Page 11

Chapter

Eleven

Clara could not complain about spending more time with Brex and his insight and expertise as they spent hours talking through each death and anyone suspicious associated with her and her boyfriends. When he found the information about Harrison having purchased the stone, according to his friend Jason, and the police thinking it fell out of Harrison’s pocket, it made them both wonder if there was a copycat killer after that first accident.

Sometimes it still felt like Brex was resisting kissing her or growing closer. He’d expressed concern that they had to go their separate ways, but she wondered if there was something deeper, maybe something in his past that kept him from wanting to fall for her. She hoped he’d confide in her, but she prayed for patience and her love for him deepened every day.

Often when they were alone, he dumped any resistance and they kissed with wild abandon. She replayed those moments over and over again in her head. Soon they might only have the memories. Going their separate ways wasn’t something she liked to dwell on, but him being killed like Harrison, Kyle, and Malik was her biggest fear. She warned him often to be careful, and he’d reassure her he was, but she couldn’t rid herself of her fear.

It was Saturday, one week before she was supposed to fly to Angola, and Brex had insisted they do the Vortex hike. She’d avoided any hikes that had sharp drop-offs and high elevation.

He parked his fancy SUV, smiled reassuringly at her, and came around to get her door. Taking her hand, he led her to the trailhead.

“Brex.” She dug her feet in, and he stopped and turned to her. “You know this hike has game-ending drop-offs?”

“Exactly why we’re here.” He flashed her a cocky smile. “It’s obvious to the entire valley that I’m your boyfriend.” He said the word proudly. Then he lowered his voice and leaned in. “If the deaths weren’t accidental, we need to draw this guy out.”

Her heartbeat picked up. “I don’t want to risk you.”

“I’ll be fine.” His smile was placating, and she didn’t appreciate it.

“Brex, don’t act like you’re invincible. I can’t lose you.” She could easily recall Harrison, Kyle, and Malik’s broken bodies. It had taken years and loads of prayers to heal emotionally. Seeing Brex broken would devastate her. He was a bright shining star and had so much to live for. The world needed more protective, brave, and honest men like him.

His smile became more genuine, and he searched her eyes with his deep-brown gaze. “I’m not taking my own safety lightly,” he said softly. “I don’t want you to lose me either.”

She let out a garbled laugh.

He gave her a quick, hard kiss and then tugged her forward. She didn’t resist, even though she wanted to force him to drive to a different trailhead, a safe trailhead where he couldn’t fall and die. But other accidents could happen. Look at Harrison dying on a mountain bike.

They walked hand in hand until the trail became too narrow. Then Clara led the way since she’d been on this hike many times.

Walking in front of him on the sandstone cliffs as their elevation rose higher and higher, she glanced back. He was fit, his defined muscles gleaming in the morning light. He still looked like a ‘pretty boy’, but it was obvious he was tougher than most. Still, she wanted to protect him from danger. It was laughable that she thought she could, but the image of Brex dead on the rocks below made her throat feel like it was closing off. The drop off to her right was at least two hundred feet and the loose rocks and sand on the smooth sandstone made the trail unstable. On her left, the cliffs rose toward the morning sky. She edged to the left, but the smooth rock gave her nothing to hold on to.

Her heart beat high and fast. She stopped and took a long drink of her water bottle, splashing it down her chin. Wiping it off with the back of her hand, she turned to Brex and squeaked out, “I think we should pray.”

He tilted his head and regarded her. He didn’t say much about his faith, but he came to church with her and had been part of her family prayers at mealtimes.

“Pray about what?” he asked in a quiet voice that made warning bells clang in her mind.

“Keeping you safe.”

His brows rose at that, and then he gave her a smile that felt stale and insincere. “Clara, I promise you I’m taking this seriously.”

He shook his wrist and glanced at his watch. It was an unconscious gesture and she usually liked when he did it, but right now it felt as if he was showing his impatience.

