Page 71 of Beneath the Surface

Charlotte stood up, brushing her hands on her apron. “Why don’t I head to the kitchen and start on brunch? You girls catch up.” She shot them all a knowing look, leaving the room with the practiced ease of a mother who knew when her daughters needed time to talk.

As soon as their mother was out of earshot, the air in the room shifted. Sophie sat down next to Isobel, nudging her playfully. “We’re not going to let you wallow in depression.” She hugged her. “So, spill. What’s going on between you and Brad?”

Isobel blinked, momentarily taken aback by the directness of the question. She looked at her sisters, all of them watching her with the same blend of love and curiosity, and she realized this wasn’t a conversation she could avoid. Not here, not with them.

A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “Oh, well… Brad and I—things are a little… different.”

Molly arched a brow. “Different how? We’re family; you know you can tell us anything.”

Isobel hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Okay, well… Brad and I are in a Dominant and submissive relationship.”

There was a pause, followed by a brief moment of silence. Olivia was the first to break it, her smile widening in amusement. “So, who’s in control?” she teased.

Isobel’s cheeks flushed slightly. “You know he is… It’s part of the dynamic. I trust him, and I give him control in certain situations. It’s something that makes me feel safe, especially with everything going on.”

Molly’s eyes widened, though her smile remained warm. “Well, after the family dinner, I knew.”

“He’s been quietly in love with you for years.” Olivia smiled.

Isobel was caught up in Olivia’s words, almost missing Sophie’s question.

Sophie leaned forward, her curiosity clearly piqued. “So, does he… like, spank you? Or tie you up?”

Isobel let out a small, nervous laugh, shaking her head as she looked at her sisters. “Soph, what’s Tristan’s favorite position?”

Sophie inhaled. “Shit, I’m sorry, Izzy. It’s none of our business. If you’re happy, then we are too.”

Ruth, always the quietest one, except in a courtroom, spoke up softly. “It sounds like you’ve found someone who really cares for you. And you’re right, it’s none of our business.”

Isobel looked down at her hands, her voice softening. “I have. Brad doesn’t just protect me physically—he helps me let go of my fears and trust him. It’s hard to explain, but… he’s what I need right now.”

Her sisters listened quietly, their expressions thoughtful. There wasn’t any judgment, only curiosity and love. Ruth, the only sister not in a relationship, said, “Well, I have to admit, I’m a little jealous. My dates never seem to have that kind of, uh, authority.”

They all laughed, the lightheartedness breaking through. She could feel the love from them, the way they accepted her without question. This was her family—her sisters, who would stand by her no matter what.

Molly leaned back in her chair, her hand resting on her belly as she sighed contentedly. “We just want you to be safe and loved.”

Isobel’s heart swelled with emotion, her burdens lifting just a little. “I am, I really am.” She looked down. “Um, Brad was worried you’d be upset we’re seeing each other.”

Olivia said, “I’ve known him since the police academy. And we all love him, but if he hurts you….” She blushed. “If he hurts you in anon-consentingway, I’ll kill him.”

Just then, Charlotte’s voice called from the kitchen, “Brunch is ready, girls! Come help me bring it to the table.”

The sisters all stood, moving to the kitchen to help their mother. As Isobel joined them, she was surrounded by the love and support of her family. Brad had given her safety and protection, and now, being here with her family, she had found another layer of security.

Twenty-Five

The conference room in the Waverly County Police Department felt unusually small for Brad and John Larson as they sat across from one another, a whiteboard beside them filled with scribbled notes, names, and dates.

Brad leaned forward, rubbing his temples as he studied the list of names underlined on the board, including the nine forensic psychologists who had been murdered in the past three years. Isobel’s name sat at the bottom of the list, circled multiple times in red. She was the only one still alive, and they both knew it was only a matter of time before the killer came for her again.

Larson stood beside the board, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed in thought. “Nine dead psychologists, all forensic experts, all involved in high-profile criminal cases. Whoever’s doing this knows their work inside and out. This isn’t just some random killer.”

Brad nodded, his jaw clenched. “And it’s not just someone obsessed with killing psychologists—it’s someone with a deep understanding of the cases they’ve worked on. My thought, given the contents of the notes, is the deaths surrounding each psychologist were related to their specific cases. Eachpsychologist’s murder was surrounded by their own separate moons of related murders, but what connects each of the ten?”

“We have Isobel’s profile. Is Kathy the only victim who had a personal connection to the psychologist?” Larson asked.

Brad grabbed the stacks of files and handed half to Larson. After two grueling hours, both men agreed Kathy was the only personal connection to their particular psychologist.

---