I was pretty shaken up as I slid back down to get my board. Someone had tried to do - what? It wasn't attempted murder, as the person couldn't have really known about the rock ledge. Only people who'd been down here would and I knew everyone who'd know I was there, but no one would have done that to me. Not that I could think of, anyway.

So why had someone done it? I wouldn't put it past some dumb teenager to pull a prank, but I couldn't be seen from the road. Unless they saw me come down here they wouldn't have even known I was here. So who would have been watching me?

I ended up climbing onto the road with far more questions than I originally had.

---

Officer Jarvis was out when I walked into the police station. Instead, someone I didn't recognize was sat in his chair. He smiled up at me. "Hello, there. Can I help you?"

I forced a smile. "Is Officer Jarvis in?"

He raised an eyebrow and his smile dimmed a few watts. "Um, no. He's out on patrol today. Do you want to leave a message for him?"

"That's okay," I said, turning to leave.

"Did you need anything?" he called after me. "Maybe I could help you!"

I stopped and turned. He looked eager, but at the same time I got an odd feeling from him. "No, that's okay. I was wanting to give him a message for my brother is all. I'll text him." I flapped my hand at him like it was nothing and walked outside.

My problem now was that I had no idea where Kev would be. There were several patrols here in town and on the surrounding highways that he could be on. I didn't have his number, so there was no way I could text him. And what was with that excuse? Why did I have to say I was going to text him? If I could have texted him, there was no reason for me to even go in there. I shook my head at myself as I put my board down and began to ride away. 

As I rode past the diner, it hit me: it was almost time for him to get off work. He'd told me he did day shifts only, and he drove his own car. Normally. 

I turned around and went to where I could see the parking lot, making sure to keep out of the line of sight of the entrance. Sure enough, his car was parked there. I checked my phone. He'd most likely get back in about thirty minutes. I put my board in the snow and settled down for a bit of a wait. 

Sure enough, about thirty minutes later, a police car pulled in and stopped next to me. Officer Jarvis rolled down his window and raised an eyebrow as I stood. "Waiting for someone?" he asked. 

"I'd like to report pranks by my old house," I told him.

His other eyebrow joined the first. "Let me go park and I'll meet you inside."

Five minutes later, I was sitting in an interrogation room with Officer Jarvis filling out a report. I was just finishing up my story when he sat the pen down. "Brenda, did you see someone?"

"No. They were driving away by the time I got to the road."

"What did the car look like?"

"Dark, possibly an old Camry. The left taillight was out."

He sighed, made a couple more notes, and sat back. "I don't want you to get your hopes up and think we're going to catch this person," he said in a cautioning tone.

I shook my head. "I didn't think you would. What I'd think you'd do is check to see if that's the same as the car Ben saw leaving the office."

Officer Jarvis gave me a small smirk. "Maybe," he muttered. We looked at each other for a brief moment. "Anything else you came in to tell me?"

"I went to see Louis' wife. Apparently Rob is his step-brother."

Kev nodded slowly. "Makes sense."

"Also, is it possible for you to get a hold of his bank records? That would go a long way to a possible motive."

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "There's only so much I can do. I'm on a very short leash here. I'll see what I can do, but I can't make any promises."

"All I ask is that you try. It's all any of us can do."

He gave a final nod. "Okay, then. Let's finish up here."

---

Lilly was waiting when I got home. Her eyes were rimmed with red and slightly puffy, but she looked mad. "Where is your brother?" she asked me sharply.

I raised an eyebrow as I leaned my board against the wall. "I have no idea. What's wrong?"

She rubbed her hands together so hard I worried she was going to rub the skin raw. "Nothing you need to worry about," she snapped before shaking her head. "I'm sorry. My boss fired me today. He said he didn't want to take any chances." There was an uncharacteristic amount of venom behind her words.

I frowned. "The bank fired you? But you've worked there for years!"

She shook her head. "Apparently I'm now a risk or something." She made a frustrated sound. I wanted to edge my way out of the room, but I was almost afraid to try leaving. When she began shaking her head, I knew she had more to say, so I began removing my winter things while I listened to her. "I knew something like this would happen," she was saying. "I just knew it. Ben gets arrested for theft, and I lose my job! So typical!" There were more shouted words, but I tuned her out.

Eventually, I managed to get away to my room where I began to dry my board off. So even Lilly was feeling the effects of what Ben did. I hadn't gotten a call back about that job I had an interview for. I knew it had really only been about a week - shocking, I know - but he normally called in a few days. I'd have to go by there soon, if for no other reason than to see the person he'd hired instead.

