Page 57 of Whispers of Sweetwater

Then, out of nowhere, Tilly leant in and said, ‘You know, I’ve been wanting to tell you that my uncle went to school with Jack. And Trev. And Joe. All that lot.’

Brianna’s fork paused halfway to her mouth. ‘Really?’ She wasn’t sure just how much of Molly’s story Tilly knew.

‘Yeah. He said they were always into something. Joe was quiet, Trev a bit of a bully, and Jack, well, he was always the ringleader. Charismatic as hell. Could talk his way out of murder, apparently.’

Brianna’s thoughts spun as she slowly chewed.

Tilly took a sip of her coffee, then leant in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. ‘I know Molly’s been in a bit of trouble lately. She hasn’t said anything directly, but I know her. She’s strong, proud, but she doesn’t fool me. There’s something weighing her down.’

Brianna blinked, surprised by the shift.

‘She’s the kind of woman who keeps things hush-hush. Keeps other people’s secrets better than her own. But if she ever needs anything, she doesn’t have to ask. I want her to know that.’

Brianna reached across the table and gently touched Tilly’s hand. ‘She’ll appreciate that, I’m sure. But why don’t you tell her that yourself?’

‘Because I know I’m not meant to know anything.’ Tilly hesitated, then added, ‘I’ve overheard Gavin and Hayden talking a few times, quiet, private stuff. They’re worried. And I get it. I just want everyone to be safe. That’s all. Doesn’t matter who’s involved or how deep it goes, people in this town need looking out for.’

What a wife, and what a woman, Brianna thought to herself.

Just then, the bell above the café door jingled and Sergeant Craig Dunlop stepped inside, removing his sunglasses slowly and tucking them into his shirt collar. The casual way he scanned the café didn’t feel casual at all.

He approached the counter with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Morning, Molly. Flat white to go.’

Molly froze, just slightly. Her back stiffened as she keyed in the order, and when she glanced up and caught Brianna’s gaze, her eyes widened, just for a second. A flicker of fear. A silent warning. And Brianna’s stomach dropped while Craig leant on the counter like he owned the place. Watching. Waiting. His eyes eventually landed on her, then Tilly, and a glint of something unreadable passed across his face. To her horror, he pushed off the counter, casually making his way towards their table. Noticing him at the last second, Tilly’s head snapped to him and her warm smile completely vanished.

Craig stopped just short of their table, one hand on the back of a nearby chair. ‘Ladies,’ he said with a slow, practised nod. ‘What brings you two together, in here, yakking over brunch?’

Tilly’s body stiffened, her posture going from relaxed to rigid in a blink.

Brianna glanced between them, her heart ticking faster.

Tilly answered for the both of them, her voice cool and polite. ‘Just grabbing a rare quiet moment with my new friend. You know how it is when you’ve got young kids.’

Her tone wasn’t warm, and she didn’t invite further conversation. But Craig lingered anyway, eyes moving from Tilly to Brianna like he was weighing up something invisible. Then he gave a tight smile. ‘Well, enjoy it while you can. Things tend to change fast around here.’ With that, he tipped an imaginary hat, turned and wandered back towards the counter where Molly placed his coffee with a clipped nod, and he took it and left without another word.

Tilly let out a slow breath as the door shut behind him. ‘Good riddance.’ She stared at her coffee a moment, then looked up. ‘I’ve never liked that man,’ she said, voice low.

Brianna raised a brow. ‘I sensed that.’

‘Even when we were kids,’ Tilly continued, ‘there was just something off. Too interested in being liked by the girls, but to the boys, oh lord he was a bully. And he was always watching me, but never in a good way. He still gives me the creeps. Always has.’

Brianna nodded slowly, a chill still clinging to her spine. ‘You’re not the only one who feels that way.’ Sweetwater’s small-town charm was starting to feel like a curtain drawn over something much darker.

Tilly toyed with the edge of her napkin for a moment, then said, ‘It’s more than just a feeling. Jack was into something, Bri, everyone could sense it, even if they didn’t want to admit it.’

Brianna stayed quiet, letting her speak.

‘I used to think it was just gambling,’ Tilly continued. ‘But lately, I’ve been wondering if someone else was pulling strings. Someone smart enough to stay hidden. Maybe even someone we all think is harmless.’

‘Like who?’ Brianna asked gently.

Tilly shrugged, but there was a heaviness to it. ‘I don’t know. But I’ve seen how people look the other way when certain names come up. Heard the change in tone. Someone’s playing dirty, and I get the sense they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.’

She looked back at Brianna, eyes steady. ‘I’m not trying to scare you. But I’ve got a gut feeling, and it’s telling me things are going to get worse before they get better. And I just want you, and Molly, and everyone we care about, including Hayden and Gavin, to be okay. That’s all.’ She sniffled and wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

‘Oh, Tilly.’ Brianna reached for her hand.

‘I tried to talk to Gavin about it, but he told me I needed to pretend I hadn’t heard anything, that I needed to stay out of whatever was going on, for my own safety and the kids’, but how am I meant to do that, now that I know how serious all of this is?’