Page 103 of Our Daughter's Bones
“Your daughter is missing,” Nick repeated. “There’s a high chance she was taken by the clientyoublackmailed.”
“He didn’t take her!”
“How do you know that?”
“Because we didn’t see a dime of the money we’d demanded!” she cried. “The client threatened Joe and refused to pay. We backed off because we realized we were in way over our heads. I even destroyed the video—showed him I had. It was done. Why would he take Abby now?”
“Revenge? To send out a message to you?”
She flicked her hand, dismissively. “He didn’t take her. I thought you believed the same person hurt EricaandAbby.”
“There are multiple theories we’re working on,” Mackenzie said impatiently. “This is how investigations are led. We have to cross out some lines of inquiry. If you don’t think he hurt Abby, then why aren’t you giving us a name? Let us confirm.”
She shook her head and pressed her thumbs against her eyelids, mumbling to herself about being “stupid” and “dumb”. When she looked up, the rims of her eyes were red. “I’m sorry but I can’t tell you. If I do, he’ll hurt me. If he finds out thatIgave you his name, then I’m dead. And save your bullshit about protecting me.”
Nick shot up from his seat and marched out of the building. Through the window, Mackenzie saw him come out the front door. He took out a cigarette and contemplated it. Then he pulled a face and tossed it on the ground.
Mackenzie knew Hannah’s weakness had triggered him. Her refusal to put her child before herself.
“Is it Bill Grayson? Is he the client?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m sorry. But he didn’t take her. I know it. And I want to be here when Abby comes back home. I can’t be there for my child if I’m dead, right?”
As Hannah walked past her to leave, Mackenzie gripped her by the elbow. Something bubbled inside her—desperation, irritation, or betrayal. She didn’t know. Hannah looked at her, surprised. It was uncharacteristic of Mackenzie to cross that line of decorum. After all, she was known to be unaffected—a cool head.
“You’re a mother,” she said in a tight voice. “How can you do this?”
In that moment, she saw Hannah’s face almost transform into Melody’s.
She yanked her arm away. “Just do your damn job, okay?”
Fifty-Seven
“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” A twig snapped under Mackenzie’s heel. She jumped at the sound. Nick walked in front of her, deftly climbing over trunks and maneuvering around overgrown bushes.
“Yes, Mack. I have a good sense of direction. Unlike you.”
She brushed off his comment. She was too preoccupied, staring at the belly of the forest. The woods next to Fresco River were dense. Sections of the forest were converted into heritage sites and had become a tourist attraction. The woods on the other side were closed, pending construction.
Being surrounded by centuries-old trees covered in green fungus and mold was not what Mackenzie had planned for the rest of the day. The trees were tall with thick trunks she could never imagine wrapping her arms around. Their tips poked the sky but didn’t shield it. Plenty of sunlight spread freely over the forest. It helped her deal with the knots in her stomach. She was never comfortable in the woods.
Tree roots spread out like spiderwebs on the ground, making hiking tricky. They functioned like traps, adding bumps and dips. She had tripped three times already.
She pulled out her phone and scowled. “I’m still not getting any service!”
“That’s the point of the cabins out here. Seclusion!”
She dusted off her pants and eyed her muddy shoes in disdain.
“We’re hiking. You will get dirty,” Nick said, amused.
“Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. How are you so good at this?”
“I was a boy scout.” He held his waist and looked forward. “We’re close. I estimate five minutes.”
“Did you check the address correctly?”
“I looked it up on Google Maps.”
