Page 87 of Deadly Force

He squints at us like he’s memorizing our faces for a lineup.

We make it halfway down the hall before she speaks again.

Her voice is quiet. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

I pause as Reese pushes the exit door open and glance her way, taking in the flush on her cheeks, the tension still riding her shoulders.

Whatever happened in that locked room, it shook her. Not just physically.

Something deeper broke loose. Maybe somethingGod’s been trying to bring to the surface for a while now.

I say nothing out loud, but in the space between steps, I pray.Help her see it, Lord. Help her turn to You.Not to me. Not to the next story. Just… to You.

I reach for her hand one more time before we step into the open, give it a light squeeze, and offer the only answer she really needs.

“I know,” I say.

TWENTY

Brooke

Still annoyed with myself for taking the bait, and with whoever thought it was funny to lock me in a room with no A/C, I'm highly aware that I'm close to snapping.

I can't shake the feeling that someone's pulling invisible strings, watching me stumble around like a puppet.

Just when I think I'm getting closer to some kind of truth, something like this happens and I'm right back where I started from. Square one. Clueless and feeling more lost than ever.

When we finally arrive at my house again, Caleb ushers me out of the car door. He's still on high alert, his eyes scanning the street as he steers me into my bedroom with a protective urgency that should make me feel safe.

“I want you to rest while I call Silas with an update," he says, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"But I have work?—"

He sends me a warning look before his expression softens slightly, concern flickering in his dark eyes. "No arguments."

With a weary sigh, I relent and perch on the edge of my bed, the familiar quilt beneath me offering a small measure of comfort. "Why would the same girl tell me to look at Desert Rose and then be a no-show today?"

Caleb doesn’t answer right away. When I glance up, his jaw is tight, hands clenched at his sides.

“It’s possible she heard that Travis Bell was found dead. Car accident. But drugs and alcohol were involved.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

I stand too fast, the room tilting for a second before I steady myself. I press my hand to my stomach. “Caleb… this is. These people…”

He smiles grimly, moving closer and lowering his voice to barely above a whisper. "You see why it makes me crazy when you go off script?”

I look away, throat tightening. He’s not scolding me, not really. That almost makes it worse. “I know.” My voice is quiet. “You’re right.”

“So, do me a favor. Try to rest, even if you can't sleep."

I know he has a point, but the energy coursing through my veins makes stillness feel impossible. Eliza and now Travis Bell?

I pull out my phone and show Caleb the photo Eliza’s “friend” sent me of them both as proof.

"Is there any way Hightower can see if this is fake? Or find out if my mystery caller is a real person?"

He nods. "Maybe. It's worth a try. I'll talk to Delilah after I call Silas. But first, you need to rest. I'll be right outside."