything clearly.”

Rylie moved around Trigger before he could stop her. “I remember Emily. I remember that sweatshirt. And now I remember you asking about its pockets.”

Evan backed toward the door. “I shouldn’t have come.”