“How do you know about my family?” Anger and fear mixed on her face.
“It’s a small town. And I know you’re a good mother. You don’t want your kids to suffer. But if you keep on with what you guys are doing, you’re going to get caught. You know Shauna killed Cathy.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She tossed her head, reminding me of her teenage self. How much she’d wanted Shauna’s approval, how she’d do anything for her. “You and Ryan killed her—and they’ll prove it soon.”
I felt a moment of fear, wondering if she’d heard something. Did the cops have new evidence? I had to continue with the plan.
“She was starting to talk about what really happened that night, how you girls killed Nicole. She was going to help us prove we were innocent. Why would we kill her?”
Rachel was breathing hard, her face flushed and panicked.
I gave it another push. “She was talking to a lot of people. It’s just a matter of time before some of them start coming forward. Then the police are going to take a look at you girls for Cathy’s death. I wouldn’t be surprised if Shauna even points the finger at you. She covered up one murder by blaming it on someone else. What’s to stop her from turning on you guys now?”
“We didn’t do anything.” Her voice was desperate.
“But you did, you know you did. And you know that Shauna killed Cathy. Whether she’s admitted it or not, you know. And you can be sure that she’ll cover her own ass if the shit hits the fan. But who’s protecting you?”
“If I were you, I’d be worried about yourself.” Now she was angry, fear making her attack. “This is harassment.”
“Here’s the difference between me and you, Rachel. I have nothing left to lose. But you do.”
She sucked in her breath, her eyes wide and scared, and for a second she looked like she might cry. I stepped closer.
“There’s already another witness who can place Shauna’s car out at the lake at midnight. If I were you, I’d go to the police now and tell my side before Shauna points the finger. Maybe you were only a witness to Nicole’s death, maybe you don’t know for sure what she did to Cathy, but you know she was involved. If you talk now, you might be able to get a plea bargain and be out in time to see your kids grow up. But if you wait, she’s going to sink you.”
Her face was pale with fear, but she grabbed her things and said, “I’m not going to prison, because I didn’t do anything.”
She spun around and hurried back to the hospital.
*
I was almost back at the campsite when I noticed the cop car tailing me. My heart started going crazy in my chest. Had Rachel or Kim called the cops? If they had, I was fucked. I checked my speed, dropped it down, hoping the cop just happened to be on the road at the same time. But then he turned on his lights, coming up fast behind me. I pulled over and watched in my side mirror as a man got out and sauntered toward my truck. Shit. It was Doug Hicks.
I rolled down my window and waited, heart still pounding.
“Good afternoon, Toni.”
“Afternoon, Officer.”
“Where you coming from?”
“Just visiting an old friend. Was I speeding?”
“That friend wouldn’t be Ryan Walker, would it?”
So maybe he didn’t know about my visits to Kim and Rachel.
“Nope. It’s against the conditions of my parole to speak with him.”
He glanced up the highway, back down again. My nerves were tight with tension, my mouth filling with saliva. What exactly was going on here?
He leaned closer. “I’ve been talking to a few people.”
“Yeah?” I worked hard to keep my expression flat.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should have another look at your sister’s murder. Problem is, if your boy Ryan’s also talking to people, things get messed up in witnesses’ minds. They might remember things differently. That makes it hard for us to get to the bottom of what really happened.”
I stared at him. “Are you saying you believe us now?” There had to be a catch.
“I’m saying we can’t reopen the case or take another look at any of the evidence if you guys are running around stirring up trouble.”
So that was the deal. We back off and he might reopen our case. I hated the position he was putting me in, the hope that his words were kicking up. I didn’t want to screw up anything if he was serious. Then I realized that he was probably bullshitting. There was no gain in this for him, no reason he’d want to take another look at a case that could make him and the other cops who were involved look like idiots. It was just another game.
“I don’t know what Ryan Walker’s doing, and I don’t care,” I said. “I’m staying out of trouble and trying to find a job, sir.”
Hicks said, “I know you don’t like me, Toni. But right now I’m the only person who can help you stay out of prison.”