A rush of gratitude welled up in her. She caught a glimpse of her face in the window again. This time she was smiling, just a little.
“No. Thanks, though. I’m okay. I’ll probably start home early tomorrow. We’ll have to talk to the Dewalts, obviously, and check in with the Scotts.” She paused. “I’m not sure what this means for Aurora. It’s pretty obvious the ransom note is a hoax—but it’s also pretty obvious Cohan wouldn’t have killed both girls. So we’re back to the drawing board.”
“Have you called your mom yet?”
She winced. “No. Do you think I should?”
She could hear something rustling on the other end of the line, like Mac was shifting her weight uncomfortably. “I don’t know. As her PI? Yeah, probably. As her daughter … well, that’s your call.”
Now Veronica stared down at her phone, still and silent on the gingham oilcloth. She knew she should call the Scotts to let them know they had to halt the ransom exchange. She wished Lee fucking Jackson would call her back so she wouldn’t have to.
Out beyond the window, cars were slowing as they drove past, and a line of traffic extended down the road. A news van had pulled in across the street. It wouldn’t be long before more showed up—and they’d probably try the diner when the cops wouldn’t give them any information.
“Look!”
A cry went up from the counter. Everyone in the restaurant was turned now toward the TV bolted just above a framed poster of Buddy Holly with his guitar. On the screen was an aerial view of the freeway. A Range Rover roared up the middle of the road; an entourage of speeding police cruisers, their lights flashing, trailed behind. A caption along the bottom of the screen said BREAKING NEWS.
Rosa picked up a remote control and turned up the volume. The rotating police lights at the motel seemed weirdly echoed by those on the TV.
“… now we go live to a high-speed chase heading south on Highway 101 just outside of San Jose. We have reports that the driver is a Stanford student wanted in connection to a murder, though the police are refusing to comment at this time.”
Veronica set her cup down with a hard thunk. She hoped someone had gotten in touch with the Dewalts, because if they hadn’t, the cat was out of the bag now. That was what happened in a Trish Turley world—everyone was waiting for a new Jodi Arias, a new O.J. They couldn’t wait to tell everyone that their worst suspicions about humanity were true.
She rose stiffly to her feet, picking up her bag and her phone. Rosa looked up and met her eyes, giving her a pensive, searching look before turning away to refill a customer’s coffee cup.
Outside in the parking lot, Veronica leaned against the BMW and pulled out her phone. The cool night air raised goose pimples along her skin. From here she could hear the crackle of radios across the street where the crime scene had been sealed off.
Lianne’s phone rang only once before she picked it up.
“Veronica, what’s going on? A reporter just came by the condo saying someone found a … a girl. What …”
“It was Hayley.” Her voice was low and heavy.
Her mother gave a gasping sob. “God. Oh, God.” Then, in a high, frail voice: “What’s this mean for Aurora?”
“I don’t know yet. But, Mom, I don’t think kidnappers killed Hayley. I can’t talk about the details just yet—but I’m pretty sure her death was an isolated incident.” She took a deep breath. Her heart was beating almost as hard as it did in the scrub behind the motel a few short hours ago. “I know this is scary and … awful. But try not to panic yet. I’ll check in with you tomorrow when I get back to town, okay?”
Her mother’s breath was heavy, and Veronica realized she was crying into the phone.
“Did … you find her? Hayley? Was it you who found her body?”
She closed her eyes. “Yeah.”
Lianne was quiet for a moment. When she spoke, her voice sounded steadier. “Drive carefully, Veronica. I’ll see you in the morning.”
After hanging up, Veronica stood there for another moment, waiting for her heart to slow down. Across the street, dark figures moved around the motel, casting deep shadows beneath the floodlights.
She couldn’t help Hayley. She’d never been able to help Hayley—Hayley had been dead before anyone even knew she was gone. Now, though … now she had to focus. Because Aurora Scott was still out there, somewhere. And Veronica needed to find her, more than ever.