Page 39 of The Lost Bones
Aria Fields disappearance.
Three weeks before Sophie vanished, she’d begun looking up Aria on the internet. Before that, there wasn’t a single search about her. What had prompted her to think about her sister again? It only solidified Mackenzie’s suspicion that Sophie’s disappearance was linked to Aria.
TWENTY-TWO
APRIL 17
“The Lakemore PD’s lips remain sealed when it comes to the disappearance of Debbie Arnold, who was last seen two nights ago retreating into her office.” A shiny new face had replaced Debbie, a younger version with a squeaky little voice, lacking Debbie’s boldness. “The news station has tightened security around the premises. But while we as a network continue to provide support to Debbie’s partner and volunteer in on-foot searches, the Lakemore PD has refused to provide any updates, claiming that they don’t want to compromise an ongoing investigation. We are now joined by Lakemore’s very own Vincent Hawkins.”
The camera panned to Vincent, a gangly gray-haired man with a pencil-thin mustache capping his narrow lips. Dressed like a college student in loose T-shirts and pants, with a pen tucked behind his ear, he looked nothing like the man who’d broken the biggest news in Lakemore a year and a half ago, catapulting him to fame at a national level.
“Mr. Hawkins, you have played a key role in exposing corruption in this town. A lot of people are worried that history is repeating itself.”
“As shocked and saddened as I am by Debbie Arnold’s disappearance, I really don’t believe there’s any conspiracy at hand. We all like stories with a clear villain, but that’s not always the case.”
“But don’t you think the Lakemore PD should make a statement, considering the victim in this case is a public figure?”
Hawkins’ lips twitched in amusement. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it? The minute they give her preferential treatment and maybe risk her safety, it will be you calling them out again.”
Mackenzie sighed and closed the tab on her computer.
“The new one sucks, doesn’t she?” Troy chewed the end of his pen, making Mackenzie scowl.
“She has big shoes to fill.”
“It’s good news for you.” He grinned. “If she keeps embarrassing herself and shoots herself in the foot, maybe we won’t be hated as much.”
Mackenzie nodded faintly. She’d skipped dinner last night and still hadn’t had breakfast. Her appetite was dead, but her stomach was growling. The thought of eating anything made bile rise in her throat.
“Sorry,” Troy said softly, playing with his wedding band. “You know no one blames you, right?”
Did she? Courtney’s husband, Brett, hadn’t been informed of the message left for Mackenzie. He was calling every day, asking if they were any closer to catching whoever had murdered his wife. It ate away at her, one sharp bite at a time.
“Thanks,” she mumbled half-heartedly.
Before Troy could reply, Nick stormed into the office and slammed a file on his desk. “The court order didn’t go through.”
“What?” Mackenzie gasped.
“Judge Hamilton refused to sign it.” He loosened his tie.
“Why?”
“His clerk said that Hamilton felt we didn’t make a good enough case that the car was part of the crime. Apparently a lot of cars drive past the school. Not enough reason to get a company to reveal confidential information, especially one that is notoriously private.”
“But we need access to the car to confirm if it was used to take Courtney there.”
Nick raised his eyebrows. “Yeah. Chasing our own tails.”
“We’ll send it to some other judge. Tag’s background check was clean. No trouble with the law. Only graduated from high school three years ago.”
“I’ve asked Jenna to submit the affidavit again.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But I’m pissed off. This is an unnecessary delay.”
Mackenzie paled, thinking about where Debbie was right now. She imagined her face-down in a puddle of water. Her hair noodling around her neck. Lifeless and stiff.
“I don’t think she’s dead yet,” Nick said, reading her thoughts.
“Why? Courtney was killed almost immediately.”
