Page 15 of Echoes of Sin

“Brook,” she corrected, not wanting to be on formal ground with their host. “Riggs and two of his friends walked in here around five o’clock this morning, so I assumed you left the bar unlocked. I’ll go look for signs of—”

Wyn gave a hearty laugh before hanging up the phone. His relief was evident, and she had a sneaking suspicion as to the reason why. It didn’t mean that she had to like it.

“I gave Riggs a key to this place a long time ago. He uses a room upstairs when he’s had too much to drink. It’s not often, but trust me when I say that man shouldn’t drive when he’s on a bender.”

Brook was torn between asking Wyn more questions about the deputy and joining Mrs. Breen and her daughter in one of the booths. Their focus was solely on her at the moment, and she didn’t want to keep them waiting.

“Wyn, I need to speak with Luna Breen’s family members right now, but would you mind if I ask you a few questions about the area later on today?” Brook figured she wasn’t getting one over on Wyn. He was an intelligent man, and his occupation had probably honed his abilities to read between the lines. “Maybe over lunch?”

“Sure.”

Brook could sense Wyn’s barriers sliding into place, and she should have known better than to give him time to think over her request. She grew up in a small town, and she understood how wary the residents were of strangers. There was nothing that she could say at this point that would ease his concern for one of their own except to display the same.

“My colleagues are up in those mountains with Riggs, Dominic Ryder, and Jace Mathers,” Brook divulged, though she figured he was already privy to that information. The gossip mills in towns like this one worked overtime. “I’d just like to know that they are in good hands.”

The tension visibly eased from Wyn’s broad shoulders. He nodded his understanding and pursed his lips in commiseration.

“Those boys grew up in this town, Brook.” Wyn had used her first name, and it was his way of telling her things between them had returned to normal. “Your colleagues are in good hands.”

“Thanks, Wyn.” Brook tapped the counter, but she didn’t turn away quite yet. “I’d still like to treat you to lunch sometime. We do appreciate the ability to stay in town while conducting the investigation, and I’d like to show my gratitude.”

“You know where to find me,” Wyn said as he peered over his shoulder at a large clock hanging above the doorway to the kitchen. “My regulars will be showing up soon. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Brook carried her coffee as she weaved through the tables to reach the side wall lined with booths. The first thing Brook took note of was how much Luna had resembled her mother, from the hazel eyes to the brown hair. They’d both been graced with athletic builds, good posture, and strong features that were currently etched in pain. The bags underneath Kim Breen’s eyes were a testament to many sleepless nights.

“Mrs. Breen, I’m Brooklyn Sloane. I’m so sorry for your loss,” Brook said softly, holding out her arm to shake the woman’s hand. Kim’s eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying, and there had been a slight tremor in her fingers when she finally pulled away. “I know this is a difficult time for you and your family, but it would help with our investigation if you could answer a few questions for me.”

“When can we see her?” Kim asked as she sat down next to her daughter. “When can we see Luna?”

Brook wasn’t ready to answer that question, so she took a moment to introduce herself to Luna’s younger sister.

“You must be Denise.” Brook reached over the table, surprising the young woman. From the background checks on the Breen family members, Brook was aware that Denise was twenty-one years of age, but she looked years younger. “I know this might seem like an unusual meeting place, but we’ve turned the upstairs into a makeshift work area for me and my team.”

“Do you know who killed my sister?”

Denise wasn’t the wallflower that her hunched shoulders and clasped hands had originally signified. There was a defiance in young woman’s brown eyes that would carry her through the investigation and beyond.

“I’ll answer all your questions, but I’d like to fill you in a little on how the case will proceed from this point on,” Brook said as she wrapped her hands around the coffee mug. She soaked in the warmth as if it would give her the strength needed to ask the difficult but necessary questions. “The FBI has officially taken over this case. My firm, S&E Investigations, has been hired as a consultant. We were originally requested to canvas the crime scene, gather the impertinent information, and then pass the case off to one of the field agents. I personally asked to remain on retainer. I’ll do my best to bring Luna’s killer to justice, but only if you’re comfortable with my firm conducting the investigation.”

“I looked you up.” Denise’s comment didn’t come as a shock to Brook. “I know who you are.”

Brook remained silent, not feeling the need to defend herself. If Denise and her mother had researched Brook’s history, they also knew that she was very good at her job. She was neither humble nor narcissistic. She was a realist, and one who went above and beyond to see to it that the victims’ families received closure.

“I chose to remain in the town closest to the trail that Luna took the morning of her hike. I know that the two of you are staying in the same B&B that Luna reserved a room for her weekend getaway. Forensics processed her room this morning. Any and all belongings were removed as evidence.” Brook switched her focus to Kim. “Mrs. Breen, your daughter’s remains were found in an abandoned cabin. An autopsy is being performed today, and I expect to have a cause of death later this afternoon.”

“We saw them take away her things,” Denise said as she glanced at her mother.

“Did she suffer?” Kim asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Denise reached over and grabbed her mother’s hand. “Did my daughter suffer?”

“Yes.” Brook wouldn’t lie, but she also wouldn’t give graphic details. It was bad enough that Kim’s mind would forever bring forth flashes of graphic images born from the words written in the autopsy report. “And I’d like to apprehend the person responsible, which is why I need to ask you some questions. First and foremost, what brought Luna to the Smoky Mountains by herself?”

“Luna wasn’t supposed to come here by herself,” Kim replied as she enclosed her daughter’s hand into hers. “Christina Jeffries has been Luna’s best friend since middle school. She was supposed to be here, but she decided to remain back home to study for an exam. Christina is still obtaining her doctorate. The two of them had booked the weekend months ago. They always chose a random weekend in October to go hiking due to the cooler weather.”

Brook was regretting not bringing down her tablet. She wasn’t usually the one who interviewed family and friends. She preferred Theo and Sylvie to handle these types of aspects of an investigation. Circumstances had forced her hand, and she needed to make up for the lack of manpower left behind.

“My sister was an avid hiker, and she loved the outdoors. As my mother said, Luna and Christina have been planning this trip for months.”

“Why did Luna decide to continue with the weekend trip without Christina?”

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