Page 112 of Stripping Bare
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Once Tessa gaveMrs. Benery her most sincere sympathies over the loss of her son, she and Jonah’s mother slowly walked toward thecar.
“I can’t even imagine what she must’ve gone through,” Miss Joan said. “A child isn’t supposed to pass on before his parents. That kind of pain has to behuge.”
The pain of being responsible for your sibling’s death would be devastating as well. “I think Keith is the one who’s behind everything that’s happened over the past few days. I think he’s the one who tried to burn down Jonah’shouse.”
“I don’t understand. Do you think he’s still harboring some kind of guilt for what happened to hisbrother?”
“It’s entirely possible.” Tessa had been mentally flipping through her sessions with Keith. He’d been angry and upset about his brother’s death, but he’d never expressed that he himself was to blame. But something was wavering at the edge of her psychologist’s intuition. She just couldn’t seem to grasp the trailing thread and pull it, so as much as she hated to lean on Jonah, especially after what she’d discovered, she needed his insight. She reached into her purse for her phone. “Maybe Jonah will understand why Keith decided to targetus.”
“Highly doubtful,” a male voice said from behindher.
Tessa whirled around to find Keith Benery standing at the edge of his parents’ property. With his boyish face and freckles, he looked like an innocent teenager, but the handgun he was holding confirmed he was an angry adult. “Keith, we just had a nice visit with your mother. I’d love to sit down and talk with you about what happened to your brother. Why don’twe—”
“Give me your phones. Both of you.” Keith’s unwavering stare made it clear he expected them to cave to his demand. Tessa pretended to fumble hers and prayed she’d hit the button that would send the draft text toJonah.
Both she and Miss Joan handed over their phones, and Keith stuffed them in a duffel over hisshoulder.
“Get in the car.” He jerked his head toward theSubaru.
“You’re right. It’s cold out here. We’d be more comfortable there. But we told your mother we’d be right back.” She shot a meaningful look toward Jonah’s mom. “If you’ll just let Joan go back and make ourexcuses—”
“I know who she is,” he said. “She’s Jonah Steele’s mother, and she’s not going anywhere. Now get in the car. Front seats, both ofyou.”
“If you don’t want to talk here, I bet there’s a coffee shop nearby,” Tessa said, trying to will away the sinking feeling that with every word, Keith was the one taking over as dictator of this situation. “I’lldrive.”
If she was in the driver’s seat, Miss Joan would have a better chance forescape.
Once they were inside the car, Keith settled into the back with the gun trained on Jonah’smother.
“Wh…Where are wegoing?”
“Steele Ridge.” He sneered the last two words. “Mr. Big Dick’s ego is so huge he had to have a town named afterhim.”
Tessa glanced in the rearview mirror. Keith’s eyes were narrowed, but his focus never wavered from Miss Joan. Tessa said, “It sounds like you’re upset with Jonah for some reason. Maybe you’d like to talk aboutthat.”
“I don’t want any of your psycho-mumbo-jumbo. Didn’t work before. Sure isn’t gonna worknow.”
Yeah, she obviously sucked at it if this was the outcome from her one and only grief counseling client. But all she needed now was to keep him talking. “Counseling is most effective when you’re completely open and honest. You told me about your brother, but I’d like tohear—”
“Shut up,bitch.”
Miss Joan kept her hand out of sight as she reached over and squeezed Tessa’s. A warning or a reassurance, she wasn’tsure.
Every few seconds Tessa risked a look back at Keith. He wasn’t frothing at the mouth or talking to himself. He was obviously very much in command, and that terrified her more than any breakdown. Keith knew exactly what he was doing and was stone cold aboutit.
When they were a few miles outside Steele Ridge, Tessa said, “We’re almost there. Can you tell me where we’regoing?”
“Take the third right off Main Street. And don’t try anything as we’re driving through town. You make any move to communicate with people outside the car, and Mama Steele’s head will be a splatter against thewindshield.”
Tessa had tried to remain calm, but his threat made terror rock her belly. “She has nothing to do with this, Keith. Obviously, you’re upset with Jonah and possibly me. Why don’t I drop her off and then wecan—”
“If you stop the car before I tell you to, she’ll bedead.”
Once they made the turn he’d indicated, he gave Tessa directions that navigated them onto Hidden Hills Drive. The street was in a residential neighborhood filled with modest but sturdy ranchers and split-levels built on multi-acrelots.
Miss Joan’s grip on Tessa’s hand tightened. “What?” Tessamouthed.
