The anchor continued.
“A popular true crime podcast has renewed interest in the eight-year-old disappearance of Sylva resident Caroline Simms. The case remains unsolved.”
Willow frowned.
If it was on the morning news here, Caroline’s face would be playing in break rooms and waiting areas in three counties by lunch.
Marylou shook her head.
“Lord have mercy.”
Scout glanced toward the window where the courthouse steps sat quiet in the morning light.
“They’re going to come back,” he said.
“Who?” Willow asked.
Scout nodded toward the phone in his hand.
“The podcast people.”
Luke finished his coffee and set the mug down with a soft clink.
“Yeah, they always do.”
Outside, the square looked peaceful.
But in towns like Sylva, peace never lasted long once the internet got involved.
19
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
The bullpen was quieter than usual for a Tuesday morning.
The old HVAC hummed overhead. The heavy manila folder hit the conference table with a thud, sending a puff of dust into the stale bullpen air.
“Switchboard’s lit up like a Christmas tree,” Burke said, dropping his phone beside it. “Apparently, thousands of internet detectives think we ignored a missing woman because a podcaster in Charleston told them we did.”
Scout glanced at a new notification, his mouth twisting.
“They’re even tagging the department in grainy photos of Calloway’s Jag at The Overlook last night,” he said. “Now they’re claiming he met with Mercer’s lawyer to coordinate the cover-up.”
Luke Hale let out a dry, mirthless chuckle. “Well. That ought to go over great.”
A bulletin board near the copier still showed the pale outlines where Mountain Mystery Week flyers had hung all week.
Scout Wilson looked down at the faded photograph paper-clipped to the front of the file.
Caroline Simms. Dark hair. Bright smile. A toddler balanced on her hip.
He hadn’t seen that face in years.
“I was there,” he said quietly. “Not on the scene. Search crews.”
Burke looked up.
“Dad had half the department out there. We walked those woods until our boots came apart.”
