Colleen.
Liz.
Jessie.
Tamara.
Penny.
I log onto Instagram and start following trails.
Who do they date? What are their plans for after high school? Do they have a job, full- or part-time? Are they involved in extracurricular school activities? What time did they leave the party on Saturday night? Did they leave alone or with someone?
There were multiple boys playing football onSaturday afternoon too. I know one is Austin Kolldike, Julie’s ex, and one of the young men to find Coach Gilbert.
I scribble a note.
Austin Kolldike.
Who knew where Craig was found?
Was the exact location kept secret?
I place a few stars by Austin’s name. He knew the location, and according to Becky, so did his teammate Paxton Buyer. Was Paxton at the party?
It doesn’t feel right, an association between Austin and what was done to Julie and Marty. Liv basically said that Austin and Julie were sexually active for a time. Why then would he assault her with garden tools?
Unless he was upset about the breakup?
More questions come to mind. I continue to write one after another.
A knock on the back door pulls me from where I’ve been centered in my thoughts. Looking around, I realize that the sun has set. The lights above the breakfast bar provide a bubble of illumination as shadows lurk in the corners of the cottage and darkness beyond the windows. Above the stove, the clock reads after nine at night.
The knock comes again.
My pulse speeds as I stare toward the back door. With the curtain closed and the light off by the door, I can only make out the silhouette of a person. Standing, I search the counter for something, anything, for protection. The first thing I see is the wine opener. It’s the solid kind with a small knife and more importantly, a longcurly corkscrew. Making a fist, I position the corkscrew between my fingers and slowly walk toward the back door.
With a deep breath, I pull back the curtain and flip the switch near the door, bringing light to the back stoop.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
“Welcome back toCrime Daily Podcast. It’s Monday evening, and I’m Ali.”
“I’m Kenzi.”
“Those girls in Michigan,” Ali says. “We have bad news and good news.”
“Eww, I don’t like bad news.”
“Both girls were found.”
“That’s good news,” Kenzi says.
“One is in the hospital. Because she’s a minor, they’re not releasing information. But I learned the two names from their missing persons’ reports. I found out something interesting.”
“What’s that?”
