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"Bad for who?" Aunt Sarah prodded, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"Bad for a kid named Tommy. Ended up in the river, pockets full of stones."
"Sounds like Mr. Nelson has a taste for theatrics."
"Or a message," Rachel added, her thoughts spiraling inward.
"Find the connection," her aunt’s voice cut through her reverie. "Leverage."
Rachel's gaze flicked up, meeting the older woman's eyes. A silent agreement passed between them—Rachel would break this case wide open. The two of them hadn't been friendly in years. But now, a shared purpose combined their wills.
"Let him sit, let him stew," Rachel said. "Give him some time. He's not going to talk. Not at first..."
"He will."
Rachel nodded. "Eventually, yes." She met her aunt's gaze, peering through the dark. A halo of moonlight filtered through the door behind Sarah.
"Thanks," Rachel said softly. "I know... I know what you're risking."
Her aunt just nodded.
"Where are you going?"
"Got to show up at work. Things'll be strange if I don't. Besides... he needs some time to thaw."
Her aunt just grunted, and that was that. Rachel moved once more.
Rachel grabbed her jacket, the leather worn and soft under her touch. She stepped into the cool night, the Texas sky vast above her. The stars bore witness to her resolve, twinkling like distant eyes.
She shivered briefly, closing her eyes.
For a moment, she thought she could hear the sound of desperate shouting, coming muffled from the basement.
But no... the sound was washed away by a desolate breeze.
This windswept place didn't receive visitors.
Out here on the reservation, things went missing... and were sometimes never found again.
He would talk.
She scowled. Lies at first... denials next...
Then... then he'd tell the truth.
He just needed some time to stew.
She exhaled slowly and marched towards her car.
No one could know. Not Ethan. Not Thomas. No one at work.
She'd have to show up tomorrow morning, bright and early. She'd have to pretend nothing had changed.
But once this was all over... she would find out what had happened to her parents.
CHAPTER FOUR
Morning sunlight watched her passage from the parking lot towards the Ranger's HQ. Everything was normal, as it should be, and Rachel attempted to communicate this with every step, and every tip of her Stetson hat.
