Page 67 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“Do you think she saw you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did she call out to you, or run to catch up?”

Tyler shook his head. “No. She was just walking slow like she always did.”

“Did you see a car?” JP asked.

“There were tons of cars, lots of parents picking up their kids.”

“But you didn’t see her walk toward a car?”

“I only saw her come out of the school and then I lost sight of her. We were already down the street.”

“After you left,” JP said, “did you ever think about going back?”

Tyler’s jaw tightened. “Yeah. But I was a stupid kid who didn’t want the responsibility. Looking back, I feel bad. I blame myself. She was just a kid.”

JP tapped him on the shoulder. “So were you.”

Chapter 24

Thursday evening

The house was quieter than usual, not empty, but settled. The dinner dishes were done, the low hum of a movie drifted from the other room, and for once no one needed anything from her.

Sabre sat at the kitchen table, a blank legal pad in front of her.

JP sat across from her, his legs stretched out and his boots heels down. “You’re still running the case, aren’t you?”

“I’m trying not to.”

“That never works.”

A small breath left her. “I know.”

JP shifted forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I talked to Tyler Burch today. He was one of the kids who was supposed to walk Hannah home.”

Sabre looked up. “And?”

“He changed the story,” JP said.

Her brow tightened. “How?”

“He said they left because Hannah was late and he didn’t want to wait.”

Sabre sat back. “He admitted that?”

“Yeah. He encouraged the girls to leave as well. He said Hannah would catch up.”

“You mean like he was setting her up?”

“Nothing like that. He said she was always late coming out and he wanted to get home to play a video game or something.”

“Was he remorseful?”

“Very. He said he thought he saw her come out of the school but then didn’t see her again.” JP glanced at his notes. “Tyler also said there was a man who lived in a corner house that would come out, sit on his porch, and watch kids walk by.”