Page 19 of Crossroads of Betrayal
Tucker studied the dog, and something loosened in his chest. His stay here might not be what he’d hoped, but it just might give him something else he desperately needed.
CHAPTEREIGHT
“Where should I put Ruby’s dishes?” Zeke glanced around the small, studio-style cabin.
There was plenty of space for a single guest within the log walls. A cozy seating area with a soft brown, leather couch in front of a stone fireplace, coffee table, and armchair. A basket of thick blankets was wedged between the chair and couch. The living room was open to the kitchen, which stocked the bare necessities in the oak cabinets and stainless-steel refrigerator, and a queen-sized bed was nestled in the far corner—covered by a colorful quilt that reminded him of the one his grandmother had made him as a child.
The only downside was he couldn’t fit in the clawfoot tub in the bathroom. His love of soaking in hot water was born of too many cold showers while serving overseas, and no amount of teasing from his friends back home could break him of the habit.
Tucker shrugged a duffle bag from his shoulder and let it land at his feet. “Doesn’t matter. She’ll eat no matter where you put it.”
“Makes sense.” He rubbed a hand over his hair, causing the ends to stand out. Maybe he’d bit off more than he could chew. He’d never owned a dog and choosing to devote his time to an animal that wasn’t his instead of focusing on healing his shoulder might just be his way of avoiding the real problem.
Ruby padded to his side and nudged her wet nose against his hand.
Well, hell.
He found Ruby’s dishes then filled them with food and water before setting them in the corner of the kitchen.
“Perfect,” Tucker said. “She eats two cups, twice a day. Keep her water filled. I packed her some treats but make her work for them. There’re a few toys in there and her leash. She listens well but keep her on the leash when walking around the retreat just to be on the safe side.”
“I can handle that. Thanks for all this.”
Tucker lifted one shoulder. “No problem, man. It’s what I’m here for. If you don’t mind my asking, you have any other plans for the day? Ruby here will be good company, but I’d suggest stepping out and doing more.”
Zeke grimaced. So much had happened in the short time he’d been at the retreat, he wasn’t sure what the right next step was. If he could, he’d stay with the dog on the front porch and just hang out for the rest of his time. But he’d promised himself he’d at least try and talk to Grace—try to get to the bottom of what had driven her away from the life that still waited for her back in Texas. He should just get that over with, so his stomach didn’t cramp up every time he thought about having that conversation.
“I haven’t even glanced through all my options. Brooke gave me a pamphlet or something. I’m not sure where I left it. I should probably figure out a plan.”
Tucker nodded. “Might be a good idea. Have you spoken with any of the other guests?”
Dread pulled Zeke’s insides toward the floor, and he stepped to his backpack he’d propped against the front of the coffee table. Tucker was the only person he’d talked with who didn’t know he’d been on the doomed camping trip. He didn’t want to confess his interactions with other people at the retreat was mostly centered around defending himself and insisting he’d had nothing to do with Tessa’s death.
But he couldn’t leave the man’s question unanswered.
“Yeah,” he said, digging inside the front pocket of his bag for the pamphlet that listed the activities. “I was on that camping trip two nights ago.”
Tucker whistled, snapping up Ruby’s head. “With Grace? That’s rough, man. Sorry you were a part of that. Such a tragic thing. Hopefully they figure out what happened soon.”
Before he could respond, Zeke’s finger slid against a hard edge of something tucked inside the pocket. He frowned and crouched down for a better look. He gripped the foreign object and slid it out. “What the hell?”
Ruby whined and nestled against his side.
Tucker took a step forward. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure.” Releasing the object, he stared down at what looked like an identification card. He flipped it over and sucked in a breath. “Shit.”
“Who’s that woman? Girlfriend?” Tucker asked, staring over his shoulder.
Zeke dropped the card, and it clattered on the soft rug. He stood, his gaze fixed on the smiling face of the young woman in the picture. “That’s Tessa. The woman who died the other night.”
“I don’t understand. Why do you have it?”
Zeke shook his head, trying to make sense of how the young woman’s work ID ended up in his bag. They’d talked the other night, and she’d offered him a variety of options to pass the night. But she hadn’t given him anything. Definitely not her police-issued document. “I don’t know. This doesn’t make any sense.”
Tucker worked his jaw back and forth. “Did she give it to you?”
“No.” His heart quivered as the implication of what he’d found slammed against him. “Joan’s cabin was broken into last night. She mentioned to Grace and I she thought someone had gone through Tessa’s things.”
