Nick glanced at me. “He’s got a point.”
I nodded absently. It still didn’t quite mesh in my mind. Brandon just acted suspicious. I got a skeevy feeling from him.
Brandon nodded at Nick. “Anyway, they hauled me in, questioned me for a while and had to let me go since they had nothing. But people know they did that, so half the people I meet still think I killed her.”
I leaned forward again. “I heard they took you in when they found her body too.”
Brandon blinked in surprise. “Yeah. I went in for another round of questioning.” He shook his head and looked down. “It was just because they didn’t have anyone else to point their fingers at. They measured my feet and figured out they weren’t the right size for the prints they found.” He wiped a hand over his eyes and down his face before leaning forward. “Let me tell you, whoever took that girl was one sick bastard though. I saw some of the pictures they took of her.” He shook his head with a small, nervous smile.
I swallowed. My skin crawled. “I heard there wasn’t much left.”
Brandon barked a laugh. “You got that right. That ax he used to cut her up? I don’t know how anyone could ever do that.”
Brandon’s skin took on a sickly tinge at the memory. It was the first honest reaction I’d seen in him. I glanced at Nick, raising my eyebrows.
“Anything else you can think of?” Nick asked.
Brandon shook his head. “Nothing.” He stood, adjusting his shirt. “You say you think he has another girl?”
“Yeah.” I stood. “My friend Hannah.”
“The cops looking into it?”
“They don’t seem too concerned,” Nick said.
“Sure, for now.” Brandon ran a hand through his hair. “I won’t be surprised if they haul me back in if she doesn’t show in a few days.”
“Thanks for your time.” I motioned to Nick and we headed for the door.
“No problem.” He held open the door for us. His eyes ran over my body as we passed. “Stop by any time.”
Brandon shut the door behind us. We headed for the stairs, both of us silent. The skin at the back of my neck tingled like he might still be watching us. The cops might have decided he was innocent, but I wasn’t so sure. At least now I knew Lana had been planning to leave her parents for good.
We stepped out into the brisk autumn air. The sunshine made me realize just how dark it had been inside. I glanced back at the old house. I wondered if any ghosts haunted its narrow hallways. I wouldn’t have been surprised.
“So he’s pretty much a weirdo,” Nick said.
I snorted. “Yeah, total creepazoid. Did you see him kind of smile when he mentioned the pictures?”
“Don’t remind me.” Nick faked a shudder. “Hey, I’m starving. You wanna hit up the gas station for a hot dog or something?” He glanced to the station at the corner.
“I’m totally good on food, but I’ll walk up with you.”
As we walked I imagined Brandon’s slime washing off me. The guy had gotten to me for a reason I couldn’t quite put a finger on. I shivered as a cold burst of air breezed past us.
“Did you get the feeling he wasn’t telling us the whole truth?”
Nick nodded. “Yeah, kind of. Like it all felt true until the part when she was in the car with him. Do you think he could have been the one who took her and he somehow got away with it?”
I let out a long sigh. “I really have no idea. He doesn’t seem smart enough to pull it off, but he registers pretty high on the creeper scale.” I wrapped my arms around myself against the cold. “Even if he took Lana it doesn’t make sense that he would have taken Hannah. She never met that guy. We were together almost every day and I’d know if she knew him.”
“Maybe it was something just as simple as her shopping where he works.” Nick opened the door to the gas station. “He liked her and he followed her.”
The idea of him following Hannah sent a shiver through me. “I guess that could have happened.”
Nick glanced away from the line of hot dogs in the roller grill. “Even if that is how it happened we need something more official than that before we go back to your friendly police officer.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Nick bought a chili cheese dog and had it gone before we were halfway back to the car. He went around to the driver’s side and I hauled open the heavy passenger door. I froze. A folded piece of paper sat on the seat. I knew it hadn’t been there when I got out. Nick opened his door and climbed in before noticing I wasn’t joining him.
“What’s up?” He turned, his eyes landing on the note. “Crap, is that—?”
I didn’t need him to finish the sentence. “Yeah, pretty sure it is.”
My hand shook as I reached for the note. The paper felt unreasonably cold in my hands, but it was just my imagination. I unfolded it to see what was typed there.
Her story ends where yours began.
Chapter Twenty-three
“What the hell does that mean?” Nick scowled. He lifted his hat and scratched his head. “I don’t like this. Someone was here while we were in there.”
I looked up at the house as a blanket fell back over a window. Nick climbed out of the truck and slammed his door shut.
“Nick, leave it alone.”
“No way. If he’s the one doing this to you then my money is on him having Hannah.”
I grabbed Nick, holding him from going back inside. “We have zero proof that this is him. It could still be anyone.” I shook my head, thinking about the words on the note. “Besides, why would he be sending me notes? I don’t know him. This feels too personal to be him.”
“How would anyone else know where you are? Is someone following you?”
“I don’t know.” I felt numb. I shoved him back toward the driver’s side. “But I know where we’re supposed to go.”
Nick hesitated a moment, but climbed in and started the engine. I got in the truck and glanced back up at the house one more time, but Brandon wasn’t watching. I clenched the paper in my hand, knowing there was only one place it could mean. I stared out the window.