“I’ll keep both of us safe because of my skills and experience.” He touched the pack he carried that she knew had a gun and a knife inside. “It’ll be okay.”

He gestured for her to walk again.

She shook her head. “No, Brex.” The feeling they should pray grew stronger. “You are strong and have skills, experience, and weapons, but God is over all. He will keep us safe. He might use your skills to do that, and it might be something neither of us can foresee. I don’t know the outcome, but I know we have to pray.”

If only she’d thought of praying with Harrison, Kyle, or Malik. Why hadn’t she? Every year that passed, she found she was much more inclined to turn to prayer every moment of her life instead of only praying in the morning and at night or at church.

Brex studied her, his dark eyes unreadable.

“Are you not a believer?” she asked, her palms sweating. She loved this man, and she would love him regardless of where he was on his faith journey, but she’d innocently assumed he was a committed Christian. Maybe because most of the people in her life were. She’d helped Malik find his faith, and he’d been grateful, even if his parents hadn’t. Could she do the same for Brex?

He shook his head, his posture tight and closed off. Then he pushed out a heavy breath and looked at the sandstone cliffs, squinting at the rising sun. “I rely on myself, Clara, not on some unfeeling being in the heavens.”

Her stomach squirmed.

Focusing on her again, his dark eyes looked stormy. “That probably changes your feelings about me.”

Her own eyes widened. “Why would it change my feelings about you?”

“You’re a committed Christian. Your dad’s the pastor and your mom’s his angelic supporter. You spend your life organizing and supervising mission trips for youth. You’re genuine, light, and happy.” He flung a hand at her. “How could someone as charitable and inspiring as you want to shackle herself to an unbeliever?”

He said these words as if he’d practiced them or heard them before.

She stepped in closer to him. “You aren’t just some unbeliever.”

“What do you mean?” He didn’t back away into the cliff rising behind him, but she could tell he wanted to.

She took a deep breath and pushed it out there. “You’re the man I’ve fallen in love with.”

Brex blinked at her, as if coming out of the darkness into the sunlight. He shook his head and blinked at her again.

Clara wondered if she should stop, but she wanted to explain. “I hope you’ll be open to learning about my faith and the love, safety, and blessings God wants to impart to you, but my love for you isn’t conditional on you believing the same as I do.”

“Clara.” He said her name on a groan. “You are out of your mind.”

Clara startled. Not quite the response she’d hoped for.

“Oh, Clara.” He edged back toward the rock wall, tugging her with him, away from the dangerous drop-off.

Brex gave her a soft smile, framed her face with his hands, and kissed her. One of his hands threaded into her hair and massaged her scalp, making her tingle. His other hand wrapped around her lower back as he bent her slightly backward. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. The kiss must’ve looked like something from a movie. It felt even better. He kissed her so deeply she felt like she was floating on clouds of bliss.

He loved her back. Of course he did.

Finally, Brex pulled back and gave her a searching look. Clara’s own smile was tremulous. Emotion collided and overwhelmed her. That kiss, the love she felt for Brex, the love she knew their Father above had for him, and the fear of him falling off a cliff … it all made her want to cry.

Well, the kiss made her want to kiss him again.

The thought of a cliff made her lean into him and away from the terrifying drop-off behind them.

“You know, I haven’t asked you this because I don’t want to upset you,” Brex began.

The out of this world sensation disappeared and the only thing grounding her was his hands on her. What was he going to upset her with? Telling her he didn’t love her back? He acted so brave about being her boyfriend, but maybe he didn’t love her like she loved him. He’d said she’d lost her mind. Three months was quick to fall in love, but she knew her own mind.

He released his grip on her and straightened. “Do you think Weston could’ve murdered your boyfriends?”

“Weston?” She scurried to the side and leaned back against the rock wall, needing support without his touch, her stomach squeamish because of his accusation and redirection. Hadn’t they been talking about his spiritual journey and her love for him? Why was he accusing her friend? She looked out over the yawning cliff below them and her stomach dropped.

