JAMIE
I wandered around the house, sat in the living room, the TV off, listening to the music coming from Skylar’s room. I did that a lot, savoring her noises. Even when she was skulking around the kitchen or snapping at me, I was still so grateful she was home. She hated how protective I was being, but I couldn’t help wanting to make everything better for her, couldn’t help worrying if I didn’t hear from her for too long. I tried to ease up on the text messages, and she was good about answering, but it was going to take me a while to let go. She didn’t know this yet, but I was seeing a counselor too. I’d had my first appointment yesterday.
Skylar hadn’t said much when we got home from the mall, but she seemed in a better mood. I’d seen her outside with Aaron. I didn’t pry, but I was curious what they talked about. I knew he’d had a hard life and problems with his father. I hoped he could be a friend to her, or maybe more. Crystal had given me shit once when I expressed concern about Skylar dating boys from the gym.
You have to let her live her life, make her own mistakes. Then she’d smiled her beautiful smile and said, Don’t worry, she won’t turn out like me.
I felt a sharp pain under my ribs, the familiar breathless ache I got every time I remembered Crystal was gone. I still couldn’t believe I’d never see her again. Dallas and I had gone over and cleaned out her place, stayed there for hours after everything was packed, just sitting on the floor with her things all around us. Most days I swung back and forth between grief and anger, struggling to understand. I was still so pissed at Crystal for going to Cash Creek, but mostly I was pissed that she hadn’t run out the door with Skylar.
I hoped wherever Crystal was she was finally at peace.
The phone rang. I glanced at the call display.
Owen.
He’d called after we first got back, checking that we were okay. And we’d spoken a few times since about how things were going. I didn’t know why he was calling this time and didn’t really feel like talking, but maybe he’d heard something about the case.
“Hi, Owen.”
“Did you see the news?” he said. He sounded serious.
I sat up straight. “What?” Please, God, don’t let Brian be on the run. He was still in Cash Creek last I heard, out on bail and waiting for his trial.
“A body was found in Littlefield a couple of days ago. They think it might be a guy who went missing years ago.…” He paused. I waited, my heart thudding. “They had photos of his daughters, asked if anyone had seen them.”
Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe it was someone else.
“Where was he found?”
“On a farm, I think. The new owner was clearing the land or something. I don’t know if the police have positively identified him yet.”
It was true. They’d found him. I stared down the dark hall leading to Skylar’s room. I was going to lose my daughter. I was going to lose everything.
I’d checked the Internet every day when we first got back, watched the news every night, worried about Skylar’s identity being exposed, that someone would realize who we were and connect us with Dad’s disappearance, but as the days passed, I’d gotten busy with other things. I’d thought we were safe.
“I better call my sister.”
“Okay.” He paused. “Hang in there. Call if you need me.”
“Thanks, Owen.”
*
I phoned Dallas. She was home with Terry. They’d been spending more time together lately. She stepped outside and I told her about Owen’s call.
“McPhail’s going to realize we’re those missing girls,” I said. “He knows we passed through eighteen years ago—that same summer.”
“Dad’s body was found in Littlefield.”
“Doesn’t matter, they all talk.”
“Just stick to our story. They can’t have any proof.”
Maybe they didn’t need any. “I have a bad feeling, Dallas.”
“It’s just fear. Remember—they have nothing on us.”
“I have to tell Skylar. She’s going to have questions.”
“What are you going to tell her?”
“I don’t know.”
*
I knocked softly on Skylar’s door. She turned the music down, opened the door.
“What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you.” I sat on her bed and patted the other side.
She sat beside me with a frown. “What’s going on? You’re acting weird.”
I took a breath. “I got a call from Owen. My dad’s body has been found in Littlefield. I don’t know all the details yet, but the police will probably want to talk to Dallas and me.”
“Did one of you do it?”
“Skylar…”
“You said he was violent, and Crystal, she was really weird about that scar on her face—was it self-defense? Is that why you ran away? She killed him?”
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t look in my daughter’s eyes and lie to her again.
“It was me, Skylar. I shot him.”