Page 67 of Whispers of the Lake

“I—I’m fine,” I told him. “I’m really sorry to bother you, but can I use your phone? I don’t have cell service out here.”

“Who are you?” The woman appeared at Eddie’s side. She folded her arms and looked me over with puckered brows.

“I’m Rose Gibson. I’m truly sorry for interrupting your night but there is a guy out there—well,threeof them actually. The Reeds, remember?” I asked, eyeing Eddie.

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, the Reeds. What about them? Hold on, are they trying tohurtyou?”

“I think so. I found out the truth about my friend. She’s dead. I think they killed her.” I wanted to break down and sob at that very moment, but I held it together with a quivering lip. I could cry later.

“My goodness.” The woman cupped her mouth, eyes widening with horror.

“Their sister told me everything and now I have to call someone. I need this person to come here.” I held up my phone. “I recorded the whole conversation I had with their sister.”

“Damn.” Eddie blinked a few times, confounded, before looking past me and out the patio doors. “Come in. Quick.” He ushered me inside and I thanked him as I passed through.

“Can I get you a water? Anything?” the woman asked, suddenly more concerned about my well-being.

“No. I’m okay. I could use a phone call though.”

“Well, our cell service sucks here too, even with the Wi-Fi,” the woman said. “But we do have a landline. It’s in Eddie’s office.” The woman pursed her lips and dropped her eyes to the gun in my hand. “Honey, I’m so sorry but I’d really prefer not to have any weapons in the house. I know you were protecting yourself, but I have a three-year-old daughter and . . . well, you know?”

“Oh, right.” I forced a laugh. “I’m so sorry. I’m not thinking straight.”

“I’ll keep it outside on the table with the safety on,” she said. “You can grab it when you leave. Is that okay?”

“Of course,” I said as she reached for it. I handed her the gun, and she accepted it but held it at a distance like she was carrying a fragile bomb. As she went to the patio doors, applying the safety, Eddie faced me.

“That’s my wife, Gina.” He chuckled. “Don’t mind her.”

“No, no. I get it. One hundred percent. I wouldn’t want a stranger’s gun around my kid either.”

“I’ll show you the way,” he said, already walking down the hall.

I glanced over my shoulder before following him. Just to the right, over the top of Gina’s head, I could see the police lights still flashing between the trees near the Reeds’ house. Sheriff Reed would come this way soon.

I had to make this quick.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

“It’s just in here,” Eddie said in a low voice as he pushed a door open. “Sorry for all the whispering and murmuring. Emily’s asleep. She passed out right after our boat ride.”

“No worries. Again, I’m really sorry for intruding like this, Eddie.”

“Oh, please. Don’t be,” he said. “It’s better that you came here. I told you I didn’t trust those boys or that damn sheriff. It’s a good thing you made it this way. They could’ve killed you too. My God. I can’t imagine how scared you are right now.”

“I was scared,” I confessed. I swallowed thickly, staring at the tips of my dirty shoes. “I . . . ended up shooting Alex,” I said through shaky breaths. “He was chasing me. He tried to take my gun and I . . . I shot him.”

“What?” Eddie’s jaw nearly dropped. “You serious?”

“Yeah.”

“So that’s what that noise was,” he said, eyes wandering out of the room. “Gina said she heard something, but I thought it might’ve been people hunting in the mountains.”

“No. It was me.” I pressed my lips.

“Shit. Well, if the Reeds are involved, that sheriff is gonna cover for them. I’m sure the whole department will cover for them.”

“There’s a cop in their department. Kennedy Windsor. She doesn’t like Sheriff Reed, so she’s agreed to help, but she needs more proof. She’s been in touch with the DA, so we’re prepared. I just need her to come here, see things for herself and hear Rory’s confession on the recording.”

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