Page 112 of Nowhere Good

“Mom.”

“Why’s she down here?”

“I don’t know.” She gripped the bars tighter. “Are you gonna let me out, Daddy? If you’re not, can Dillon come back in? I’m sick. I need to feel better.” Whatever they’d been giving her had been her only moments of relief; they felt so good, like bites of sticky caramel while chewing on mouthfuls of dirt. But they never lasted long enough. And the taste of dirt was always too strong.

“Oh, there’ll be no more of that, sweetie. We’re gonna get you some proper nutrients and get you outside. You’d like that, right? Some fresh air? A nice view of the stars?”

The images brought a smile to her face and tears to her eyes. Could she really be free again? She’d be good this time. She’d never upset him again. “Yes. Yes, please.”

“Good.”

Claire’s heart leapt with hope when the keys jangled. Her dad pulled a keyring out, then unlocked the door to the cage. It creaked open. Claire remained inside, staring at him till he gave her a nod.

With his permission, she burst outside and wrapped her arms around his wide stomach. It was like hugging a tree. “Thank you, thank you.” She held him tighter, and he placed a hand on her back. Still gripping him, she looked up at his face. “I won’t act out again, I promise.”

“I know you won’t, sweetheart. I’ve got a real important job for you to do for me tonight.”

“Anything, Daddy. Anything.”

“Good. You stick to the script, and everything’ll turn out fine. You won’t have to come back to the cage, all right?”

“Okay. Yes. I promise I’ll be good.”

“I know you will.” He stroked her hair. “You and Detective Winslow are about to have a little lover’s quarrel.”

THIRTY-THREE

“Winslow, it’s been four days,” Lieutenant Delaney said.

Seth sat on the edge of the motel bed, leaning his elbows on his knees as he rubbed his temple with one hand and held his phone with the other. The disapproving tone in Delaney’s voice was something he never wanted to hear, but it was warranted after what he’d done. It was after midnight now, and he’d been ducking her calls all day.

He’d been ducking telling her the truth in general for four.

“Just take it out of my vacation. I needed this time off, Lieutenant.”

“One, it’s already coming out of your vacation, and two, no you did not ‘need’ this time off. I finally got the real story out of Chief Wells today. She clearly didn’t want to talk badly of you, but a Fairview resident complained about you harassing him. Said you’ve been stalking him at his residence. I thought she must be mistaken, because my detective has a blemish-free record with zero complaints made against him, ever. She insisted it was no error.”

Seth ground his teeth. “That would be Ron Dyer, ma’am. No, I did not ‘stalk’ him. Yes, I drove past his farm a few times because I’m rightfully worried for his daughter, and I think he knows something.”

“The daughter, right. The daughter whose own family insists she’s fine. You had a relationship with this girl, is that what I’m understanding?”

“It was more than that.”

“It always is.” Delaney sighed. “Look, I’m only getting wind of this, but here’s what I think. There were murders happening in town and the girl looked like the victims, so she found comfort in a cop. Once the killer was caught, she went back to her normal life. She used you, Winslow. It happens. Move on.”

“No, Lieutenant, it wasn’t like that. You don’t understand—”

“Seth. You are showing your age.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, letting the weight of his embarrassment and shame crush him. “I know. I know.”

“Your obsession with this girl ends now. You will drive back to Kansas City tomorrow morning. Go home, get yourself together, and be in the office by noon.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Delaney took a breath. “You did good work in that town. That’s the only reason I’m willing to overlook this lapse in judgement, but if you can’t pull yourself together, I’ll have no choice but to reevaluate your place here.”

“I understand, Lieutenant.”