Page 73 of Dark Roads
“Don’t get Jonny in shit. He’s had enough trouble.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.” He picked up his keys and joined the others in the parking lot. Their big trucks roared away. Andy had his phone to his ear. She wondered who he was calling.
The air had cooled with the sun drifting behind a cloud, but the pavement was still hot as she made her way to her car, first checking the parking lot for Vaughn. A quick Google search, and she had the address of the only blueberry farm in Cold Creek. They were closing soon.
Beth turned off a dusty country road at a white sign with a cluster of blueberries painted on it and a cheerfulYOU PICK!
The shop was pale blue with white shuttered windows, andthe door gave a little tinkle as she pushed it open. Behind the counter, a girl was tying ribbons on baskets of blueberries. Products were displayed on wood shelves around the shop—jams, syrups, blueberry-patterned teacups. Emily was wearing a purple tank top with the same logo that had been on the sign. Beth had expected her to look harder. Maybe bleached blond, arm tattoos, and a lot of makeup, but if this was Emily, she was petite and dark-haired, with a posture like a ballerina’s. Graceful arms.
“Let me know if you need anything?” Emily glanced up as she fiddled with the basket in her hands. She seemed tired, or bored. Beth’s face felt hot and she was beginning to second-guess her entire mission. How could she ask a stranger something so personal?
Then Emily took another look at her. “Are you new in town?”
“I’m Beth.” She came closer to the counter. “Amber Chevalier was my sister.”
“Oh.” Emily’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry.” Her expression was changing from surprise to confusion. Next would be suspicion. Beth needed a smoother opening.
“She always talked so nicely about this town. I wanted to see it myself.” Beth looked around the shop, admiring. “She mentioned a blueberry farm she loved.”
“Really? I don’t remember her coming here.”
“Did you know her?”
“I saw her around.” She pushed a basket of blueberries across the counter. “Here—on the house.” She reached for a small bottle of sanitizer by the cash register, squeezed a few drops into her palm. Beth caught a glimpse of the label. Blood Orange. The spicy orange scent Hailey had mentioned. So, it must have been Emily in Vaughn’s truck.
“Thanks.” Beth rested her hand on top of the basket but didn’t move toward the door. She couldn’t leave until she foundout what Emily knew about Vaughn, but she wasn’t sure how to open up the conversation. The anger that had driven her here didn’t come with instructions.
“I also wanted to talk to you.…” She looked into Emily’s eyes, trying to use hers to somehow express urgency and also understanding. “Vaughn is creeping on me.”
“Yeah?” Emily crossed her arms across her chest, instantly wary. “What’s that got to do with me?”
“I heard he did the same to you.”
“Who told you that?”
“Friend of a friend.”
“They were lying.” She looked at Beth’s purse on the counter. “Are you recording this?”
“No. I don’t have my phone.” She opened her purse. “Check for yourself. I’m not here to cause you trouble. I just want to stop Vaughn before he picks up another girl on the highway.”
“You think he picked upAmber?”
“She would have trusted him.” Emily looked so shocked that Beth wondered if it had been a mistake to share that part. She didn’t want her warning Vaughn.
“You shouldn’t go around saying stuff like that.”
“Are you scared of him?”
“Everyoneis scared of Vaughn.”
“Yeah, but you have better reason. He took photos of you.” It was a chance for Emily to deny it again, but her expression shifted. The wariness turned to anger.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I won’t tell anyone—I swear. But I need to figure out if he’s the killer, and if you don’t help me, then another girl is going to die.” It was a guilt trip, but desperate times called for dirty tricks, and she’d dig into an entire bag of them to catch Vaughn.
