Page 126 of This is Why We Lied

“It’s Ponticello,” Will said. “Amanda found a marriage certificate. Paul Ponticello is married to Gordon Wylie.”

Faith asked, “Why lie if you’re married?”

“That’s at the top of the list of questions,” Will said. “I’m not sure how to handle Christopher.”

“Because he was the last person to see Chuck and he had access to the water jug?” Faith snorted. “I mean, come on. He’s suspect numero uno.”

“What’s his motive?”

“Fuck if I know.” Faith let out a long, labored sigh. “We’re just going around in circles. Let’s stop talking and start doing things.”

“You’re right,” Will said. “Kevin, I’ll help you get Chuck to the freezer. I’m going to check the garbage pile while you process the scene down here. Faith, go ask for permission to use an empty cottage. If you can, rattle Christopher’s cage. See if he asks where Chuck is. Sara, there’s another satellite phone back at the UTV so you can call Nadine. Keep it on you in case I need you. Amanda told me she would call when the warrant is being sent, but check the fax machine anyway. Do you mind seeing if Drew and Keisha will talk?”

“I can try.” Sara was more worried about the sutures in Will’s hand. She’d brought antibiotics just in case. “I left the duffel with some medical supplies back at our cottage. I want to change out your dressing.”

“Might as well wait until I’m finished going through the trash.”

“Sounds good.” Sara wasn’t going to fight the infection battle, particularly in front of an audience. There was nothing for her to do but start back up the trail. The call to Nadine would be easy, but she wasn’t sure how to approach Drew and Keisha. They seemed like genuinely nice people. They had every right to refuse to answer questions. But Sara would be lying if she told herself that Drew’s assault charge didn’t raise a giant red flag. He had been to the lodge twice before, maybe even as recently as ten weeks ago.

“Sara?” Will had clearly been making these same calculations. “Faith is going to come with you. She needs the map of the property.”

Sara put on a smile just for him. “I can bring it back after I talk to Drew and Keisha.”

Will put on a smile, too. “Or you could take Faith with you while you talk to them.”

“For fucksakes.” Faith wrapped her purse around her shoulder like a feedbag and started up the trail.

Sara went ahead of her up the trail. Faith didn’t say much other than to complain about the mud, the trees, the undergrowth and nature in general. The path was narrow and the going was not easy because of the mud. Instead of worrying about Will’s hand, Sara focused her attention in areas where she could be more effective. Nadine might have some information about Chuck. Small towns were notoriously wary of strangers. Barring that, a man like Chuck would stick out. There had to be stories about him around town.

“Jesus.” Faith sounded more like she was praying as they finally reached the Loop Trail. “I have no idea why Will was so excited about this place. I’m covered in sweat, mud, and horse. Something bit me on my neck. My entire body feels sticky. Birds are everywhere.”

Sara knew that Faith hated birds. “I’ve got some clothes you can change into.”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my body type is more husky teenage boy than tall and willowy supermodel.”

Sara laughed. She was tall, but the other two adjectives were a stretch. “We’ll find something.”

Faith mumbled under her breath as they walked along the Loop. “Have you talked to Amanda?”

“Not about what she wants to talk about.”

“I dunno, she kind of has a point about Will sticking his nose into things. He’s on his honeymoon and he ends up running into a burning house, getting stabbed in the hand, and now he almost went over a waterfall.”

Sara had to swallow before she could speak. The waterfall detail was new to her. “I didn’t marry him to change him.”

“Your level of healthy interaction can be really annoying sometimes.”

Sara laughed again. “How’s Jeremy?”

“Oh, you know, ready to become an FBI agent and throw himself on a dirty bomb.”

Sara glanced down at her. Faith was generally easy to read, mostly because she volunteered whatever came into her head, but she was fiercely guarded about her children. “And?”

“And,” Faith said, “I don’t know what to do. Before this, the most shocking thing he ever said to me was that the United States keeps 1.4 billion pounds of cheese stored in a cave in Missouri.”

Sara smiled. She loved Jeremy’s random facts. “Have you tried talking to him?”

“I’m going to keep yelling a little longer to see if that works, then maybe I’ll try the silent treatment, then I’ll sulk for a while and use it as an excuse to eat too much ice cream.” Faith crossed her arms as she looked up at the sky. “It’s weird here, right?”

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