“Of course, you do,” Meg huffed. “Can’t imagine letting my girl head out backpacking alone. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
“Not everyone knows what you can meet out on the trails,” Lawson said.
Meg shook her head. “Poor thing.” She was quiet for a moment. “I can’t think of anyone I pegged as a murderer. No one bought all three of those things. But countless folks have bought one. I can pull invoices and make you a list, but it’ll take me some time.”
Lawson nodded. “Appreciate it. Just give me a call when you’re ready, and I’ll send someone to pick it up.”
“Will do. You boys stay safe out there,” she ordered.
“Always do,” Lawson said with a smile.
I followed my brother out of the store and toward his SUV. “Can’t exactly arrest someone because they bought a knife or rope.”
He shook his head. “No, but it gives us a starting point.”
I guessed that was better than anything we had so far. We had exactly zero leads. No one had seen a damned thing when it came to Marci Peters. The fact that a woman could simply disappear and then show up sliced to hell put me on edge.
We climbed into Lawson’s SUV, and I turned to him as he started the engine. “What’s next on your list?”
He was about to answer when his phone rang. Lawson pulled it out and pressed it to his ear. “Hartley.”
His face went stony. “How long ago?” A pause. “On my way.”
He tapped the screen and tossed his phone into the cupholder.
“What?” I asked as he pulled out of the parking spot and stepped on the gas.
“Don’t freak out on me.”
Every muscle in my body tightened. “Those words don’t exactly help.”
Lawson winced and glanced my way. “Oren Randal attacked Aspen at The Brew. She’s fine, though.”
Those muscles seized as a tremor cascaded through me. “If she was attacked, she’s not fine,” I ground out.
Images flashed in my mind, each one worse than the previous. They spun into memories. The feel of a boot cracking my ribs. A blow to the head.
“Roan, I need you to breathe, or I’ll have to pull over,” Lawson warned.
“Keep driving,” I snapped.
“She’s okay.” He stole a glance at me. “I’m not sure this fixation on Aspen’s safety is healthy.”
I wanted to deck my brother. He didn’t get it. Didn’t understand. “I just need her to be all right.”
“And she is.”
“Won’t know that until I see her.”
“Okay,” Lawson muttered.
He flicked on his lights and pressed the accelerator. A second later, we were pulling up in front of The Brew as two officers jogged down from the station.
The second Lawson hit the brakes, I was out of the SUV and running for the door. I jerked it open and stormed inside.
“Back here,” Jonesy called.
I stalked toward the back hall. Only a piece of me recognized the man on the floor. The piece that wanted his blood. But I only had eyes for Aspen.
Her body trembled as she leaned against the wall. Her cheek was red and swelling.
I crossed to her in three long strides, my hands hovering over her cheeks, needing to touch her but not wanting to hurt her. “Aspen.”
“I’m okay.”
But she wasn’t. Aspen’s voice trembled just like the rest of her.
I pulled her gently into my arms, needing to feel the rise and fall of her chest against mine. “Where does it hurt?”
She swallowed hard. “Just my cheek. He surprised me. I don’t know how he got in. But I got him pretty good.”
I glanced down at the man cursing and writhing on the floor. He’d been hog-tied with something.
“Are those…aprons?” Lawson asked.
Elsie blushed. “It was all that was around.”
“Quick thinking. I like it.” He turned to Clint and Officer Adams. “Can you get this piece of garbage up and book him for assault?”
“With pleasure,” Adams said, bending down to replace the aprons with cuffs.
“Everyone’s going to know you’re a liar. They’ll come for you,” Oren screamed.
“He’s crazy,” Aspen whispered as Clint and Adams tugged him down the hallway.
I forced myself to pull back and look at Aspen’s face. “I think we need to take you to Doc and get you checked out, just to make sure you’re okay.”
She shook her head but winced. “It’s just a shiner. It’d hurt worse if anything was broken.”