"Brenda!" Lilly shouted down the hallway.

I dropped my board and rushed into the living room. "What?" I asked.

She slammed her phone down. "Could you maybe order something from somewhere? I don't even really care what you get. I just know I'm not cooking dinner."

I pressed my lips together and did as she asked - I ordered something from a pizza place as I headed to my room. Feeling like my board was dry enough, I opened my closet and got my snowboard out to redo the wax. It was a routine - something I'd done so many times I didn't really have to give it any thought, but not something that didn't require concentration. So I was free to think but not get lost in my thoughts. 

Something was up with Ben. I had a feeling he knew more about what happened that night than he was letting on and it had to be weighing on him. But what did he see? Was he trying to protect someone? Knowing my brother, it had to be that. He had such a big heart and I'd seen it in action many times. He was loving and kind and more willing to help everyone else instead of himself. 

I paused my scraping when I heard the doorbell. A few minutes later Lilly called me for dinner. I sat my stuff aside and went into the dining room where she was checking the food. She was kind of red, but she no longer looked like she was ready to throttle me at any moment. My phone pinged so I took it out of my pocket. Jimmy was wanting to talk. I told him that I was about to eat, but stopped before I sent it. I looked at Lilly. "Um, can I have someone over for dinner?"

She looked at me with narrowed eyes. "You know I don't mind having people over. Who is it?"

"My, um, boyfriend," I said, blushing. Why did I have to blush?

Both of her eyebrows rose and she suddenly didn't seem angry anymore. "Ooh, who is it?"

"Do you remember my friend Jimmy?"

Lilly's eyes lit up. "I do! He's the really cute guy you used to hang out with all the time, right?"

I felt my blush deepen. "That's him. Can he come over?"

"Absolutely!" She began humming and seemed practically giddy.

I texted Jimmy back that he could come over and have some pizza with us, but warned him my sister-in-law was in a too much of a good mood over it.

"You should invite him to come with us," Lilly said suddenly as I pocketed my phone. 

Startled, I looked at her with wide eyes. "Invite him where?"

"Our ski trip, of course. I mean, I'd have to stay in a room with you and he can bunk with Ben, but it would be fun, don't you think?"

I bit my lip. It could be, but I didn't remember him being able to ski or snowboard or anything like that. "I'll ask him," I said. There was so much I didn't know about him anymore. For all I knew, he probably knew how.

Five minutes later, the doorbell rang and I rushed to answer it. Jimmy smiled at me, laughing as I pulled him inside. "Ignore Lilly," I said instead of a greeting.

"Hello to you, too," he said. "So, what kind of pizza you got?"

Lilly poked her head around the corner. "Jim! It's been a long time. Here, let me take you coat."

It took another five minutes - by which time I was beginning to worry the pizza would be cold by the time we actually ate it - but we ended up in the kitchen, sitting around the table. It was still warm. Barely, but still. We chewed in silence for a few moments before Lilly kicked me and glanced at Jimmy. I rolled my eyes but still turned to him. "Do you ski?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. I can snowboard, though. My roommates last year took me up into one of the resorts and made me do it every day until I stayed upright every time I went down one of the easier runs." His tone told me he was proud of himself.

"How good would you say you are?" I asked. 

He shrugged and sat his pizza down. "Not that great, but I can manage a blue square."
(In case you don't know what a blue square is: A blue square is a slope rated moderate difficulty.)

I nodded. "Would you like to go again?"

He nodded. "Of course. I really liked it." He paused. "Well, not at first. I never realized how hard snow can be. It always seemed so soft." I snorted and immediately felt my face flush, though when he smiled at me fondly I relaxed. "Are you up to the double black diamond yet?"

I gave him a smug smile. "I did it last year." His eyebrows rose and he whistled. I nodded, happily squirming a little in my seat as I looked down at my pizza. "It was kind of scary, but it was so exhilarating."

"Maybe one day I'll get to go down one with you."

"Funny you should say that," Lilly piped up.

My head jerked up and I gave her a glare. Jimmy glanced back and forth between us. "Why's that?" he asked.

Lilly raised an eyebrow at me. "We're going on our annual ski trip this weekend," I said. "Would you like to come with us? It's only for a few days, like Friday through Monday."

He smiled at me and took my hand under the table. "If you want me to come, I'd love to."