“Mills, what the hell are you talking about? I don’t even want to know how you found all that out.”

Tara’s heart sank at his response.

He continued: “You think a harassment over a year ago is connected to a death now? Have you lost your mind? Do you want to get yourself in trouble? You just solved your first case! You’re going to throw all that away? I told you to trust me on this!”

It was clear that Warren wasn’t going to hear her out. He was too blinded by rage at the fact that Tara was still digging when all he wanted her to do was follow his lead.

“Mills, I appreciate your dedication,” he added. “But we have already found the person responsible.”

“But—”

“And do you know how early it is? I was finally hoping to get some decent sleep!”

“I wouldn’t call you unless it was important. I really think this means something. If you just let me finish explaining—”

“Mills, there is nothing more to say. I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you. This case is over. It’s done. We’re going home.”

She knew he wasn’t going to listen to her. To him, the case really was over. He quickly hurried her off the phone, leaving Tara alone once again with her thoughts. He was wrong. She could feel it and she wasn’t going to let it go. She was going to the bed and breakfast, even if she had to do it alone.

Chapter Thirty

Tara reached above the steering wheel for the sun visor and pulled the flap downward to shield her eyes. The sun had just fully peeked up over the horizon, sending the sky into a haze of orange. She’d been driving for quite some time now, and the closer she got, the more she felt her heart race knowing that she was getting further and further away from the thought of turning back.

Her phone rang, sending her mind once again into a state of panic. Her phone sat on the passenger’s seat. She reached for it with her sweaty palm and read the name on the caller ID—it was Warren.

She looked at it for a moment as it continued to ring, and then she placed it back down as she had done the three previous times he called. She knew she would have to face him eventually, but she couldn’t yet. There was nothing she could tell him right now that would justify her actions in his eyes. Only finding the killer would save her at this point. She had already gone too far.

She let the phone finish ringing and moments later it beeped to tell her she had a voicemail. She hesitated before deciding to listen to it. Maybe he’ll surprise me. Maybe he had a change of heart. Maybe he believes me, she thought to herself. She pressed the play button and put the phone on speaker.

“Mills! Where the hell are you!” His words cracked through the phone, making Tara instinctively jump in her seat. “Our flight leaves in an hour! I’m going to wait ten minutes and I’m calling Reindhart. Don’t do this, Mills. You’re going to ruin your career.”