Page 170 of Ever With Me

Her family was in the front row with her—all of them, including Pops—and Maddie had never been more grateful for them. They were the first people she’d gone to after what Gina had revealed, and Dad had taken a sworn statement from Gina that same afternoon. Having a lawyer for a father felt like such a blessing.

TJ, who happened to be a private investigator, found the cameras that had been installed in the lake house. Jason had asked the other weekend renters if they’d let anyone into the property and learned that someone, probably Mike, had shown up in an electrician’s uniform claiming he was there for service the weekend they’d been at the Serendipity.

TJ had also recovered the Ring camera footage of the woman Gina believed might have attacked Pops. He’d found her online, too. She was from Frederick, Maryland, and the cops were waiting outside her work to arrest her after this meeting was over.

As soon as the meeting started, Mike would be arrested. Turned out the FBI had already been investigating Mike.

Thanks to the nonexistent cell phone service in the town hall, Josh—who’d taken a seat with his family a few rows away—had no way of being alerted.

TJ, who’d been working with Dan Kline and the local police, as well as Dan and Jen’s father, who worked as a consultant for the FBI for financial crimes, all believed that Josh and Mike had probably been working alone. They’d gotten lucky—access to Brooks through Maddie’s foolish mistake of leaving her messages account logged in.

For sharing her password with her ex-boyfriend when she lived with him and then forgetting to change it.

The guilt Maddie still felt over that was enormous. She’d felt so stupid, so naive.

She’d been so naive, honestly.

And it had cost Brooks dearly.

Josh had been foolish by breaking up with Gina, but he’d probably also been certain that Gina and Maddie would never put their heads together and talk.

And Josh’s cockiness would be his downfall. Today.

“Ready?” Dad asked from beside her as Bill Mackintosh, the mayor, went to the podium.

Maddie nodded.

“All right, folks. Should be a quick one today, but I’m glad to see we’re all as eager to get this matter resolved. An emergency petition brought to the council this weekend, the town of Brandywood versus Brooks Kent, needs to be voted on. Would you like to take the podium and say a few words, Fred?”

Maddie’s throat went dry as Fred ambled up to the podium. Never in her life would she have put so much on the line with the Stricklands, but Fred was the best man for the job. The only one that might get things rolling before Josh panicked and took off.

Would Fred do what he’d promised?

Fred smiled at the crowd. “I’m the one who brought the petition to the council. Enough is enough. The Yardleys and their ilk have ruined our town. And now Maddie and her boyfriend are up to their disgusting behavior all over again. I won’t be bullied by them anymore. I’m sick of seeing photographers outside my store windows. Reporters milling around our town. I want things to go back to normal.”

Bill picked up another microphone. “Do you have any witnesses to these new sightings of Brooks Kent that you’ve mentioned? Some people aren’t even sure Brooks Kenthasreturned.”

The bookstore owner, Annie, stood up. “I talked to Maddie three days ago. She told me she and Brooks were heading to the drive-in theater.”

Fred nodded emphatically. “See?”

“Thank you, Annie.”

Mr. Wong from the deli also stood. “Maddie told me she and Brooks were going to Pearson Creek for a picnic on Tuesday.”

Grace Wagner also stood. “Maddie booked a private hour at my art studio for her and Brooks.”

Laura Redding joined the group that was standing. “Maddie also booked my best cabin for a few nights for her and Brooks.”

One by one, people joined them until nearly a dozen people stood, issuing similar statements.

Fred grinned, setting his hands out. “See? And what’s more, the paparazzi showed up at every single one of these places and took pictures of them there together. The two of them, all over each other every time. A picture’s worth a thousand words, Bill. And I witnessed with my two eyes the two of them going at it in my storeroom way back in September. It’s out of control.”

Maddie lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing. Most of the town already knew that, but it was still embarrassing to have it announced.

And God, do I hope this works.

Bill nodded gravely and thanked the people who continued to stand. He looked at Maddie. “Madison Yardley? Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

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