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My heart sinks. “Not really surprised, but what name was it listed under?”
“Well first, I wanted to ask. The last guy you asked me to look up. His name was Weston Westbrook, right?”
The cautious tone in his voice has me on edge as I walk downstairs and into the living room.
“Right, but he’s dead,” I remind him.
“Yeah, I know. Well, these plates are registered to a Dalton Westbrook.”
“What do you mean? Who’s Dalton? Weston’s brother?”
“It appears that way. One brother and one sister. The sister lives in Tulsa. Dalton is a thirty-three-year-old male from Los Angeles, worked as a broker at a bank up until six weeks ago. No kids.”
Blinking, I try to wrap my head around this information. “What about a wife? Is he married?”
“Actually, I found a marriage license from a few years ago to a woman named Sarah.”
“Okay and?” My heart is pounding so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if he could hear it over the phone.
“I also found her death certificate that was filed five months ago.”
“Jesus.” I brush a hand through my hair as sweat beads on my forehead.
Pacing the living room, I decide to grab some water before I fucking faint.
“Yeah, that’s not all,” he warns, inhaling sharply. “The cause of death was ruled as an accidental drowning, so I dug some more into the case and found Dalton was the number one suspect, but no concrete evidence was found to accurately charge him. There had been several domestic abuse calls, and even though there was bruising near her neck, they couldn’t pinpoint him being home that night.”
“What?” I gasp. “Where the hell did he say he was?”
“Up here in Sac with his brother, Weston, who confirmed his alibi.”
“And they believed him even with a record?”
“Looks like it. They didn’t have any other evidence to hold him longer than forty-eight hours.”
“Motherfucker.” I’m seething, my blood is boiling to a dangerous level of rage at the moment, and I don’t know how to calm myself. “Jerad, he’s fucking with her right now. Shit, shit, shit. So, you’re telling me Caleb is Dalton Westbrook, Weston’s older brother?”
“Yeah, man. It’s all right here. He must’ve figured out where you guys live and who y’all are and stalked Sophie or something.”
“Or he stalked her to get to me. Perhaps what my dad said was true, except the brother didn’t want to wait for the court.”
“Or he heard you were another privileged guy, son of the DA, who got off on a murder charge.”
I swallow hard. “It was self-defense,” I retort, but I know I don’t have to explain myself to him. “This can’t be happening. I need to text her, tell her to get away from him, go pick her up or something. Then what? Can I have the cops haul his ass in for something? Stalking?”
“Not without a warrant or probable cause. All he’s done so far is lie about who he is, not exactly illegal.”
“Alright, I gotta go. I’ll call you if I need something.”
“Let me know,” he says.
“I will.”
“And Mason? Be careful.”
I immediately text Sophie as I run up the stairs to tell Liam.
Mason: Baby, are you still at your meeting? I need to speak with you right away. Call me as soon as you’re out. Don’t leave with Caleb.
“What?” Liam nearly knocks me over once I tell him everything Jared said. “You’re shitting me, right?”
“Look at me. Do I look like I am? I need to go find her.”
I call her and get sent to voicemail, so I text her again.
Mason: Soph, listen to me. Do not get in the car with Caleb. He’s not who he says he is, and I’ll explain everything as soon as you call or text me back, but promise me you won’t leave with him!
“It’s after seven. Why isn’t she checking her messages?” I pace frantically around his room. “I can’t just stand here. I need to go find her before he does something.” I start walking and then pause. “Fuck! I don’t even know where her meetings are. She’s always called it group or circle, and I never thought to ask which specific location.”
“Text her sisters, they probably know,” he suggests, so I do without alarming them.
While I wait for one of them to respond, I call Sophie again only to get sent to voicemail.
Mason: Baby, where are you? You should be out of your meeting by now. Call me ASAP please!!! Text me so I know you’re okay. Caleb is dangerous, and you need to get the hell away from him. He’s not who he says he is… trust me. GET. AWAY.
“What the fuck am I gonna do?” I’m downright panicking, bending over to rest my palms on my knees as I try to catch my breath. “Fuck it, I’m gonna google it and go to the closest one.”
