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“I don’t get why you’re even bothering with this.” Diana’s voice filled my car as I put on the turn signal.

I was thirty minutes away from Sage Hill. It was a two-and-a-half-hour drive in total.

Twyla wasn’t pleased to hear that I was leaving. This story about Robert Cowan was huge and they needed a final piece for publication, stat. I told her I’d have it completed and ready to turn in by deadline.

Since it was my turn to stay at the quaint cottage, it probably meant Eve was no longer there. However, she hadn’t returned home either. I went back to Eve’s place last night and her car still wasn’t in the designated spot, plus her townhome was vacant.

“I know, but Zoey is stressed out and her stress is stressing me out,” I said.

“Alright, tongue twister.” Diana laughed. “I mean you said it yourself, Rose. Eve is spontaneous. Honestly, sis, I’m surprised your friendship with her lasted as long as it did.”

“Yeah, me too,” I muttered. Diana was the only person I could turn to about my issue with Eve and Cole. “How’s Daddy?”

“He’s good. Wanna talk to him?”

“Please,” I said.

There was some rustling, then my daddy’s voice filled the car.

“Rosette, hey.” His voice was deep but friendly.

Daddy was always fun, even when our mom died.

It’d been eighteen years since my mother passed away in a fire.

As tragic as it was, my father kept his chin up and his eyes bright.

I recall him grieving deeply for about four days before finally pulling himself together. To this day I don’t know how he did it.

Perhaps it was taking a toll on him now, bottling all that emotion in for so long.

Arthritis was eating away at different parts of his body.

Sciatica was destroying his back. He had to retire from social work because his body couldn’t handle the physical demands of the job anymore.

Now, he gives piano lessons and makes pretty decent money from it.

“Hi, Daddy. How you holdin’ up?” I asked.

“Better than ever now that Diana done made her good chicken.” He chuckled.

“It better not be fried chicken,” I playfully scolded.

“Uh-oh.”

I couldn’t help laughing as he did.

“Daddy, I told you to watch what you eat now. More greens, fruits, veggies. That’s what the doctor said.”

“I know. But one leg won’t hurt.”

I guess not.”

“Sounds like you’re driving. Traveling for another story?”

“You could say that.” I glanced at the rearview mirror. It was midday. The sun was starting to set. The closer I got to Sage Hill, the more my ears began to clog from the elevation. I flexed my jaw to make them pop.

“What’s this I hear about Eve not answering her phone?” he asked.

“Oh, it’s probably nothing. Just Eve being Eve.”

“How so?”

“She’s not answering her calls or texts. Me and Zoey have been trying to get in touch with her for a few days.”

“You sure she’s okay?” he asked, true concern lacing his voice. Daddy always had a soft spot for Eve. He saw her as one of his own. A daughter—a troubled one who needed love and guidance.

He was there for her a lot. He even bought her and Zoey clothes, shoes—whatever they needed when they couldn’t afford it.

Even though they had their abuela for a few years, they may as well have lived with us.

They spent the night almost every other day, ate dinner with us, watched movies.

They especially enjoyed watching Daddy grill steaks when his tax refund money came in.

He only ever bought steak around that time.

“I think she’s fine. Just wanting attention like always.”

“Oh, come on, Rosette. She’s your friend. Don’t be like that.”

“We’re not friends anymore,” I reminded him.

“You can’t erase sixteen years of friendship that easily, sweetheart.

She may have done some wild things; I get that, but writing her off would be like doing the same to Diana.

That’s hard to do. And I know you. You’re not the kind of person to stay angry, Rose.

You’ll find it in your heart to forgive her for whatever she did.

But you can’t do that if she ain’t okay. ”

“I know,” I murmured. “I’ll let you know when I talk to her.”

A siren blared and my eyes shifted to the rearview mirror again. Blue and red lights sparked behind me and my heart dropped a notch.

“Seriously?” I muttered.

“What happened?” Daddy inquired.

“It’s nothing. I’ll call you guys later, okay?”

“Okay. Drive safe,” he said.

“I will. I love you.”

I pulled the car to the side of the road. The cop parked behind me, and I sighed, shutting off my engine. I wasn’t speeding and I’d just had my car inspected a month ago, so it couldn’t have been a taillight or anything like that. What the hell did they want?

After about a minute, the officer stepped out of his vehicle.

I kept my face forward and my hands on the wheel, but my eyes wandered to the side mirror.

He walked slowly, hands on his waist, close to his belt.

Well, more like on his gun. He stopped at my window and gave it a knock.

I rolled it down, making sure to keep my movements slow and steady.

I looked up at him—a white man with aviator sunglasses on and a brown cowboy hat.

His mustache was thick and seemed to cover his whole upper lip.

His uniform was tan. He had to be in his mid-fifties and appeared to be in decent shape for his age.

I studied his sheriff’s badge, surprised by the name.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

“I’m great,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Is there a problem, sir?”

“In fact, there is.” He slid his eyes to my back seat.

“Okay. What’s that?”

“Your third brake light,” he said. “The strip on the trunk. I think the bulb is out.”

“Is it?”

“Indeed. Wanted to let you know, in case that was important to you. Also, may help someone traveling behind you at night and all.”

“Oh.” I relaxed a bit, loosening my grip on the steering wheel. “Well, thanks for that. I’ll have it looked at.”

He said nothing in response. Instead, he looked through the window of my back seat again. This time I frowned. What was he looking for?

“Is that all?” I asked.

He turned his attention to me. I couldn’t see his eyes behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses.

“Where are you headed?” he asked.

“Sage Hill,” I answered, though I didn’t understand how that was any of his business.

The sheriff smiled. “Ah. Heading to my little town, I see.”

I gave a nervous laugh. His town? Right, of course it was. I noticed my hands were shaking and tried to control them. “Guess so.”

The sheriff noticed my hands too, studying them a moment before looking at me behind those dark lenses. “What’s the matter? You nervous?” he asked.

I blinked, then swallowed. “A little,” I admitted.

“Well, don’t be nervous now. The only reason you would need to be is if you’re guilty of something, right?” He chuckled.

I forced a laugh, despite my rapidly beating heart.

“Anyway, my nephew’s a pretty good mechanic if you’re looking for someone local. Can give you his number if you want it,” he offered.

“Oh, that’s okay.” I waved a hand. “I won’t be here long.”

He pressed his lips and nodded. “Suit yourself. Well, you have a good one. And lose the nerves. Sage Hill is a beautiful place.” He gave the top of my car a rapid knock. “Drive safely.”

“I will. Thank you, sir.”

When he walked away, I rolled my window up and started the engine again.

I watched him open the door of his truck before putting my signal on and veering onto the road.

I glanced at the rearview mirror again. He was watching me go as he spoke into the walkie-talkie on his shoulder.

The stop wasn’t horrifying, but something about it unnerved me.

I couldn’t put my finger on what it was exactly.

It took another five minutes for the nerves to melt away and for me to realize what it was about the stop that bugged me. The name on his badge was Reed.

Like Alex Reed.