“No,” she said. “No way. He’s been one of my best friends since grade school. You might as well accuse Jane.”

He arched an eyebrow as if he’d considered it.

“Brex.” She shook her head, trying to think how to defend Weston when her mind was still caught on their kiss and admitting her love and him not returning the words. “No. I know Weston seems possessive of me, but we’re the best of friends and he’s a great guy. It was only him and his mom growing up, and she died when he was a young teen. He’s protected Jane since we were teenagers, even though the tough football player and now coach watching over a girl who’s ‘slow’ has brought him grief at times. He clings to me and is overly protective of Jane, but he could never hurt anyone.” She studied him when he didn’t respond. “Did Aiden’s people find something to point fingers at Weston?”

His jaw worked, but he shook his head. “No.”

“Oh, good.” She sighed with relief.

“Instinct tells me he’s our guy.” Brex shrugged. “Unless the deaths were all accidental.”

“I don’t think they were.” But that was all they had, her thinking there was something suspicious. She wanted closure for her and their families, and she wanted to know that Brex was safe and wouldn’t be the next victim.

Silence fell between them.

Brex tilted his head. “Let’s keep hiking. See if we can draw this murderer out.” He gave her a devil-may-care grin that turned her stomach. She loved his bravery and toughness, but it might get him killed.

“Please, Brex.” She put a hand on his arm. “Let’s pray together.”

He shook his head, not meeting her eyes. He turned and started up the path.

Clara hurried after him, bothered he wouldn’t pray with her, concerned he could push away her declaration of love, and terrified that something was going to happen to him. Her heart thumped hard against her rib cage, and the squeamish feeling in her stomach became more pronounced.

Suddenly, Brex stopped. On their right, the smooth cliff still descended hundreds of feet. The view of red rock, cactus, and even palo verde trees would be awe-inspiring—if she wasn’t panicked about him going off that cliff.

Was he going to pray with her? Tell her he loved her too and they’d both lost their minds? Why had he stopped?

“Brex,” she whispered.

He held up a hand and glanced over his shoulder. “I heard something up ahead. Stay here.”

Then he took off at a run. On the dangerous trail.

“Brex! No!”

Clara rushed after him. If it was the murderer, would he or she kill Brex before Clara could get to them? The trail continued to have terrifying drop-offs on her right. She edged toward the safety of the left cliff face and had to slow to a fast walk.

They had never prayed together, and now they were separated. It was just like the other times.

Chills raced over her skin and her stomach tumbled.

No! Please not Brex!

She prayed in her mind, a constant repeat of, Help him!

She heard voices up ahead and her pulse skyrocketed. Brex had found someone. Could it be the murderer? This was a particularly precarious part of the trail. It was thin and slick with dirt and rocks covering the sandstone and the cliffs stretching sharply upward on their left. No handholds or vegetation to cling to. The sheer face was hundreds of feet down on their right.

Cautiously creeping round a corner, holding on to the wall as best she could, she saw Brex. His back was to her, his posture puffed up and threatening. Who did he have cornered against the cliff side? What if that person pushed Brex into the yawning opening to his right? All it would take was one solid shove.

“Brex.” She rushed to him.

He glanced over his shoulder and held up a hand. “Stay back, Clara.”

“Who is it? What’s happening?” She didn’t listen and hurried to peek around his side. “Mrs. Talon?”

Clara could only stare at the forty-something lady. Mrs. Talon was an English teacher and the track coach. Her children were younger than Clara, but she knew them from church. Mrs. Talon was battling breast cancer but loved to explore the mountain trails. It was inspiring to see her up here again. Was she recovered from her surgery and treatments?

“Can you listen so I can keep you safe?” Brex held Clara back.

“So you can interrogate Mrs. Talon?”

The lady looked confused and a little annoyed.

