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Tate continued. “The picture you received in your text was of you after you’d been beaten. The direction of the picture suggests it was taken from somewhere near the law office next door, Smith Squared.”
“I would have seen someone. I don’t know how that could be.”
Spencer softly rubbed her back, and she set her fork on her plate quietly. Her heart beat so fast it hurt. Her throat dried up, and she felt slightly dizzy.
Spencer softly said, “The picture I received of you walking into Lara’s Delights seems to have been taken from the County Road, or someone on the end of the BRR road, just off the county road.”
Her hands began shaking, so she held them together in her lap. “I don’t remember seeing anyone pass on the road as I walked in, but I wouldn’t think of that as being unusual, so I wouldn’t have paid attention. I heard nothing like Colt’s loud pipes. That would have caught my attention.”
Spencer and Tate both nodded.
Myles said, “With cameras so good now, pictures can be taken from a great distance and still be clear. We’re running some diagnostics on the photos now to see what type of camera they were taken on. Usually there’s metadata in photographs that are captured with date, time, location, camera type, make, model and, if it’s a cellphone, even the owner’s name. But we’re recapturing these pictures after deletion and they’ve been manipulated, so not all the data is readily available.”
Spencer still had his hand on her back. “For today, I don’t know what has to be done to make arrangements for your father, but I’ll be with you everywhere you go.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
His brows rose. “This is my work today. And tomorrow. And every day until we find out who’s sending these texts and ensure your complete safety.”
37
Spencer listened as the phone rang. His stomach tightened each ring that went unanswered. Finally, his mom picked up the phone. “Hi, honey. How are you doing?”
Relief swept through his body at the sound of her voice. “I’m good. I’ve called twice but didn’t get through. I was beginning to worry.”
His mom’s laugh filled his heart with joy. “I’m sorry. Your dad and I went out to Hawk and Roxanne’s cabin, and the reception out there is terrible.”
“How are they all doing?”
Her voice was light and happy when she responded. “They’re great. They’ve done so much work on the cabin and he’s beginning to talk retirement.”
“Wow. Now that’s something.”
“Tell me what’s going on with you, honey.”
He closed his eyes and pictured his mom, her reddish hair in curls around her face. Her sweet nature always filled him with love. “I met a girl.” He swallowed the knot in his throat. Saying it out loud to his mom was something he’d never done before. Not someone this special, anyway.
“Oh, hang on, I’m sitting down next to your dad so you can tell us both about her.”
He heard the rustle of her clothing, then a squeak as she sat on the sofa in the living room. He could see the exact spot where she sat. He heard her whisper, “Spencer met a girl.”
“Hey, Spence. Tell us all about this girl you met,” his dad said.
“Hi, Dad.” He swallowed and took a deep breath. “I met her quite by accident. The accident being I was jogging and not paying attention and I literally ran into her.”
His parents laughed.
“We later met at the construction office where I found out she’s a process server. Her dad owns the business, and she’d left town years ago, but came back because her dad was sick and needed help.”
His mom, always sweet and caring, replied, “Oh, I hope her dad is alright.”
He swallowed the sadness that settled in his throat. “He passed yesterday. I was there with her and the family.”
His mom’s sadness made him tear up. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. For you and her.”
He breathed in deeply a few times and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m so happy to hear your voices.”
His dad’s firm voice replied, “Spencer, we’re always happy to hear your voice too. We love you so much. We’re incredibly proud of you.”
