“The ‘couldn’t sit still’ sounds like him,” said Rowan. “The anxious part doesn’t. Was he having money problems?” She knew from Shannon that Ken wasn’t the best with money, which was why he drove for Uber. The flexibility worked for him. According to Shannon, he was always out of money but rarely let it bother him. When his account got low, he’d drive extra hours or take on a private client to train their dog. People all over the US asked to work with him.
“I don’t think so,” said Rees, finally looking right at her. “I think it had something to do with you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Your name constantly came up during the last two weeks before he died. I know he’s always been protective of you, but this seemed unusual.”
A chill went through her bones. “He thought I was in danger?” Her mind flashed to Thor’s growls the day before.
Those mean nothing.
“He never said that. He did say that he couldn’t talk to you about something and seemed very worried that you’d never forgive him.”
Rowan was speechless.
“He brought up that day he’d snapped at you in training. He felt horrible about it and was going to apologize.”
Tears threatened. “I’ve often thought about that day. I never got the chance to talk to him about it.” Guilt racked her. “You think that incident upset him that much?”
Rees shifted in his chair and Gunnar suddenly stood, his full attention on his person. “I don’t think that was the problem. The anxiety started before that. His behavior toward you may have been a by-product of what was bothering him.”
“I don’t know why you’re telling me this. I know Shannon had said he was distracted in the weeks before his death . . . more forgetful than usual. Maybe something was going on with his health.”
“Could be.”
Judging by his expression, Rowan knew he didn’t think much of her suggestion.
“He kept talking about you.”
“What about me?”
“Everything . . . the training he knew you were working on. That case where the five-year-old was found in the bedroom. The hike you always do for your brother’s birthday.” Rees frowned. “You know he hated that you did that every year, right?”
“He was always very understanding about why I needed to do it. He used to go with me.” Rowan was surprised. She thought Ken had been one of her biggest supporters of her search for her brother. “Hate is a strong word. I think you’re wrong about that.”
“I don’t think so. He said harsh words about it to me. Several times. But always would end his rant with saying he had to support you because you were important to him.”
That stung.
He lied to my face?
He was protecting my feelings.
Rees’s eyes widened as he watched her think, and she softened her expression, suspecting he’d been surprised by the flare of anger. She blew out a breath and drank the last third of her sangria. “I still don’t know why you asked to meet. You could have kept all this to yourself—although I appreciate knowing he felt bad about that day at training.”
He looked away. “I was supposed to go camping with him.”
“The night he was shot?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?” She wondered if this was the main reason he’d wanted to meet—that he felt guilty and needed to get it off his chest.
“Gunnar was sick.” He touched his dog’s head.
Rowan didn’t believe him. She used her dog as an excuse to get out of things she didn’t want to do. And she suspected that Rees had done the same.
There’s something he’s not telling me.
“Why didn’t you want to go?” She infused understanding into her eyes and tone, trying to convince him to be open and honest.
He leaned forward. “Do you know where he was found?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t that seem like an odd place for him to camp? He always goes way the fuck out into nowhere, and there has to be a creek or lake nearby. Why would he decide to essentially camp in a spot miles away from water where lazy-ass rookies go to camp? I had no interest in that.”
“Did he tell you that’s where he wanted to go?” Rowan agreed with his assertion. Ken liked to go off the map when he camped.
“Yes. I tried to get him to pick a different location, but he was adamant.”
She thought for a long moment. “Do you think he was meeting someone? I can’t think of why else he would pick that spot.”