The engine rumbled to life and Nick looked at me. “Where to?”
“Drive toward the lake. I’ll give you directions.”
Nick nodded and pulled away from the curb. Town slipped past us as tension grew in my gut. I gave Nick directions mechanically. It had been a long time since I’d been out this way, but I hadn’t forgotten. I directed him onto a dirt road.
“Seriously, where are we going?” Nick glanced at me quickly before turning back to the rutted road.
“Where Lana took me the day of our first kiss,” I said quietly. Just thinking about that day made my heart hurt. It had been so unexpected and so perfect. I never should have treated her so badly, she didn’t deserve it. I crinkled the note in my fist.
“Whoa, seriously? Who would know that?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head.
“Do you think we’ll find Hannah here?”
“What?” I looked at him with surprise. “Why?”
Nick bit his lip and glanced at me again. “Her story ends where yours began. You don’t think that means…”
I gripped the note tighter. “Turn here.”
I directed Nick down the road that led to the barn. I’d rode out there a few times with Lana and I hadn’t forgotten anything about our time together. As Nick’s truck rumbled over the dirt road, he glanced at me.
“I’m probably wrong about Hannah. It probably means something else.”
I nodded, biting my thumbnail. His words didn’t help. All I could imagine was finding Hannah in the old barn. Hanged from the rafters, laid out on the floor, who knew what. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to make someone want to send me the notes, but if Hannah got hurt because of me I’d never forgive myself. “It’s just up ahead.”
“You still think it could be Rachel leaving these notes?” Nick kept his eyes on the road as it became more rough.
&
nbsp; I turned to him in surprise. I hadn’t even thought about that; the note had caught me so off guard. Could it be Rachel? Would Lana have told her? I thought she might. If it was her, she might have written it just to get a reaction out of me.
“Maybe.” I nodded slowly. “I got the impression Lana pretty much filled her in on everything about us.” I’d been a little jealous Lana had someone to share her excitement with. I’d held all mine inside. Maybe that was why it had been easy to lie. “Garrett wouldn’t know about any of this, but if he is working with Rachel, it would make sense.”
“This is off the charts creepy if it’s them.” Nick adjusted in his seat. He was slouched so low I wasn’t sure how he could see to drive. “She knows enough about you and Lana to mess with your head and he is crazy enough to take Hannah.”
“You got that right.” I tucked my hands under my legs before I gnawed my thumb to bleeding. “But then what about Brandon?”
Nick sucked in his lower lip as he thought. “Damn it, I have no clue. I really thought it was all him when we were back there, but how would he know so much about you and Lana?”
I didn’t have an answer.
We rounded a curve and the barn came into view as the woods fell away. It looked just how I remembered it. Maybe the red paint had faded some more, the bushes around it growing a little wilder, but other than that it might have been a year and a half ago.
“Cool place,” Nick said. We climbed out of the car. I glanced back down the road, wondering if we were being followed. Nick knew what I was thinking. “I was watching as we left Brandon’s. I don’t think anyone followed us.”
I hugged myself. “Let’s just get this figured out. I don’t want to spend any more time out here than we have to.”
We headed into the barn, dread at what we might find pooling in my chest. I paused inside the door, giving my eyes time to adjust to the cool darkness. Nick looked around in awe.
“It looks like it’s actually in pretty good shape.”
I let out a sigh of relief not to see Hannah splayed dead before us. “Yeah. I guess people still own it, but they don’t even live around here so it’s been on its own a while.” It was like I was talking about a living thing. I shivered. “Anyway, we were up in the loft when we kissed.”
I headed for the ladder, climbing it as confidently as Lana had that first day. When I reached the top, I paused a moment before sticking my head through into the loft. It was empty. I felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Hannah wasn’t in the barn. I still didn’t know where she was, but in that moment that was fine.
I climbed into the loft and turned to look down at Nick. He stood at the bottom of the ladder and stared up at me from under the brim of his hat. “Come on.” I waved him up.
He pursed his lips, but gripped the ladder and began to climb. I turned from the ladder, walking across to the window. Halfway there, I could see a rock resting on the sill. Closer, I could see it was holding down a piece of paper. The relief I’d felt drained away. Dreading what I would find, I lifted the rock and slipped the paper out from under it. Tight handwriting filled the page. I scanned it, not really reading.
“What is it?” Nick asked, coming up behind me as I glanced over the paper.
I swallowed, my mouth dry. “I think it’s the next entry from Lana’s journal.”
“No way.”
I looked up to see Nick shaking his head. “What?”
“No friggin’ way. If that’s from her journal, then this isn’t someone playing a prank. Whoever had the journal had to have been with her in the end.” Nick wiped his mouth, shaking his head even more vigorously.
Realizing what he meant, I fought the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. The only thing that kept me from panic was Nick. If I had been alone, I would have completely lost it.
“Come on.” I folded the paper and slipped it in my pocket. “Let’s get out of here.”
