Page 75 of The One Before

I know Jensen is set to list off a trail of evidence, but I’m not ready to hear it. I quietly weep, resting my head on the cold tabletop between us. I’ve waited so long to hear those words. I surrendered to the idea I might never hear them. Eleven years. That’s how long I’ve been searching for answers. Even when I saw him escorted to the police cruiser, I wasn’t sure I’d get to this moment. I’d been waiting to see what fancy lawyer his family ushered in this time around. I’d thought of a dozen ways he might weasel out of the charges. But Detective Jensen is telling me that didn’t happen. At long last, he’s been arrested.

When I raise my head, Detective Jensen is smiling. She must have an idea about how long I’ve waited to hear this. I wipe my swollen cheeks and attempt to compose myself. This wasn’t how I’d thought tonight would end. “Have you found her?”

“Not yet,” Jensen says, opening a file in her hands. “We received a tip that her body is in Whisper Lake. Dive teams will continue their search in the morning.”

All these years Laura has been in Whisper Lake? Her body hidden beneath the scenic centerpiece of the Douglas family’s estate? It makes sense, I suppose. That’s where Cooper disposed of his first victim. At least I can stop envisioning all the places Laura might be. I can know.

“If you still haven’t found her, why make an arrest now?”

“I hate to ask you to bear with me, but you must understand there’s sensitive information I can’t share yet. We’ll be prosecuting this case in my local jurisdiction, where it’s believed the crime took place. I’ll provide more information when I can.” She pauses, gauging my reaction to everything that has been said thus far. “We’re still piecing together what we know, but I’d be happy to answer your questions.”

When I speak, my voice is scratchy from my stifled emotions. “After all this time, what urged your department to reconsider Cooper as a suspect?”

“We received a credible tip. Cooper shared some of what happened with this informant, and they contacted us.”

An informant? Could it be Madison? Everyone else has been in the Douglas family pocket for years. No one else would have wandered in telling their story now. She must have uncovered something; my far-fetched plan to get her on my side worked.

Detective Jensen answers more of my questions, although she’s not willing to provide any specifics that could hinder their investigation. At this point, I probably know more details than they do. They’ve revisited this case in the past week. I’ve been imagining different scenarios for over a decade, all which led me back to Cooper Douglas. Finally, the police have reached the same conclusion. He’s in handcuffs, and I’ve been set free.

I make the short walk from the police station to my car. Light rain sprinkles over my skin, setting my senses ablaze. I breathe in the cool, damp air, rejuvenating my exhausted being. The only thing worse than losing a child is believing that loss will never be acknowledged. The world isn’t as bright as it was when my Laura was alive, but it’s no longer as dark. There’s at least some justice, some closure on the horizon. Laura is not forgotten.

For years, I’ve been my daughter’s only advocate, but tonight would not have happened without the help of at least one other person. I’m not sure what Madison said or did, what lengths she must have taken to make the police believe her, but I must thank her for what she’s done for me tonight. For what she’s done for my daughter.

Sixty-Two

Madison

I unlock the door to our empty house and collapse onto the couch. My time at the police station was exhausting, both mentally and physically. After I told the detective everything I knew, she left the room for what seemed like hours. I sat there alone, trying to predict all the ways this situation could turn out. What if they didn’t believe me? What if Coop was released and I had nowhere to go? Josephine probably already had a lawyer fighting in Coop’s corner, and who did I have? No one.

Before the woman left the room, I gave her Helena’s most recent phone number. I wasn’t sure what information they’d obtained at that point, but I knew they’d want to at least speak with Laura’s mother. She’s the one who got me involved with all this, and she’s the person who cares most about the outcome.

After what seemed like hours, the female officer returned to the room and told me something I wasn’t expecting to hear: Coop had confessed.

“Confessed?” I repeated the word as though it were a foreign addition to my vocabulary.

“Yes,” she said, tapping her pen against the table. “He corroborated almost everything you told us. The only thing he wouldn’t confirm is where he put Ms. Price’s body, but we’ve had boats on the lake for hours.”

That part surprised me. He told me where he put Laura’s body. Why wouldn’t he tell the police?

“Have you found her?”

“Not yet,” she said, emphasizing the last word. “We’re going to keep looking.”

“I thought Coop had a lawyer?” I couldn’t believe he had confessed so easily. He didn’t even put up a fight.

“Your fiancé refused counsel.” The woman shook her head. “I think he’s been carrying this guilt for a long time. I think he wanted the truth to come out.”

My bottom lip quivered. “Does he know I’m the person who turned him in?”

“Probably.” The woman extended her hand, gently tapping her fingers against the tabletop. “But you did the right thing, Madison. It would have been better if you’d come to us sooner, but you’re safe and that’s all that matters.”

“Will I be able to see him?”

“That wouldn’t be a smart move at the moment. There’s still a lot we need to sort out.” She leaned back. “Cooper did want us to tell you that he loves you. I’m not sure how I would take that, but I said I’d pass along the message.”

I’m crying now, as I think back to everything that’s happened tonight. It was a necessary betrayal to respond to the crime he committed so long ago. I look around this house that I’ve spent the past two months trying to make a home, something it will never be now, at least for me. I start a fire, knowing this will be what I miss most, and listen to the crackling as it blazes. After several minutes, I go upstairs and pack an overnight bag.

Back downstairs, my phone rings displaying an unknown number. Unsure whether it’s someone from the police department, I answer.

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