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All traces of humor fled, and Chet’s shoulders dropped. “It’s the only way I can still hear the voices of my wife and daughter.”
13
Chet focused on the slight breeze against his face. He kept his gaze on the ripple of waves expanding along the surface of the lake. He cast his line, his admission sitting heavy in the air between him and Mia. He’d never admitted to anyone why he kept the stupid, old phone. With its cracked screen and tiny keys. He’d never told a soul that when he was at his lowest and needed something to remind him of better days, he’d listen to old voicemails his wife had left—his daughter giggling or hollering in the background.
Old videos were too painful, pictures shredded his heart, but listening to their voices was like a healing balm over the wounds that would never go away.
But when Tucker’s name popped up on his screen, he didn’t have time to dive into any of that with Mia. With his fishing pole in one hand, he flipped open his phone and pressed it to his ear. “Hey. What’s up?”
“We spoke with Eddy. Turns out the rope used on the trees isn’t super common.”
Chet straightened. “Who sells it?”
Mia narrowed her gaze and rose to her feet, the fishing pole forgotten on the dock.
He couldn’t answer her unspoken questions right now.
“Eddy sells it, as well as a couple other stores that specialize in wilderness and hunting gear. The company who manufactures the material is close by, and mostly distributes to the surrounding area. He remembers selling that specific type of rope a few weeks ago and handed over his security feed for us to review. He says he’ll keep his eye out for anyone else buying it and let us know right away.”
The news rocked Chet. “Are the other places Eddy knew of close?”
“A couple counties over. Plus there’s online purchases.”
“Could this mean this guy is from the area?” The idea shook the very foundation that kept him upright. This town, and the people in it, had rallied around him when his worst nightmare became his reality. People showed up—whether he wanted them to or not—and made sure he came out the other side alive. To think that someone among them was the one who’d brought this into his life…into the lives of every one of those victims they’d uncovered…was unimaginable.
Tucker blew out a breath that vibrated the speaker. “Looks like that’s a good possibility. He has knowledge enough of the area to bury the bodies here. In a remote location that no one has uncovered for what looks like years. Now the rope is made locally. Add that he knew where to find Mia, and had knowledge of where to find you.”
“Shit.” He wobbled a little on his feet, and a strong hand on the small of his back steadied him.
Mia glanced up at him through long, black lashes. Concern clouding her eyes. “I got you,” she whispered, taking his pole and placing it on the ground beside hers.
Chet cleared his throat. He kept his gaze locked on hers. Words swam around in his head like the bobber still bouncing in the water, but none found their way out of his dry mouth.
“Lincoln wants to talk to Bobby,” Tucker continued.
“I thought they spoke on the phone after the graves were discovered?”
“They did, but Lincoln had some questions that Eddy couldn’t answer. Questions that told me Lincoln suspects Bobby might know more than he’s let on.”
Chet’s stomach churned. “Bobby’s on a cruise with his wife. He doesn’t know a damn thing. And he can’t be a suspect. He wasn’t around when Mia was attacked, or the ropes were hung. Not to mention being out of the freaking state when Janie Simpson was murdered.”
“Eddy lied.”
The words exploded in Chet’s brain like a bomb. “What?”
“Missy’s been home for close to a week. Bobby went on a hunting trip. Alone. Eddy got scared when the graves were found on Bobby’s land, so he said they were still on the cruise. Lincoln’s pissed.”
Chet scrubbed a hand over his face. “Anything else?” He couldn’t take much more but needed to know if any more bad news awaited him.
“That’s it for now. Lincoln’s at the station going over the security feed from the store and running the receipts from the last couple weeks. Looking to see if anyone else purchased the rope that Eddy doesn’t remember or didn’t know about. I’m heading to the kennel. You okay? You or Mia need anything?”
He wasn’t okay, but there wasn’t a damn thing Tucker could do about it. “We’re fine. Thanks for the update.” Disconnecting, he kept the phone in his hand.
“I’d ask if everything is all right, but the look on your face is answer enough,” Mia said.
“I need to sit.”
Mia cupped a palm under his elbow and guided him down on the dock before settling beside him.
