“Hi, Detective. How are you?”
“I’m doing okay. How’s Wyoming?”
He’d been really happy when I told him I was moving. I had a sense there was more to it than me moving on, but I didn’t press the point because, honestly, I didn’t want to know. “It’s beautiful,” I said, walking outside and taking a pic of my view and sending it to him.
“I sent you a picture.”
A pause before he said, “Damn, that is beautiful.”
“It’s so quiet, but I love it.” And I did. I hated how I had come to be here, but I was happy I was here.“How are you? How’s Saratoga Springs?”
“There’s been some activity on the case,” he said, but I heard something in his tone.
“What’s wrong, Alton?”
“I’m telling you this because I want you to be aware,” he said. “This isn’t an official call. I’m not even using my own phone. As far as anyone is concerned, we never had this conversation.”
My legs went a little weak. “Okay.”
“I’ve uncovered some evidence that suggests Kenneth Callahan may have been in bed with the mob.” Fear hit then. “It’s taken me until now to find this connection. From the beginning, I was being pushed to wrap this case up. I’m beginning to understand why. I won’t be putting this in my report. Won’t be telling anyone what I discovered. I’m telling you because, as Brock’s girlfriend at the time of his father’s death, those involved may have you on their radar.”
“That’s why you were glad I moved away.”
“Yeah. How many know where you moved to?”
“No one.”
“Not an assistant or a friend?”
“No. I told them I was moving out west, but I never said where.” I’d been going through the motions of life. Never made any real connections, any real friends. Hell, even the men, what few there had been, had been about sex. I’d wasted enough of my life on my past. That was what moving out here was all about…focusing on my present and future. “Brock thought his father was into something bad,” I offered abruptly.
“He did?”
“Yeah. Said he was drinking more, more on edge.” I didn’t want to ask, but it was Brock. I’d moved on but a part of me would always be tethered to him. “Have you heard anything on Brock?”
“No, but I have a theory.”
“Will you share it?”
He only hesitated a second or two before he said, “The only way he could stay off the radar as well as he has is if he hooked up with people who are used to being off the radar. I know he had a connection with Dax and the Iron Guardians MC, and with them up and leaving town shortly after Brock disappeared, I suspect he’s with them.”
I wasn’t sure where I thought Brock was, but hearing he was with Dax, hurt to know. I didn’t know much about them, but I’d heard the stories. Anyone living in Saratoga Springs knew they were bad news. Tears burned my eyes because he’d gone from one bad situation to another. Guilt followed because I was finding my happy, and he was still… I wouldn’t let myself go there. He made the choice to leave me, not that he had much of one.
If Alton suspected that, then why hadn’t he found Brock? It had been years, and as good as they may be at staying off the radar, the detective had a direction to look. “Have you found him?”
“I’ve an idea.”
“But you haven’t brought him in?”
“No, and I’m not in any rush to do so, particularly not after what I’ve discovered. Ashley Callahan was never found, and knowing what I do now, I suspect she’s been buried in a shallow grave. If Brock comes back, not only won’t he get a fair trial, but he’s a loose end, and not knowing who else is in bed with the mob, bringing him in is sentencing him to death.”
I bit back the sob. Brock was no longer in my life, but I wanted him to find his happy too.
Detective Donnelly exhaled. “I’m sorry, Cedar. I’m just…” I could hear his frustration. “We’re supposed to be the good guys, but in Brock’s case, he’s better off with the MC. If anyone stands a chance at standing up against the mob, it’s them. They’re cut from the same cloth.”
I supposed that was another silver lining.
“I don’t want to worry you, but given where you are now, be careful. You get any weird calls, or just feel off, call me. I’m going to give you this number. It can’t be traced. I’m not going to reach out to the local sheriff because I want you off the grid, but it might be a good idea for you to make friends, have people looking in on you.”
I was making friends with the sheriff, sort of. “That’s why I moved here, Alton. I’m ready to start living again.”
“Good. I’m really happy to hear that, Cedar.” And I could tell from his tone he really was.
“Be careful, Detective.”
“Will do. You need to talk to me use this new number.”
“Okay.”
“Enjoy that view for me too.”
We disconnected. The sound of trucks pulled my attention. It was the last truck I focused on; my heart jumped, truth be told. I didn’t release my breath until Killian climbed from it. He was on Graham’s crew? How many hats did the man wear? He would be spending the next few months working on my house? I’d get to look at him daily: a big plus, but thinking about what Alton had just shared, I’d feel safer, too.
“Cedar,” Graham called. I crossed the yard to join him.
“Hey. I’ve got coffee and donuts inside.”
“You hear that guys. Go fill up before we get to work.” Graham turned back to me. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“And yet, I’m going to continue with breakfast and lunch, speaking of which, I was thinking sandwiches today. I’ll head into town to the Sandwich Shack. I’ll take orders in a little.”
“I’d argue, but I suspect it will be pointless,” he said.
“And you would be right. There’s a cooler in the kitchen with water and soda too.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Seriously, not many think about that.”
“I’m not being completely altruistic. I want my porch and patio.”
He laughed and headed into my house.
Killian strolled over. “You could have mentioned you’d be working on my house.”
“I could have,” he said, and even though he gave nothing away, I suspected he was teasing me.