Page 52 of Into the Shadows

Stop investigating Crystal’s death, or you’ll regret it.

Chapter 30

Lottie

“You shouldn’t go.”

My head drops back, and I barely contain my groan. “For the millionth time, we will be in a public place, and they’re Crystal’s former students.”

“And for all you know, they could’ve been the ones to kill her.” Teddy’s hands are on his hips, his muscles tight as he stares at me from across my bedroom.

I have to force myself to focus on our infuriating conversation instead of his drool-worthy tattoos. “What do you want from me? I have a job to do. I can’t just drop off the face of the Earth.”

He huffs out a breath. “You’ve never gotten a threatening message before.”

I bristle. “How would you know?”

Teddy spears me with a look that makes me deflate. He’s annoyingly right. I’ve never been threatened while covering a case. There’s only been one time I’ve felt in danger, and that was because the man I wanted to interview was a little too sleazy with me. It had nothing to do with the case.

“I still don’t know what you want me to do. I have to go.It’s my job.” I close the distance between us to wrap my arms around his waist. He’s stiff for half a second before he melts into my embrace. “I know you want me to be safe. But isn’t this even more of a reason to keep investigating? This asshole is out there threatening people. Who’s to say he hasn’t hurt multiple other women since Crystal’s disappearance?”

“Why does it have to be you, though? The police can take it from here.”

“Because they’ve done such a great job so far?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

Disapproval lines his face. “They’re still better equipped than you are.”

“Maybe, but no one else is looking for her. Sheriff Lansing can’t continue investigating a cold case, so who better than me to try to find her killer?”

“I’m going with you, then. I don’t trust that you won’t be ambushed or something when you get there.”

“I will only accept this compromise if you keep your distance. Your mean mug would scare even the innocent away.”

He frowns. “I do not mean mug.”

“You’re doing it right now.”

I start giggling when Teddy tries to relax his face. All it does is make him scarier.

“Fine. I’ll stay away, but I will remain within hearing distance. Got it?”

I press up onto my toes to kiss him. “Got it.”

“Thankyou so much for doing this.” Tara shakes my hand, making her blonde, kinky-curled hair bounce. “It means more than you know.”

Cadence steps up next to Tara. They’re wearing matchingIn Memory of Crystal MansgroveT-shirts. “Seriously. We’re very grateful to have such a popular podcast shining a light on Ms. Mansgrove’s case.”

Their enthusiasm sets me at ease as we find a seat in the coffee shop in Greensboro. Neutral ground felt like the right decision all around for this meeting. Teddy is already sitting at a two-top table a few spots away from an open four-person table. It’s as if we’re on a covert mission or something. I guarantee he’s kept that table free for us.

I direct the girls to it, knowing Teddy would be pissed if we sat anywhere else. I’m slightly tempted to find out what he’d do to me if I disobeyed his request, but that’s not something I should think about before a podcast interview.

“Zachary and Steven should be here soon. They’re the last of our admin group we’ve created,” Candace says as we sit. Tara drags two more chairs over from the table between ours and Teddy’s.

I grab out my equipment to get things set up while we wait. While researching Crystal’s former students, I came across a memorial Facebook group for her. I was touched to see people were still posting despite it being over a decade since she went missing. I immediately reached out to Candace and Tara, the two main admins of the group, to set up this meeting. Zachary and Steven are the other two moderators and asked to join our chat today. I was more than happy to have the extra people.

Candance swipes her black hair over her shoulder. “Have there been any more issues from the shit stirrer?”

“Thankfully, no.” Tara turns to me. “We had this guy join the group who would comment on every post to start arguments. Mostly disagreeing with someone’s theory or saying nobody cared about Crystal anymore. It was super weird, and we finally had to kick him out of the group.”

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