Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

“Did you find something? Oh my god, you have to tell me.”

“Possibly, but nothing conclusive. Would you be willing to talk to me?”

“Yes, yes.” She stepped aside and ushered me in. “Please come in.”

I nodded to her. “Thank you.”

She led me past a row of hooks with backpacks and shoes shoved underneath.

“Kids?” I asked.

“I have three. They’re at the store with their dad. I hate to think what kind of junk food they’re going to bring home. He’s a softie when it comes to that stuff.”

“Sounds like fun.”

I followed her into the dining room where she offered me a spot at the table. A painting of a mountain meadow hung on the wall.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”

We both took a seat at the table. She clasped her hands together and fidgeted in her seat.

“First of all, I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. But what’s going on? Did you find something in her case?”

“Possibly. I found a bracelet in the woods matching the one you reported she was wearing when she disappeared.”

Her mouth opened slightly and she held up her wrist. Sure enough, she wore a silver bracelet. “We thought they were so funny back then, we each bought one.”

“You’re certain she was wearing it that day?”

“Positive. She never took it off. They’re a little tricky to get on if you don’t have someone to help fasten the clasp.”

“Do you keep yours on all the time?”

“I take it off to shower and when I go to bed. But my husband helps me put it on every morning. It makes me feel like I still have a little piece of her with me.”

“I can’t prove the bracelet was hers, but it matches the description you gave, down to the engraving. And it shows the wear expected with exposure to the elements. If nothing else, it prompted me to take a look at your sister’s case.”

“Well thank goodness for that. It’s about time someone did.”

“I understand. We all want answers. When you initially reported your sister missing, you told investigators you were concerned that a man named Tanner Leeman might be involved.”

“Yes, Tanner was her ex-boyfriend. She’d broken up with him a few months before she disappeared. He wasn’t happy about that. But the police were sure he didn’t kill her.”

“Because he was on a fishing boat in Alaska.”

She nodded. “I thought it had to be him. Jasmine didn’t have any enemies. Everyone loved her. But even I had to admit it wasn’t possible for Tanner to be in two places at once.”

“The report also said in the weeks leading up to her disappearance and murder, she received packages from an unknown sender. Do you remember that?”

“Oh, yes. It was terrible.”

“Why? What was in them?”

She took a deep breath and looked away, as if recalling the incidents. “The first one had a pair of her underwear.”