He helped her out of the truck and closed the door behind her. He kept her hand in his and led the way along the paved path toward the foot of the bridge they'd just crossed. A cold breeze blew up from the river, and she folded her arms and looked out over the water.

"My dad played in a softball league when I was a kid," Marisa said. "I used to come down here for his games sometimes."

"Must be good memories."

"Long time ago."

They walked in silence. Marisa couldn't make conversation, and it seemed Nate had no idea what to say. The world seemed in suspension, just like the bridge overhead.

Finally, Nate's phone rang. He answered.

"We're in the park." He told Garrison where they'd parked and slipped his phone back in his pocket. "He's going to meet us in the lot. He's not here yet."

Nate set the pace, which was the only thing that kept her from running back. They leaned against the bumper. A moment later, Garrison's black Camry parked beside the pickup.

Marisa met him as he stepped out of his car. "What happened?"

"Let's find a place to sit down."

"I'm freezing," she said, "and I don't want to sit. What happened?"

Garrison looked over her head at Nate with a pleading glance.

Nate said, "Why don't we just—?"

"Fine. Whatever."

Nate opened the tailgate to Brady's truck, and she lifted herself onto it. The cold of the metal seeped through her borrowed jeans. "Please tell me what happened."

Nate stood beside her, and Garrison stopped in front of them. "I called my old partner last night. I figured it was time to get him up to speed on what was going on."

Her heartbeat, already racing, sped up. "The guy said no cops."

"Relax, Marisa." Garrison wore a patient smile, which made her want to smack him. "My partner's trustworthy. With our theory about your sister, I thought maybe he and I could figure out who she's working with."

Marisa glanced at Nate, who nodded to Garrison. "And?"

Garrison shook his head. "Nothing on the partner yet. But..." He took a breath and blew it out. "He called me this morning."

She waited through a long pause, knowing what was coming was bad news and almost not wanting to hear it. Almost.

Garrison's expression softened. "Your sister's body was discovered this morning. She was murdered."

Chapter 17

HE HADN'T MEANT TO kill her.