He looked her way and then back at the picture. Ryan had to blow it up to see what she meant. Lying against the moundwas a simple headband. He remembered it after all these years because it was Abby’s favorite. Pink and furry. She wore it all the time.
“He’s taunting you. We don’t know that it's Abby's gravesite.”
She whipped his way, raw pain flashing in her eyes. “Don’t we? It’s been fifteen years, Ryan. There’s been no sign of her in all that time. He killed her. For whatever reason, he killed her.”
As much as he wanted to argue that their friend might still be alive, he couldn’t because what she said was true. It was as if Abby had simply vanished that night long ago. Walked into the pages of history never to be seen again.
As he studied the photo with a numbness spreading through his limbs, he noticed something out of place that he prayed Charlie hadn’t seen.
A silver and turquoise horse bridle he was certain belonged to Charlie’s dad had been tossed close to the pile of dirt. Was the killer tying Abby’s possible death to Charlie’s father like Ryan believed was the case?
He still recalled the former sheriff telling him to ignore that footprint in the snow outside the barn. He was a rookie officer and needed to listen to what he was told. Would things have turned out differently if he hadn’t?
“He has your phone number. Is it possible this could be someone you know?”
Charlie rejected the suggestion. “There’s no way. I trust the people who have my number.”
Ryan understood her loyalty, but still everything was off the table when it came to keeping Charlie alive.
“Humor me,” he told her and waited for her response.
“Other than you, there’s you,” she stressed as if indicating how insane the suggestion was. “My uncle. Eddie. Lila. And Silas.”
He frowned. “Silas? That’s the man who helps around Pete’s place.”
She nodded. “He’s worked for Pete for years.” Charlie frowned as she continued to watch him. “No, Silas is as good as they get.”
The isolation of the countryside made him realize they were sitting targets. “Let’s go inside and we can talk about it further.”
He opened the door and slipped out then rounded the back while scanning the surrounding trees for danger. Charlie got out. Ryan immediately rushed her inside the house. Once they were settled he’d go back for their bags.
While Charlie stood in the middle of the living room taking in the cabin, Ryan made a fire in the fireplace to take the chill away.
“Why don’t we sit and talk?” he said when she still hadn’t moved.
Without speaking, she claimed a spot on the sofa closest to the fire.
Ryan claimed the nearby rocker. “I know you don’t want to believe anyone close to you or your uncle would do this, but someone is sending you a message and I think we both can agree this is related to Abby and your uncle’s continued investigation of Abby’s disappearance.” He waited for her to speak.
Charlie watched the fire for a long moment before sighing. “You’re right. We can’t rule anyone out, but the people who knew about Pete’s investigation are few. Eddie because Pete told me they discussed the case numerous times. He and Lila weren’t that close. I don’t think she had any idea until now Pete was investigating. And of course, you and Boone.”
“And Silas?” he prompted when she seemed to avoid the name. “Did Pete ever mention talking to Silas about it?”
Charlie seemed surprised. “Not that I know of. Pete was tight-lipped when it came to what he was doing. He only trusted a few people. I don’t think Silas was one of them.”
Ryan concurred. Pete knew the importance of keeping his investigation secret. But someone had figured it out and had gone to great lengths to determine what was in those journals, and there was a good chance those lengths had included murder.
Chapter Nine
“Ineed your phone.” Ryan's statement drew her attention back to him.
“Why?” she asked, reluctant to let it go.
“Whoever keeps reaching out to you might have the means to track our location through it.”
She hadn’t thought about that before. It turned her stomach to think someone she trusted might have killed Abby and Pete.
Charlie gave him the phone and then watched as he removed the battery.
