Page 65 of The House Beyond the Dunes

“It’s a big county.”

“Land-wise, but the population isn’t. Maybe he’s new.”

“He might be new to the area, but he doesn’t act like a rookie,” I say. I step aside and nod for Reece to enter. He’s feeling more like an ally. He wipes his feet on the mat and steps into the foyer. He’s taller and broader than the detective. “He’s trying to make something out of nothing. It’ll be fine.”

“Don’t underestimate him.”

“You grew up with Kyle. You knew him well. Was he ever violent? Did he try to hurt anyone?”

“Where’d that come from? Did the detective bring it up?”

“He was throwing all kinds of theories at me.”

Reece regards me. “We all grew up hard. And kids that have it tough aren’t always gentle. But even though Kyle could take care of himself, he didn’t go out of his way to find trouble.”

“Detective Becker said Kyle was struggling financially.” Smoke and mirrors, according to the detective.

Reece shakes his head. “Depends on your definition ofstruggling. Kyle came from nothing. No family money backing him up. It was feast or famine with Kyle. And Kyle loved taking risks.”

His tone carries hints of disapproval. “You didn’t like Kyle’s approach to money?”

He rests his hands on his hips. “Look, he’s dead and gone. None of that matters.”

“It does to me.” There are so few people who can talk to me about Kyle, and my window into his world is closing. “Why didn’t you approve?”

He hesitates as if searching for words. “Kyle was never satisfied with what he had. He could have a fistful of money in one hand, but it was never enough. He saw money as points in a game. The more risk he took, the higher the potential win.”

“Or loss.”

“He liked being on the edge. For a long time, he was winning, and then he had several market losses last spring. He took out loans against the houses.”

Financial stressors can trigger a variety of negative responses. “What happened when he hit a stumbling block?”

He shakes his head. “No one likes setbacks, and if they say they don’t mind them, they’re a liar. Kyle made no apologies for his ambition or his frustrations when things went wrong.”

“You’re defending him, but you two weren’t getting along.” It’s not lost on me that I was just defending Kyle to the detective.

Frown lines deepen. “None of that matters now, Lane. The man is dead. Let him go and leave this place behind.”

“Why are you protecting him?”

He studies me closely. “We knew each other since we were kids. He was good to me back in the day. Sent me work the last couple of years. Loyalty matters to me.”

“And what if it’s misguided?”

A muscle pulses in his jaw. “This isn’t a good place for you, Lane. Leave and get on with your life. Kyle is your past.”

“He’s not my past until I know what we were fighting about and why we fell. How do two people arrive at a getaway weekend, and within an hour it all goes sideways? I have to find those missing moments.”

“Maybe be grateful you don’t remember the fall.”

My hand trembles slightly as I run it over my head. “I’m not making sense.”

The lines in his face soften. “You had a trauma. That can scramble a brain.”

“I suppose so.”

He reaches for the door handle. “If you need anything, call or knock on my door. I’m across the street for a few more days.”

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