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He stopped.
Ellie pushed the button to roll down her window as the Tahoe’s driver did the same.
“Brad,” she said.
“Ellie,” he responded.
“What the fuck are you doing, man? You scared Delta. You see the way she ripped outta here?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Following you! I was waiting for Delta, and I saw you move in after her. You’ve been hanging back, hoping she wouldn’t see you. What are you doing?” Then, as it came to her, “Who’re you working for?” For some reason, she wasn’t scared. She should be, she supposed. What did she know about Brad Sumpter, really? Nothing. He was always in the background. Just hanging with the guys. No one of serious importance.
“I’m trying to save her.”
“Yeah? From whom?”
“My cousins.”
“Your cousins? Who’re—” But she suddenly knew. “The Crassleys? You’re a Crassley?”
“My mom was.”
“Okay, Jesus, Brad. Drive into town. Stop at . . . the police station. I’m calling McCrae.”
“I don’t want to get in trouble.” He started to look scared.
“No, no. You’re not going to get in trouble. You’re saving Delta, right? From your cousins? What are they planning to do with her?”
“You’re going to turn me in. You’re going to blame me for everything. I didn’t do it. I swear I didn’t do it.”
“I believe you, Brad. I do.”
“No, you don’t.” He threw his behemoth into gear and tore toward West Knoll.
“Shit.” Ellie shoved her Escort into DRIVE and turned it around with more ease than Brad had demonstrated as he herded his Tahoe. Still, he was way ahead. Not that she couldn’t find him, but did she really want to race after him? Yes! No . . .
Should she tell McCrae? Yes . . . but the story would get away from her then. She’d already given him a tip that he’d taken as his due, not giving her another thought. If she didn’t push to fit herself into the investigation, she would be forgotten. But this was her story. Hers. And Brad was harmless, right? He was trying to save Delta from his cousins. Jesus. The Crassleys were his cousins!
Did she have Brad’s number? No. She knew she didn’t. Where did he live? Did she know? But he wasn’t going there. He was going back to Delta’s, to pick up her trail there. That made sense. But would Delta go back home?
No. She would go to her parents’. That’s where the kid had to be.
Immediately, Ellie aimed for Smith & Jones.
* * *
Delta didn’t trust going through town, so she wound around the outskirts, avoiding the city center. She tried to call Amanda. No answer. “Pick up!” she cried. Maybe she should go back to her parents’. Be with them and Owen. Wait for McCrae to get back to her. He hadn’t yet. She had cell service again, but she’d been driving and expected him to call any second.
At this end of town, she was closer to Amanda’s than her parents’. What if the black SUV found her or knew where she was going?
Her phone rang, and she stared at the screen for a moment before answering carefully, “Hello?”
“Delta, it’s Ellie. I saw the guy who was following you. Brad Sumpter. In the black Tahoe? He says he’s trying to keep you safe.”
“What?” She was stopped at a crossroads, and there was no traffic, which was just as well because it felt like her bones were melting.
“Are you going to your parents’? I’ve been trying to get through to you. Together we’ve got a real story. Brad Sumpter’s mom is a Crassley! One of those pieces of shit attacked me today.”
