Page 43 of Shrouded Past

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“Bryce, you have any idea how late it is?”Yet Eric didn’t seem to be sleeping.

“I do and I’m sorry.” Bryce explained what they believed had happened back then. “I need you to find out everything you can about Tess.”

“Buddy, it’s been two years. We’re not even sure Tess was her real name. Do you really think this wasn’t about drugs?”

Bryce understood Eric’s hesitancy. “I realize it’s a huge ask, but it’s important, Eric. What if we were wrong about what happened to Jenna and to Tess? We owe it to them to find out the truth.”

Eric blew out a sigh. “You’re right. Jenna was my sister. I’d do anything to protect her, and I let her down. I want to know what happened to her. Give me a little while. I’ll be in touch soon.”

“Thanks, Eric.”

“You got it. Sounds like you have a mess on your hands. Take care of yourself, Bryce. If this is connected to what happened that night then you have to ask yourself how you’re connected in all of this.”

Those haunting words wouldn’t let him go long after he ended the call with Eric.

“Let’s share your theory with JT and the rest of the team.” He rose and held out his hand to her. She slipped her hand in his. There was a connection between them that he hadn’t expected or wanted before. Piper made him want to figure out what really happened that night and lay it to rest once and for all. Until that happened, he wouldn’t be able to move on with his life, and for the first time since he’d lost Jenna he wanted to. As he and Piper entered the kitchen, Bryce could tell something had broken.

“What’s going on?” All thoughts of Piper’s hypothesis gone.

“Will just called,” Katrina told them. “Darby’s personal vehicle was found not far from the house where Amos’s car was stolen. He stashed it in the woods not far from the place.”

So, it was true. Darby was the cop who had taken Piper. Bryce hated thinking a fellow cop would be capable of such carnage. “Any idea where he is now?”

Katrina shook her head. “We’re guessing he’s holed up somewhere here on the island or possibly the mainland. Will’s putting out a BOLO on Darby. Hopefully, someone will spot him and call it in.”

“Let’s hope.” But Darby was a cop, and he’d know how to stay hidden. “Does he have family nearby?”

Katrina looked to JT who responded. “An ex-wife who lives about ten miles from Bangor. Will dispatched the local police to check on her and see if she’s spoken to her ex-husband lately.”

Rachel rose and stretched out the kinks from her back. “I’m going to check with the babysitter.” She left the room.

“I, for one, could use something in my stomach other than coffee.” Janine rose and went over to the fridge. “Jackpot. Plenty of sandwich materials. Anyone else hungry?”

Rounds of “yes” circled the table.

“I’ll help.” Katrina went to assist her.

“Let me.” Piper rose to help the two women.

“I still hate thinking this is one of our own,” Eli was saying. “I know there are dirty cops out there, but I’ll never understand how someone who is sworn to protect could do such a thing.

Bryce watched Piper interact with Janine and Katrina and realized he hadn’t heard anything beyond Eli’s initial statement. He was falling in love. A smile played across his lips. Piper must have felt his attention on her because she glanced up from piling lunch meat onto bread and caught him. Her hand stilled. Their eyes held.

Someone nudged him, and he glanced around. “I’m sorry, what?”

The glint of amusement in Eli’s eyes told him he’d witnessed the exchange, but he didn’t comment on what he’d observed. “We’re just trying to tie the case you were working at the time to what’s happening now.”

Bryce remembered what he’d been going to say before and told them about Piper’s suggestion that what happened to Jenna had nothing to do with drugs.

Declan blew out a whistle. “If that’s true, then it changes things dramatically.”

“I agree. Eric’s going to do some checking on our informant. Hopefully, he can find the missing pieces and soon.”

“Let’s hope.”

Rachel came back. “Babies are sleeping. Everything’s fine there.”

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