Page 115 of Weight of Guilt

Nash’s expression hardened. “That’s how it seems.”

Somehow, that affirmation didn’t make her feel any better.

Wren stood beside her car long after Luke went back inside Junction Market.

Across the lot, a deputy paced to his cruiser. Prine was on her phone near the gas pumps. Another officer carried a laptop from the store to one of the SUVs.

Everyone was doing something.

Everyone except her.

Wren folded her arms and stared through the store windows.

The clerk had gone back behind the counter. Luke stood beside him, looking at something on the monitor again.

Nash stayed a few feet away from her. “You can sit in the truck if you want. It’s warmer.”

“I don’t want to sit.”

“I figured you’d say that.”

Wren rubbed her hands over her arms, hating the helpless feeling bubbling inside her.

Prine crossed the lot toward them, phone still in her hand. “They’re pulling exterior footage from the store next door. There’s a chance they caught the vehicle coming in.”

Wren looked up fast. “A chance?”

“That’s all I can give you right now.”

“Do we know what direction he went?” Wren asked.

“Not yet.” Prine glanced toward the store. “Luke’s checking timestamps against the traffic cameras.”

Wren nodded.

Another maybe and not yet. Maybes and not-yets weren’t helping her right now.

As Prine walked away, Nash turned toward Wren. “You okay?”

“No.” She shoved one hand into her coat pocket. “But I’m starting to think we’re looking at this backward.”

His expression changed slightly. “How?”

Wren pulled her keys from her pocket. “Somebody took Christian ten years ago. Roy turns up dead right after Christian comes back. Now Mason is gone. I don’t believe those things are separate.”

He held her gaze. “Neither do I.”

“We need to look at the whole picture.” She nodded toward her car. “I’m going back to Paige’s. I want to ask her a few more questions.”

Nash frowned. “Roy’s niece? But Roy has been cleared.”

“I know. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t know anything. Paige knew him better than anybody.” Wren started toward the driver’s side. “Maybe there’s something she remembers. Somewhere he went. Somebody he talked about. Something he was scared of.”

“Wren—”

“I need a lead right now. I need something. And talking to Paige again is my safest option. I can’t stand around here waiting for another camera to turn up nothing.”

Nash reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. “Okay, but I’m driving.”