Page 63 of Silent Home

Her father's eyes narrowed slightly—he'd caught her meaning."I know a place," he said."Where we can talk freely."

They took Gabriel's truck, following winding back roads out of town.Sheila sat in the passenger seat while Finn followed in their department vehicle.The old Ford's heater worked sporadically, coughing out warm air that smelled faintly of engine oil.

"You're being careful what you say at the station," Gabriel said.It wasn't a question.

"The night my truck was taken," she said quietly, watching empty fields roll past, "the man who did it knew things.About Mom's case.About Tommy."She glanced in the side mirror, confirming Finn was still behind them."About my childhood."

Gabriel's hands tightened on the steering wheel.They turned onto a dirt road that led toward the mountains, old tire tracks suggesting it was still used occasionally.

"Irish accent?"he asked.

Sheila turned to study her father's face."You know him?"

"Not exactly."Gabriel kept his eyes on the rutted road."But I've heard about him.Back when I was working in Internal Affairs, there were whispers.Someone who showed up when things needed to be...handled."

The dirt road ended at what looked like an abandoned ranger station—weathered wood, broken windows, roof partially caved in.But as they parked behind it, Sheila saw the building's disrepair was carefully maintained camouflage.The door's hinges were new, well-oiled.

"Used to use this place as a safe house," Gabriel said as they waited for Finn to join them."Off the books."

They left their phones in the vehicle and got out.Gabriel unlocked the door with a key that looked too new for the weathered lock.Inside, the station was a single room with a potbelly stove, some chairs, and a battery-powered lamp.No electronics, no phones, nothing that could be compromised.

When they were all inside, Gabriel lit the lamp and closed the door."Tell me exactly what happened with your truck."

Sheila described the hijacking—the man's expensive cologne, his threats about Star, his warning to stop investigating the department.As she spoke, she watched her father's face grow increasingly grim.

"He didn't want you dead," Gabriel said when she finished."He wanted you to know they were watching.That they could reach you anytime."

"They burned Tommy's laptop," she said."How did they even know I had it?"

"Because they have people inside the department."Gabriel's voice was very quiet."Just like they did when your mother was investigating them."

The lamp's light cast strange shadows on the walls.Outside, wind rustled through dead leaves, making the old building creak.

"Tommy's the key," Sheila said quietly."He knows names, knows how deep this goes.That's why they tried to silence him in his cell."

Gabriel nodded slowly."And now they know you had his laptop.They probably know you're trying to get a deal for him, too."He rubbed his face, suddenly looking older in the dim light."This is exactly what I was afraid of.Exactly why I tried to keep you away from all this."

"It's too late for that," Finn said."They're already watching her.Already made threats against Star."

"We need to get Tommy protection," Sheila said."Real protection, not just deputies we think we can trust.Get him into witness protection, get him naming names."

"They'll have people in the D.A.'s office," Gabriel warned."People who can block any deal, make evidence disappear."

"Then we go federal."Sheila leaned forward."Find someone we can trust in the FBI, someone with no connection to Utah law enforcement."

"The man in your truck," Gabriel said carefully, "the one with the Irish accent—didn't he imply they have federal connections too?"

"Then we find someone they haven't corrupted yet.Someone new, someone they won't expect."Sheila stood and began pacing the small room."Tommy's our best shot at exposing all of this.But he'll only talk if he believes we can protect him."

"And ourselves," Finn added quietly.

Sheila stopped pacing."Star needs to stay with Neville for now.With Baxter and Roberts keeping an eye on Tommy, Neville is the only one left I can trust."

"How can you be sure she isn't involved?"Gabriel asked.

"Because they would have used her against me already if she was."Sheila met her father's eyes."Just like they used Eddie Mills against Mom."

A long silence filled the room, broken only by the wind outside and the faint crackle of the lamp's flame.

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