Page 142 of The Secrets She Keeps

And they were right next to Powell’s parents’ house. That made her really nervous. Like really nervous.

She had the radio on in her car. She was halfway to her house, trying to decide who she was going to ask those questions—Jack was too busy tonight. And he’d been angry when she’d called him last time.

Powell was probably off with Gunnar somewhere. Gunnar was a cop. She could find Powell. That would be the best answer.She would tell Gunnar everything she knew about Trey. About what Steve had done to her sister. About those men she’d seen with Trey right next door.

And she would let Gunnar decide what to do next.

The radio broke in. It was a news break.

Brianna pulled over into the driveway of that house that was just put on the market last week. Powell would probably buy it eventually. It was right at the entrance to the cul-de-sac that ended at the park. She could almost see Melissa and Mason’s house, even in the dark. But their house was dark, she thought. She dialed Melissa’s number. She just needed help figuring out what to do next.

No one answered.

Maybe Melissa and Mason had gone on a date. They probably did that. Everyone knew they were still in love after thirty-something years of marriage. It was very romantic, very beautiful. Bethany wanted that someday.

Thatwas what she wanted for Bethany too. That kind of love. Even if it was with a poor man. Although Nelson really wasn’tpoor.He was just not as rich as Bethany. And he had to work to get his money like he did. Still, he worked hard. That was important, right?

He worked hard, he was kind, and he was honest. He’d probably be a good father too. She’d like nieces and nephews, Brianna decided. It would be fun to buy them presents.Nelsonwould be a much better father than Brianna’s stepfather had been or Timothy was now.

Brianna pulled out onto the road, and drove down through the cul-de-sac. The Barratts’ house just had one light on. Whichwas weird. Melissa had a weird obsession about the dark. Because of something bad when she’d been younger. She always had lots of light on. It had always made her house look very welcoming.

It didn’t look like they were home at all. There was a car there, with the light on. Across the road. At that empty house Powell had brought last time. There were people standing there, talking. But she couldn’t really see who they were. She didn’t want to talk to new people in Hughes Heights tonight. Brianna just didn’t care about their neighborhood right now.

Brianna just kept driving.

She’d just wait. Or she’d text Powell while she waited. It had been a week since Powell had escaped her abductors. Brianna needed to check on her. Make sure her best friend was okay. And she’d see if Powell could meet her somewhere tomorrow. Answer her questions confidentially. Powell was always going on about client privilege and confidentiality laws and everything. And Powell had Gunnar now.

Brianna would just hire Powell as a consultant. Powell would know what to do. To help Bethany get their brother's companiesback.Steve Wilson hadn't had the right to take them away to begin with. Brianna was going to make things right for Bethany. And she was going to find a way to get Leena back too.

And then? She was going to keep Leena forever. Keep her away fromTimothy.So he didn’t mess Leena up like he had Trey.

Shehadto protect Leena. She had to.

Maybe she wasn't that great at doing the mom thing, but she had done just fine with Leena. She could afford to put her sister in Finley Creek Prep easily. Her house was big enough for a child too. She’d hire a better nanny for when Brianna couldn’t be with her. But she’d still spend as much time with Leena as she could. They would be a family.

She could take care of Leena appropriately. They'd figure out how to do this whole raising the kid thing together. And Timothy wouldn’t get to screw Leena up like he had Trey.

That was her baby sister.Sistersmattered. All Brianna wanted was for Leena and Bethany to be okay too. To be happy and safe. She pulled over at the park again. And listened. She just wasn't ready to go home yet. Her brother had been murdered. Her sister had been raped and extorted. Her best friend in the world had been abducted and hurt.

The world just didn't make sense tonight. Not to her. Bad things...bad things weren't supposed to happen to people she knew. Cared about. They just weren't.

So why did they keep happeningnow?

The news was still playing. Brianna paused when she heard Hughes Heights."Authorities are searching for two men linked to a drug trafficking operation in the Hughes Heights neighborhood and to the abduction of local realtor Powell Barratt and Lieutenant Heather Coleson of the Texas State Police Cold Case division. The two persons of interest are Dr. Timothy Grundenman II, a local anesthesiologist, and his son, Timothy Grundenman III, also known as Trey. Both are believed to be in the Finley Creek area. The Texas State Police are asking anyone with information on their whereabouts to come forward."

Brianna barely heard the rest of the newscast.

They wantedTreybecause of what happened to Powell. To Heather Coleson.

Of course they did. Trey and Steve and Kyle and Banks and Jody and Joey and Luke had beenbest friendssince they were little kids. Like barely older than Leena.

Of course Trey was involved in what Steve had done. She'd beenstupidnot to see it before.

Trey had been one of the ones to hurt Powell. And Timothy had said Trey was in trouble now.

Well, so was Timothy.And thepolicewere looking for them now.

Timothy hadLeena.The police were looking for Timothy. And Trey. Timothy had spoken about relocating. Because Timothy wasrunning away.

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