Page 114 of Weight of Guilt

The deputy moved in front of her, blocking her way. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go inside.”

“I need to know what she saw!”

Before they could argue any more, the store door opened, and Nash stepped out.

Wren searched his face as he crossed toward her. “What is it?”

“I thought I saw you out the window.” Nash stopped in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

“I have to know what’s going on!”

“You shouldn’t have come, Wren.”

“Please, Nash.” Her voice cracked. “I have to find my boy. Is there something on that footage?”

He sighed before taking her elbow and leading her away from the building. “They got a better look at the man.”

Her heart kicked harder. “His face?”

He shook his head. “No. But he was wearing the same cap as the man at the school. He kept his head down.”

Disappointment surged through her. “Then this doesn’t really tell us anything, does it?”

Nash glanced back toward the store. “Prine’s sending the footage to Knoxville to see if they can clarify any of the images.”

Wren swallowed. “What about this guy’s car?”

“They’re checking the exterior cameras now.”

The door opened again, and Luke stepped out carrying a sheet of paper. His eyes narrowed when he saw Wren.

“We told you to stay at the school,” he muttered.

“I know. But I couldn’t. And you’d do the same in my shoes.”

Luke didn’t argue. But the scowl remained on his face.

“Is that a copy of the receipt?” Wren asked, urgency pulsing through her blood. “What did he buy?”

He exhaled and looked down at the paper. “Bread. Milk. Peanut butter. And two bags of pickle-flavored sunflower seeds.”

For a second, Wren couldn’t breathe.

Mason wouldn’t eat any other kind. She’d tried. Ranch. Barbecue. Regular.

It was pickle or nothing. And they were his absolute favorite.

Her knees weakened, and Nash’s hand closed around her elbow.

“This man knows Mason. He bought those pickle-flavored sunflower seeds before he ever took my son.” Wren pressed a hand to her mouth.

“How many people know that Mason likes these sunflower seeds?” Luke asked.

“I don’t know. Plenty. He talks about them all the time. He takes them to soccer. Deja knows. His teachers probably know. Cody knows.” Her voice caught. “Anybody who spends time around him would know.”

Luke nodded slowly.

Wren turned toward him. “This wasn’t somebody grabbing Mason and figuring out what to do afterward. This was someone who already knew what Mason would eat. This has been planned, hasn’t it?”