Page 27 of Cornered

Cherry frowned. “Well, he was here like clockwork every Sunday morning, signed up for the two-hour zip line package.”

Steph groaned and dropped her head into her hand. “I’m so confused.”

“Never mind that. Why on earth would he break into your place?”

Steph looked up, making a note to come back to Stan and zip-lining. Maybe his wife would know. “He was looking for a notebook I’d found hidden in Brenda’s desk, but I’d already given it to Detective Cooper. And then Stan broke intohisplace and managed to steal it.”

Cherry gaped and Steph sighed. “I know. It’s all a bit much, isn’t it?”

“A bit much for sure. And Brenda...” Tears welled in Cherry’s eyes and she sniffed. “I don’t even know what tothink about that one.” She brushed away a stray tear. “So they think she was killed because of the notebook?”

“It’s just speculation, of course, but I can see it being the case if she was looking for something, found it, and recorded it.” She paused and narrowed her eyes. “But it was a notebook no one probably knew about—not even her husband—until I found it and showed it to Stan.” Stan, who’d been desperate to get his hands on it and had called someone immediately after their conversation. Well, Stan had gotten the book. But what about the phone call right after she’d shown him the journal? Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe his call had spurred the incidents that followed. Like her stalker in the garage and at the library. Becausethatperson hadn’t been Stan. And she still wasn’t a hundred percent sure the person in her house had been Stan.

Steph grabbed her phone. “I’m sorry, Cherry, I need to make a call.”

“Of course.”

TATE’S PHONE RANG,flashing Steph’s number. He tapped the screen. “Hello?”

“Hey, I just thought of something and it may be nothing, but I figured better to be wrong than right and say nothing. Right?”

He blinked. “What?”

“I’m at Bolin’s—”

“What!”

“Uh ... why are you shouting at me?”

Tate closed his eyes and counted to three. “Because,” he said in a much calmer tone, “we’re investigating the Bolins, remember?”

“I remember you came up here to chat with them, but I didn’t realize you were doing a full-on investigation.”

“That’s because I can’t tell you everything about what we’redoing, but you need to leave there and don’t go back until I or Cole give you the all clear. Can you do that?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll just say goodbye to Cherry and text you when I’m on the way.”

“Good.”

“But first, I need to tell you about a phone call Stan made.” She went on to explain about what she’d witnessed after Stan saw the journal. “It may be nothing,” she said, “but I don’t know. At the time, I didn’t think much about it, but knowing what I know now...”

“Right.” It wasn’t a bad idea. “I’ll see if we can find who he called around that time. Thank you for that. Now get out of there.”

“I’m getting, I promise. I’ll text when I’m in the car.”

He hung up and said a quick prayer for the woman. He’d only known her a short time but was far more interested in spending time with her than he should be. Could he date her and still focus on his job? On climbing the ladder of success? Balance a relationship without sacrificing everything he’d worked for to get to this point?

He honestly wasn’t sure, but for the first time since he could remember, he thought he might want to try.

He checked his phone. No text from Steph saying she was on her way home. He tapped on the screen.

Steph, please. Leave. While I think Stan was the one causing all of your problems, we’re not sure what role—if any—Bolin’s played in Brenda’s death. Or if someone from there was involved in Stan’s “accident.” Let me know you’re away from there.

He hit send, then waited for the three little dots to appear.

How long did it take to walk to your car, climb in, and lock the doors?

ELEVEN

---