Page 55 of Last Seen
“Hey. It’s okay. She’s your friend. I know what you’re doing, depersonalizing so you can help, but this is different.”
“How am I supposed to feel?”
“Scared. Upset. But do it later, yeah? I need to get a team out here—no, Miss James, you do not count, you’re a civilian—and start searching. Get this information out on the wires so folks can start searching. Give me your prints, and your current info, then go back up the mountain or wherever you were headed. I’ll be in touch if I find anything.”
“You should let me help. I can help. I can—”
“Halley. No. You’re involved in this now. You’re a witness. I can’t have you on this case. You hear?”
She dips her head. “Yes, Chief.”
By the time Halley finishes at the police station, the sun is dipping gracefully behind the edge of the forest and the entire town is abuzz with the news of Kater’s disappearance. The sketch artist did a pretty good job with her description of the stranger, and an unidentified partialfingerprint was found on her mother’s file. Chances are it’s Theo’s, or maybe Aaron’s, but just in case, they are putting it into the system.
She can’t leave for Brockville now. At least not tonight. She’s as rattled as everyone else. Plus, the chief was pretty clear that she needed to stick around. No sense pissing off Early. He’s one of the good ones, and she wants to keep him on her side. She checks on her dad, who is relieved she’s still in Marchburg, then heads to the house. Ailuros deigns to speak to her, but only after she gives him a snack. Spoiled rotten, that cat.
Anne calls, then comes over and makes lasagna, and while it should be comforting to have someone take care of her, Halley can’t settle. They sit at the table together awkwardly, two women who love the same man finding their bearings, drinking wine, and making small talk about her dad, town, the latest from school, and, eventually, Kater’s disappearance. Anne is not tuned in to the crime world, and Halley gives her a rundown of what happened at the scene, and what steps will happen next. Finally, they’ve exhausted all the chitchat, and Anne clears the table, sits back down, and with a sigh says, “Ask me. I can tell you’re about to burst.”
“Did you know?” Halley asks. “Did you know about my mom?”
Anne’s curly blond hair is tamed in a thick braid today. She has a habit of playing with it, and she immediately reaches for it as she starts talking. “He didn’t tell me the whole story, no. He said she died in a terrible accident, and that it rocked him to the core. He loved your mom. A lot. I think she was the love of his life, to be honest. I admit, I was upset when he shared the truth yesterday. I can understand why you were, as well. But Halley, you need to know that everything—everything—he’s done your whole life has been to protect you.”
“Everyone keeps saying that. I don’t know that I agree. Changing our names and running away? I understand that everyone thinks Cat is dangerous—”
“Notthinks, Halley. She’s a killer. And by all accounts, an unstable one.”
“So I’ve talked to some people who say otherwise. It seems like once she got out of jail or juvie or whatever you want to call it, she straightened out her life. She went to school. Got married—though it ended in divorce. She has friends. They’re sick with worry over her disappearance. Does that sound like a killer to you?”
“I understand how your emotions can be clouded here. And I admire you for the attitude that one horrible action doesn’t define a person. That’s an incredibly mature and hopeful reaction. But the woman you’re describing is a sociopath who killed your mother and tried to kill you, too. She doesn’t deserve an ounce of loyalty, sister or no.”
“I can’t let this go, Anne. I have to know what happened to her.”
“Even if it puts all you hold dear in danger?”
“I think it’s the other way around. I think not knowing, not having any concrete proof that Cat’s alive or dead, is much more dangerous. She could pop up anywhere, anytime, if I don’t figure this out now. I’m interested in resolving the danger.”
Anne shakes her head sadly. “Your dad said you wouldn’t be persuaded. That when you get an idea in your head, you can’t ever let up. But Halley, you need to realize that this isn’t only about you and your feelings. Your dad’s packed a lot away to keep you happy and safe. You’re tearing him apart, too. And we don’t know if it’s tied, but another woman is missing. Or worse. This has gotten bigger than your desires, Halley. We can’t have something happen to you, too. It would break your dad. And that would break me.”
“Heard, Anne. Loud and clear.” Halley stands. “I’ll help you clean up.”
“I’ll take care of it. I know you’re anxious, Halley. This is a lot to handle. Your whole life has been upended.”
“Yeah. Well. I guess. I’m more worried about Kater right now.”
“Do you think her disappearance has anything to do with you finding out about your sister and your mom? The timing, that strange man last night—”
Halley’s cell phone rings, and she digs it out of her pocket. At the number on the screen, her heart drops. “It’s the chief,” she tells Anne, then answers.
Early’s voice is sharp and tense. “Halley, I have some bad news. We’ve found Miss Star’s remains. I need you to come to the station immediately.”
“Wait. What? She’s dead?” A gasp from the teacher, her eyes wide, mirroring Halley’s.
“I’m sending a car for you, Halley. Are you alone?”
“No. Mrs. Peterson—sorry, Anne—is here.”
“Good. Stay right there, and we’ll be by to get you in a few.”
“Am I under arrest or something?”
