Page 72 of Last Seen
He dials another number. This one is answered. The conversation is one sided but she can follow easily.
“This is Sheriff Brockton from Brockville, Tennessee. I need a welfare check on a woman named Alison Everlane, on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. Yes. Right, that’s the one. I’ve tried calling but there’s no answer. I don’t have a cellular number for her. Great. Yes, of course. My number is 555-423-9009. Appreciate it.”
He hangs up and cocks a brow. “Your turn.”
“All right. I spent my whole life thinking my mother and sister died together in a car accident when I was six. But earlier this week, I found out my father had lied to me. My mother was murdered. Stabbed to death. By my sister.”
“Cat killed your mom?” This comes from the other side of the door. Noah has been eavesdropping.
“Oh, for God’s sake ... get in here,” Cameron commands, and Noah opens the door and enters sheepishly. The blurt was so shocking, so familiar, so intimate, that it is Halley’s turn to raise a brow.
“Sounds like you know my sister.”
Noah looks at Cameron, who throws up his hands in disgust. “Fine. On your head be it.”
Noah sits again. He is earnest, and clearly concerned. “We met on the river path. We had a lovely conversation, and she was heading back to her cabin to rework a story. She was cool. I don’t know that I can believe what you’ve just told us.”
“But it’s true. Sheriff? Look it up. ‘Susannah Handon Murder Nashville.’ It will all be there.”
“I thought her last name was Armstrong,” Noah says.
“That’s her married name. Her maiden name is Handon. Trust me. I think I’d know.”
Cameron taps away, reading the screen, his eyes going wider, then his face collapses. The printer whirs to life, startling her. Noah puts a calming hand on her arm. It’s big, and warm, and rough from the kitchens, but in this moment, when all things are confused and bewildering, she takes comfort, and doesn’t push it away. She has to say, though, all this touching by strangers is making her jumpy. The Brocktons are handsy men.
Cameron gets the paper off the printer and hands it to Noah, who reads it. Halley can see the headline: it’s the same article she looked at. Noah’s gone pale as a ghost.
“I know. It’s shocking as hell. Believe me, I’ve had a hard time wrapping my own head around it.”
“And now people are dying,” Cameron says. “Your friend. Cat’s doctor.”
“Yes. I told Kater, and I called Dr. Chowdhury to ask for information. I talked to Tammy for a while tonight, too. And, of course, called Alison and Tyler.” She calculates, then draws out the letter. “Dr. Chowdhury brought me this. This is why she came to Marchburg after I called her. She couldn’t share anything about Cat’s treatment, of course, but she’s been holding on to this letter for years, just waiting to give it to me.”
She hands it to Cameron, who flips through the pages. “Sounds like she got into a program and was working the steps.”
“Maybe. Asking for forgiveness is a big part.”
Noah is still staring at the article printout.
“She wasn’t very nice to me when I was growing up. I’m glad you had a different experience with her. I don’t have the best memories.”
“Run, Halley Bear. Run.”
“That’s why you’re digging into this now?” the sheriff asks. “Because you’ve just discovered the truth?”
“Yes. I haven’t thought through what’s next. And with people dying, it seemed smart to get away from town.”
“We’ll protect you,” Noah says, and Cameron snorts.
“No, we won’t. She’s going back to Marchburg in the morning. This is not our problem, and I can’t take the chance—”
“It most certainlyisyour problem,” Halley says. “My sister disappeared from your town, Sheriff. It’s high time you do a proper investigation and help me figure out why.”
“Oh it is, is it?”
“Yes,” Halley answers. “And I’ll assist. But I need to find out why people are dyingnow. I have to find out what can of worms I’ve opened. I want to know who the stranger is, why he pilfered my mom’s file. And Cat—”
He puts up a hand. “You can do that back in your hometown, with your police chief. We will put you up tonight and get you on the road in the morning.”
