Page 17 of Distress Signal
“What do you mean, autopsy?”
I assumed she’d taken things a little too far while on a hike and died doing what she loved.
Even if her final message to me had been strange, I never anticipatedthis.
Anautopsy? That shit was serious.
“We have reason to believe your sister’s death was…not accidental.”
“She was m-mur—” I couldn’t make myself spit out the word.
“We suspect foul play.” A diplomatic response, but it said enough.
The world warped around me, my perspective shifting, like I was detached from my body and viewing this whole thing assome unaffected bystander. Like my brain was doing what it could to protect me from the agony it knew was coming.
Still, I appreciated this sheriff’s no-nonsense approach to delivering the news of my sister’s death.
I didn’t need to be coddled right now.
After our parents died, I’d been doted on enough, been spoken tosogently and tip-toed around like I would break at any second.
In the end,thathad been what nearly broke me.
That and the survivor’s guilt.
And now I’d have to go through it all again.
I was the only one left.
Fuck.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Your best bet is to fly into Salt Lake, catch a connection to Boise, and?—”
“And drive down. Yeah, I know. I’ve been there before.”
Back onthatnight, which now seemed like the beginning of the end.
When Lainey had met the creep who refused to leave her alone.
And I’d met the man I’d never been able to forget.
“Great,” he said. “Then we’ll see you soon.”
“Is this a good number to reach you at?”
“Yeah, this is my personal cell.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll be in touch.”
I hung up before he could utter another word.
I breathed out slowly, impending tears prickling my nose.
My vision blurred, and a sob wrenched free from my throat as I dropped my phone onto the couch next to me.
My sister was gone.
