“You’re kidding?” Lila hadn’t been expecting to hear this.
“It’s a possibility. We’re looking into Jason’s old family home that was down from Abby’s place,” Ryan told her.
Lila’s shocked eyes held onto him. “I can’t believe he would be involved. Jason’s always been so straight-laced. He’s always known what his future would be even as a kid. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.”
Charlie wasn’t as convinced. “Does Abby ever come up in conversations?” She remembered the night she and Abby snuck out of their homes. Jason was having a party at his home. Back then, she and Abby weren’t on the cool-kid list. They weren’t invited and had decided to create their own fun.
Lila considered the question for a moment. “Not that I can think of. . .”
Charlie sat up straighter. “There is something, isn’t there?”
Lila hesitated. “Yes, but I’m not sure how important it is.”
“Let us decide. Whatever it is, it might help solve what happened to Abby.”
Seconds ticked by before Lila answered. “He said later after Abby went missing that he’d seen her the day she disappeared. He specifically said day—not night.”
“When did he tell you this?” Charlie asked. Beside her she could feel Ryan’s tension growing.
“Maybe a few years earlier.” Lila noticed both their shock. “He looks me up whenever he’s in town. Things haven’t turned romantic until recently.”
Charlie tabled the last part for now. “What else did he tell you?”
Lila held up her hands. “Nothing. The only reason that stood out as odd was because I remember we all used to talk about itafter it happened. No one admitted to seeing Abby the day she disappeared other than you, Charlie.”
That much was certainly true. “Is there anything else? No matter how insignificant it might seem,” Ryan asked.
Lila thought about it for a long moment before shaking her head. “There’s nothing. I’m sorry, I wish there were.”
A surge of patrons came into the café. Lila looked up and cringed. “I’d better get back to work.” She didn’t move though. “I’m thinking Jason might not be the man I thought he was after all.”
Ryan and Charlie slid from the booth. Charlie gave her friend a hug. “If he’s involved in Abby’s disappearance, he’s responsible for Pete’s death, too.”
Lila’s expression froze. “Wait—Pete was murdered?”
Charlie realized she’d probably said too much. “We believe so. It’s best if you stay away from Jason until we know for certain his involvement.”
Lila shuddered. “Don’t worry. I don’t want to be the next person to wind up dead.” With a nod to Ryan, she hurried away.
Charlie followed Ryan out into the morning. As they headed back to the vehicle, more visitors pulled into the parking lot.
Ryan opened her door and waited until she got inside before returning to the driver’s side.
“This place is getting too crowded,” he said as they struggled to find an opening in traffic to get out onto the road.
Once they were heading out of town, Charlie asked him about his opinion of Jason’s involvement.
Ryan’s jaw flexed. “He was always a hard one to get to know as I recall. I spoke to him that one time, and honestly, that’s the only conversation of any length we ever had.” His attention shifted her way. “Lila’s right. Jason was always driven. He knew he’d follow in his father’s footsteps one day and he wasn’t about to let anything get in the way.”
“Not even Abby,” Charlie said softly. “I can’t believe I forgot about this.”
Ryan turned onto the sheriff’s property and parked. “What?”
“About a month before she went missing, she mentioned something odd. She said that after the holidays she had news she wanted to tell me. At that point, nothing appeared to be bothering her, so I didn’t think much of it.”
Ryan nodded, absently waiting.
“Anyway, she said they thought it was best to wait until the new year to say anything.”
