I See You

CHAPTER 16 - Getting Back Up

Emma drove towards Taylor's office and parked at the shopping complex about a block down. She clasped the new leash to River's collar and wrapped it around her waist before they took off down the street, walking until they could enter the trees from the road and avoid being seen from Taylor's office window. That was the last thing she needed. Emma shoved the taser in her back pocket, started the timer on her phone, and set a good pace toward the marina. The worn path was easy to follow, and it was obvious a dirt bike or several had used it many times before. This seemed like an odd spot for motorbikes, but what did she know, so she snapped a couple photos to send to Cam.

When they stepped out of the trees and onto the rocky shoreline, Emma stopped the timer at eighteen minutes. She and River walked up to the gently lapping waves, and he sat calmly at her feet as she studied the water. The tide was in and probably up to her waist, but it would be easy to wade over to the end of the dock if someone wanted to. If the water was lower, it wouldn't even be a question.

"What are you doing out there?" a familiar voice asked mildly.

"Walking my dog," Emma answered, her pulse jumping from both the man and the soft growl by her feet. What were the odds Taylor would be stepping out of the boathouse at that exact moment?

"Odd path to walk. There are actual parks and trails around here. Why choose a random lot in the center of town?"

"He needed to pee." This was why she didn't outright lie, but she couldn't think of a truth to spin. At least River provided a semi-plausible explanation.

"Right. You never got back to me about that trust."

"Been busy."

"Still enjoying my brother's house?"

"It's mine. I bought it," she snapped, anger at Wyatt for leaving her fueling the retort more than Taylor's little gibe.

"That house will always be Wyatt's, no matter whose name is on the title."

"Suit yourself. You still enjoying his boat?" Why she was mouthing off was a mystery, but it felt good. The Scott brothers were both under her skin in very different ways, and she was angry at each of them.

"Not the same. This boat was given to me by Mike Landers," he said smugly.

"That boat will always be Wyatt's, no matter whose name is on the title. Have a good day, Mr. Scott," she said, turning around with her heart in her throat.

Once they were covered by the trees, Emma timed them running and was impressed with how easy it was to go at an all-out sprint with River right there beside her. They made it to the street in eleven minutes, and she quickly locked them both in the car before dialing Cam.

"Are you safe?" Cam answered.

"I am, but he saw me. Taylor was out at the boathouse when I arrived. I just assumed he would be working."

"Never assume. Next time call his office first."

"Agreed. Hey, do you know if he owns a dirt bike or motorcycle?"

"I can look into it. Why?"

"Even if he ran both ways, it would take him over twenty minutes. If he killed Wyatt, it had to be after his text at 12:13 which puts the time around 12:33, but his secretary saw him at 12:45. I don't think he could have killed Wyatt and strung the boat back up in twelve minutes, so he would have had to shave off travel time. There are motorbike tracks on that trail. He could probably make it there in under five minutes. That would give him a little over twenty minutes to kill Wyatt and tie up the boat. It would be enough."

"Good work. I'll confirm about the bike in a couple of hours. I dug into those suits that gave witness statements, and at first glance they look legit, but the deeper I go, the more shell corps I keep uncovering. It's like chasing two ghosts."