Page 107 of Hometown Girl

“Good to see you again, Mr.Barlow,” Bishop said.

“You too, Officer.”

“Will you guys stop with the niceties?” Molly said. “This is important.” Molly waved a stack of manila folders in the air, then slammed them down on the table. “Guess what the newspapers forgot to report?” She opened the top folder.

“Molly, what are you talking about?” Beth’s face had to be flushed—she still felt the heat of what had happened between her and Drew, whose eyes she now completely avoided.

“Jess Pendergast.”

Beth dared a glance at Drew. His face had gone blank. Was he regretting that kiss? Or, like her, wanting to get rid of Molly and Bishop so they could do it again?

Molly stared at her, awaiting her response.

Anything to get rid of them. And fast. “Okay, Molly, what did you find?” Beth stared at the case file. “What am I looking at?”

Molly pointed to a sentence on the page. “Juvenile male witness. No memory of attacker. Taken to hospital; treated with stitches and released.” She tapped on the table forcefully, as if she’d just proven herself right about something tremendous—like life on another planet or something. “There was a witness no one ever knew about because he was too young—another kid.”

Beth frowned. “Do you think it was someone local?” They hadn’t heard anything about a witness, and while her parents had shielded them from much of the tragedy, surely someone would’ve mentioned if a little boy had seen Jess taken.

“Doubtful,” Bishop said. “It’s unlikely it wouldn’t have come out by now. You know how people in this town like to talk.”

Beth pressed her lips together. “So, is the boy’s name in here?”

“No, and his records are sealed, but Bishop thinks we can get it.”

“How?” Beth asked.

“My dad was friends with one of the detectives who worked the case. He retired to Florida, but I think I can track him down.”

“Is this even legal?” Drew’s tone had an uncharacteristic edge to it.

“If Bishop handles it, it will be.” Molly paused. Squinted at Beth. “Wait a minute. What are you guys doing out here? I thought you were working, but this doesn’t look like work.”

Beth glanced at Drew, then at the floor.

“Is this a date?” Molly folded her arms over her chest and cocked her head, waiting for a satisfying reply.

Beth couldn’t find a single coherent sentence running through her mind.

“Oh, my gosh,” Molly said. “You two?” She turned to Bishop. “I told you she liked him.” Back to Beth. “I told him. He said you were too focused to think about romance and to stop trying to play matchmaker, but I told him.” Over to Drew. “She does have very good taste.”

He managed a soft laugh, but Beth could feel the heat as embarrassment radiated through her body. She picked up the folders and pushed them back into Molly’s arms, shoving both her and Bishop toward the door.

“I get it,” Molly said. “You guys want to be alone. Geesh! All you had to do was say so.”

“Since when do you listen to anything I say, Molly?”

Before leaving, Bishop turned to Drew. “Sorry, man.”

Drew raised a hand as if to tell him it was okay, but Beth slammed the door shut before Bishop had a chance to see. She faced the door, willing them off the porch, into the car and miles away from the farm. “I’m so sorry,” she said, still not looking at Drew.

“What are you sorry for?”

She turned around. “You like to keep your personal business personal. I didn’t think you’d want anyone to think ...” The words got all jumbled up before she could even finish the thought.

“I don’t care what people think, Beth.” He walked toward her, meeting her in the entryway.

When she met his eyes, she knew he meant it.

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