Chapter 5 - BROOKE'S SECRET
That night, Brooke called me.
“I think you deserve the truth.”
I almost hung up.
“Then tell me.”
“You're going to hate me.”
“I already don't like you very much.”
She cried.
“I didn't know the fire would happen.”
“What does that mean?”
“The accident.”
My stomach tightened.
“Tell me.”
“Ryan wasn't flying alone that night.”
“Who was with him?”
She hesitated.
“Me.”
I sat down.
“What?”
“We were together.”
“You were in the helicopter?”
“Yes.”
“And the mechanic died?”
“He wasn't supposed to be there.”
My voice became cold.
“What happened?”
“We landed badly.”
“You said nobody was hurt.”
“Ryan told you that.”
“And you let him.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing everything.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why are you telling me now?”
“Because Ryan is going to blame me.”
“For what?”
“Something happened before the wildfire.”
My heart began pounding.
“What?”
“He discovered I had kept evidence from that night.”
“What evidence?”
She whispered:
“A recording.”
I stood.
“Where is it?”
“I don't have it anymore.”
“Who does?”
Silence.
Then she said:
“Your husband.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Then I realized something.
Ryan hadn't chosen Brooke because he loved her.
He had chosen her because she could destroy him.
And suddenly the helicopter evacuation looked very different.
May you like
Maybe Brooke hadn't been the helpless woman Ryan rescued.
Maybe she had been his liability.
