Chapter Four
Everett
felt like it took fucking forever for the police to arrive, but once the patrol car rolled up and I saw who stepped out of it, it all made sense.
Gabe Foster. I never fucking liked the guy. Back in high school, he thought everything was a joke, and judging by the giant dopey smile plastered across his face, that attitude hadn't changed as the years went by.
"So what's all this about then, Reese's Pieces?" he called out jovially, calling Brynn possibly the stupidest pet name I'd ever heard in my life. He shot me a look. "And what are you doing hanging out with Everett McLame?"
I rolled my eyes. "Good to see you again too, Gabe," I said calmly.
He lifted his chin at me, but didn't come in for a handshake. I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting to see how exactly we were going to do this.
Brynn was smiling this wide smile that almost showed her molars. All that quiet, simmering sexiness she's been exuding was gone and she was laughing even though nothing was funny. She shook her head, laughing even harder as Gabe walked up, and a vague high school memory suddenly resurfaced of Brynn smoking on the back steps of the school with Gabe Foster, Derek Granger, and Jesse Klingman. None of them were dating her. She was just one of the guys.
Idiots.
She seemed to be falling back into that pose now, subconsciously widening her stance to match Gabe's stupid rolling douchewalk. The two of them hugged, and I clenched my fist to keep from intervening when I saw how Gabe's hand trailed down her back. "I still can't believe you're a cop," she teased him.
"I can't believe the Queen of Keg Stands is teaching kindergarten, but I keep my mouth shut," Gabe said, smiling widely.
I must have made a sound, because he shot me a look that said everything I'm sure my glare was saying back. "Besides,” he said, turning back to Brynn. "It comes in pretty handy that I know all of the drinking spots in the woods. Guys on the force say I bust more kids than anybody for underage drinking, but it's because I know all their tricks."
Brynn laughed, and it was a loud sharp sound that made me look at her twice. She tucked her hair behind her ear, and I got the distinct impression that Gabe bringing up their old, wayward party days was making her distinctly uncomfortable.
I cleared my throat and stepped into Gabe's line of sight, forcing him to stop staring at Brynn like a dog eyeing a juicy steak. "So the footprint is right over here," I interjected, swiftly moving to derail this trip down memory lane. "We already brought out all of Brynn's boots. You can see right here, none of them match this tread pattern."
Gabe looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about.
Brynn let out another strained laugh. "Oh Rett. Let Gabe do his job." Her gaze bounced from me to him and back to me again. I didn't know what the hell was going on in her brain right now, but I didn't like it.
"Okay then," I said and took one step backward, gesturing an invitation for him to please, go ahead and do just that.
"Gabe and I have been friends forever. He'll take care of me," Brynn said, slapping Gabe on the back. "Won't you?"
"I'll do my best," Gabe said noncommittally.
He flipped open his notebook and scribbled something there, and I had a feeling he was pretty much doing it for effect. "So Brynn what are you doing this summer?" he asked.
"Oh not much," Brynn sighed.
"And how's your dad? You still sneaking liquor out of his bar?"
Brynn blinked and then blushed and I clenched my teeth together to see how uncomfortable he was making her. "I don't. No," she said faintly.
Gabe looked up. "Oh come on, that was awesome. You were a good friend, always supplying us with booze."
Brynn swallowed. "Yeah well, that's why you guys let me hang around right?"
Gabe brayed out laughter. "One of the reasons, yeah!" he enthused. His eye bounced right down to her chest when he said it and Brynn stepped back, crossing her arms.
A red rush of anger swam in front of my vision. "Okay, here!" I fairly barked. I walked over and pressed my own foot next to the bootprint that Gabe seemed to have no interest in actually investigating at all. Then I took a picture of it with my phone. "There," I announced, stepping in between the two of them and shoving my phone in his face to block his view of Brynn's chest. "I'm a size twelve," I told him. Gabe was still pretty fit from police academy, but I was a good three inches taller, which forced him to look up at me if he wanted to look me in the eye. Which he didn't.
"So you have that for reference," I went on. Brynn gave me an odd look, but I was already on a roll. "What's your number? I'll text it to you right now," I said, with my finger poised over the button.
Gabe reached to his badge. "Here's my card," he said coolly.
"Cool, and your badge number too?" I prompted, unable to keep the hint of menace out of my voice.
Gabe heard it too. He planted his feet wider. "Do we a problem here, McCabe?"
"No," I told him, calling his bluff and not backing down. "I just want to make sure you take this as seriously as it deserves to be taken."
Anger flashed in his eyes and his fingers brushed idly over his holster. I stepped back before I pushed him too far and instead turned away from him and back to Brynn. "You know," I told her. "Your brother might actually know what kind of boot this is since he worked in outdoor tours."
Brynn nodded slowly. "Maybe they actually sell this particular brand at the outfitters?" she ventured.
I snapped my fingers. "Smart thinking. We should look over there, see if they have any sales records."
I turned back to Gabe who was standing there dumbfounded and useless. "Don't worry," I said sarcastically. "We'll do your job for you."
Gabe folded his arms over his chest. "Look McCabe, there's not much we can do with muddy footprints. How can you be sure those aren't just from a neighbor? Maybe you're overreacting."
"Yeah, we probably are," Brynn interjected, but I waved her off. Without meaning to, I took a step forward. "What? So you'll need to have someone actually hurt her before you do your job?"
"No one is going to hurt her," Gabe scoffed.
"Damn straight," I growled, inches from his face. "I'll make sure of it.”