Brex arched an eyebrow. “She claims she hikes the trails alone almost every day.”

“I do,” Mrs. Talon said.

“Then why haven’t we seen her on any of our many hikes?” Brex folded his arms across his chest.

“Because I’ve been recovering from a double mastectomy and chemotherapy,” Mrs. Talon flung at him. “Today is the first day I felt well enough in almost eight weeks to come to my mountain sanctuary.”

“Oh.” Brex’s eyes widened, and he backed closer to Clara. “Oh.”

“It’s true,” Clara told him quietly. “She has stage four breast cancer.”

“Oh, man.” Brex pushed a hand through his hair and held it palm up. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She gave Clara a fleeting smile. “I’ll just … continue on my hike.”

“I apologize again,” Brex said.

She nodded, turned, and headed up the trail, her steps slower than Clara had seen them on hikes previous to her treatments.

Brex leaned against the rock wall. “Oh, man. That went well.” He flicked his wrist and glanced at his watch.

“At least you’re safe. I was flipping out. You can’t just go running away and risk getting pushed off a cliff.” She gestured to her right and leaned closer to the safety of the rock wall, tugging on his arm as her stomach twisted again.

He frowned. “I just want to draw this guy out. I don’t know how you’ve dealt with not knowing if there is a murderer and who it could be for years.”

“It’s been rough. I really appreciate your help. Sorry you interrogated Mrs. Talon.” She smiled to try to lighten the mood.

“Me too. Awkward.” He rolled his eyes. “Are you okay to keep going, or should we head down?”

“Can we head down, please?” Her stomach was nauseous, her skin cold and clammy. Seeing Brex next to the cliff was too much. For now he was safe, but she couldn’t shake that feeling of concern. If it had been the murderer and not Mrs. Talon …

She peeked over the edge of the game-ending drop-off. Her stomach pitched and bile climbed her throat. The gruesome pictures played through her mind … Harrison, Kyle, Malik … each unmoving, lifeless. Why did they have to die?

Clara focused on Brex’s face. She loved him, even if he didn’t love her back, and she would lose him just like she’d lost the others.

Brex gave her an encouraging smile and gestured her forward. She wanted him to go first so she could see he was safe, but she was too sick to her stomach to protest.

She put one foot in front of the other, moving slowly. The yawning cliff mocked her. It would suck Brex away from her, batter his body, take his spirit.

She glanced over her shoulder. He was okay. For the moment.

Cold chills covered her body, and she trembled. Bile rose up her throat again.

Finally, finally, they reached a spot where the trail widened and moved away from the cliff face.

Drained and horrified, Clara dropped to her knees on the path. Vomit rose in her throat, choking her. Tears raced down her cheeks as she spewed.

“Clara!” Brex dropped next to her and held her as her body heaved. The comfort of his strong arms was exactly what she needed.

When her stomach finally settled, he pulled out her water bottle. She rinsed and spit and then took a long drink. He helped her to her feet, and they shuffled together down the trail. A few minutes later, they reached a safe spot that didn’t smell of vomit.

“Clara. Are you all right?” He tugged her close and held her in his arms.

“I was a mess when you chased her. What if it had been the murderer? That drop-off right there… I could see your body broken on the rocks below.” Clara hated admitting this to him. She was so weak, and she wanted to have faith. She fisted his shirt in her hands, her stomach still sick. “I can’t lose you, Brex.”

He gently kissed her forehead and held her tightly. “I’m sorry, Clara. It’ll be all right. We’ll stay safe and figure this out.”

She clung to him, but his promises were empty. The murderer might never be found. There was no guarantee Brex would stay safe.

Her faith was failing her. They hadn’t prayed together, but thankfully he’d been all right. Why had she felt such a deep urge to pray? Why was her faith so weak?

Was Brex the love she’d longed for?

All she knew for certain right now was she never wanted to leave Brex’s arms.