We scrambled down the ladder and went out to his truck. Both of us looked around the whole time. I didn’t begin to relax until Nick was driving down the dirt road. Only then did I pull out the paper and smooth it on my leg.
Nick glanced my way. “So what does it say?”
I began to read aloud.
May 28
I am free. I left my parent’s house around seven with a bag of clothes and a few other things I couldn’t imagine living without. I wanted to leave earlier, but I had to wait until they left for their bible study group. It’s the first time I’ve been glad that they go to that stupid thing. They’ve been keeping a close eye on me.
My plan had been to walk to Indigo Falls, but luckily Brandon spotted me and gave me a ride. It will be bad for him when I come up missing, because I’m sure someone at the diner saw me getting into the car. I don’t feel too sorry for him though, since the perv had his hands all over me, touching my thighs and trying to talk me into hooking up with him.
Before I left the house, I dyed my hair black and cut it to my chin. It’s not much of a disguise, but it will work.
I’ve checked into the Sleep Tight Inn. It’s a crappy little place, but it was cheap and they took cash. The guy didn’t ask for an ID and didn’t blink when I said my name was Hester Prynne. I doubt he got the reference.
So now I’m sitting in a room barely big enough for a bed and a desk and deciding what to do next. There’s this one guy online who said he would help me get away from my parents. He’ll come meet me if I ask him. I’ve also considered getting Brandon to help. He’s sitting in the motel room as I write this. Whatever happens, I’m getting away.
I set the paper down and looked at Nick. So much was swimming through my mind. Brandon had been in the room with her? Why? And he hadn’t mentioned trying to hook up with her. Or that she’d tried to disguise herself. What about the guy online? Had she ever met him?
“I don’t even know where to start.” I rubbed my eyes.
Nick bit his lip before nodding slowly as he pulled off to the side of the road. We were almost on a paved road again. I could see the golden arches of the McDonald’s through the trees. It was surreal to know we were so close to real life again.
“So Brandon was hitting on her. Funny he didn’t mention that.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.” I turned to face Nick. “And who is this internet guy?”
“No idea. But would she really meet some guy from online?” Nick didn’t look like he believed it. “I mean, come on.”
I sighed. “She was desperate. Her parents were going to send her away and God only knows what would have happened at that camp. He probably preys on kids like that.”
“But then how did you get involved in all this? Why send you notes?”
“I don’t know.” I stared past Nick, trying to come up with an answer. “And then why would that same person take Hannah?” I shook my head. “I’m starting to think this has more to do with me than either of them.”
Nick snorted and nodded before pulling back into the road and turning to pass the McDonald’s. I was so lost in my thoughts I almost didn’t see Rachel and Garrett sitting on the hood of her old Impala.
“Nick, do you see that?” I asked.
“Yep.”
We both stared as we rolled slowly by. Garrett noticed us and flipped us off with both hands. Beside him, Rachel broke into laughter.
“What the hell are they doing there?” I craned my neck to keep them in sight as we climbed the bridge over the canal.
“I don’t know, but it looks pretty suspicious.” Nick glanced at me quickly. “What if they took Lana?”
I frowned. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Nick gave a sharp laugh. “Garrett is crazy and was in love with her. Maybe Rachel is crazier than we know.”
“Maybe.” I nodded, still unsure. The sun was setting over the lake as we drove back into town. I bit my lip and faced forward, thinking about all the homework I had to do and how inconsequential it seemed. “Do you think we should take this
to the cops? And by that I mean Jake? Give him the journal entry and then mention seeing Rachel and Garrett?”
Nick considered it a moment and then shook his head. “No. We still don’t know what happened to Lana and this in no way ties it to Hannah. I think we’ve got to wait it out a bit.”
I nodded. He was right. Still, I was antsy. Even if we got every page of the diary, how would that lead us to Hannah? How much time would we waste trying to figure out exactly what had happened to Lana?
“Do you think Hannah might have been using a chat room to talk about your relationship?” Nick pulled back into the school parking lot. My car was one of a half-dozen left.
“Maybe.” I shrugged as he pulled into the spot next to mine. “I mean, her parents weren’t near as crazy as Lana’s, but I wouldn’t say they were psyched about the whole thing.” I unbuckled my seat belt and turned to face Nick in the idling car. “But I swear things were getting better between them.”
Nick looked at me, his eyes serious. “That doesn’t mean much. Even if things were getting better, Hannah might still have needed someone to talk to. I know Rachel, Garrett, and Brandon all look pretty guilty, but that could all be coincidence. I think we need to take this internet guy seriously.”
With a shock, I realized I was actually hoping it was one of our three suspects. Somehow that was less creepy than a stranger. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I opened the door. “Thanks for coming with me today. I don’t know what I would have done out at the barn alone.”
“I don’t think you should respond to any of the notes alone. You have no idea who this freak is, so they could be anywhere.”
The thought sent a shiver through me. “I’ll let you know if I find another one.”
“Good. Get in your car and I’ll follow you to your place.”
“Thanks.” I meant it. Being alone in the growing darkness didn’t feel right. For the first time in a while, I really hoped my parents would be home when I got there.
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