Page 129 of A River of Crows

“I can’t believe that sonofabitch is abusing his son. I knew there was something off about Jay Hadfield. We will help Caroline in any way we can.”

“You’re right, Libby. Caroline is insane. We can’t give Ridge back. She lied to us, and that means the entire deal is off the table.”

“If Caroline won’t let Sloan visit, we’ll just have to come up with another plan to get her.”

“If seeing Caroline and Sloan will bring Ridge peace and closure, he needs to do it.”

“If you’re going to do this, Libby, you’ve got to have a solid plan. You can’t make any mistakes.”

And she hadn’t made any. At least she didn’t think so. She’d waited in the rented car at the creek, just as Vince had done all those years ago when this all started. Now she’d finished it. Full circle.

Libby was glad to find Caroline already at the creek when she arrived. She had hoped Ridge wasn’t exaggerating when he said Caroline spent all her time there. She waited till the time was right, till the area was empty, till Caroline was distracted, balancing on the river’s edge, barefoot, arms out like a trapeze artist.

Libby had rehearsed what she’d say the entire drive, but she didn’t have time to say anything. One push and Caroline was submerged. All Libby had to do was hold her down. She had the advantage. She’d taken Caroline by surprise, and Caroline had to fight Libby and the river too.

Had they found the body yet? Libby hoped it would take a while, but the creek was running slow. It didn’t matter how slow it was; it would surely wash any potential evidence off Caroline’s body.

Libby experienced many feelings as she drove home. She was relieved she’d done it and that it had been so easy. She was proud that she’d kept Ridge safe—that she’d removed yet another obstacle to his happiness. She was scared someone had seen her. She even felt a little guilty. Libby knew she’d probably see Caroline’s haunted eyes staring up at her through that murky water every night for the rest of her life.

She adjusted her blonde wig, bought her coffee, then deposited her change into the payphone outside the convenience store.

“Hello,” Vince answered. His voice was too chipper for this hour. He hadn’t taken his sleeping pill. Sweet of him to be so worried.

“Everything’s done, and it went fine,” she said. “I’m about to leave Fort Worth. Hope I didn’t worry you, but payphones are much sparser than they used to be.”

“Ridge called about half an hour ago. He sounded upset. I think they found her.”

“Did he ask to talk to me?” Libby asked.

“He did. I pretended to be asleep when I saw it was his number on the caller ID. Said you weren’t feeling well and had turned in. Offered to get up and wake you, but he said not to.”

Libby laughed. “Well, that was quite the risk. What if he had asked you to wake me?”

“I knew he wouldn’t. Ridge knows I’m out of it after I take my medicine, knows it makes me unsteady on my feet. And he wouldn’t dare wake you up when you were sick. He’s a good boy. He’s always been a good boy.”

“Yes.” Libby smiled. “He sure has. We got lucky, didn’t we?”

“We did,” Vince said. “Now, get back on the road. Do what you can to ensure our luck doesn’t run out.”

Libby told Vince goodbye and started her car. She’d been careful. Everything would be fine. Their luck would not run out, but if it did, well, that was okay. Because Ridge would be safe. He had Jay and Sloan. He would be okay. And if he was okay, Libby would be okay too. Always, forever, and no matter what.

Chapter 36

Mallowater, TX, 2008

Sloan, Ridge, and Jay sat around the kitchen table. It was 1:00 a.m.; Dylan had gone home an hour ago, and they were on their third pot of coffee.

They’d all sat at what had once been their seat at that round, scuffed table. Old habits. Every so often, Sloan would glance at her mother’s empty seat, and it would hit her again that she was gone.

“Remember when Mom left the price tags on the gifts from Santa?” Ridge asked.

“Yes!” Sloan laughed. “She said sometimes the elves got behind on making toys and bought them at Walmart. That was the year I stopped believing.”

“Not me,” said Ridge. “I held on embarrassingly long.”

“Speaking of Santa gifts.” Jay glanced at the Christmas tree. “Ridge, remember that Masters of the Universe play set?”

“Heck yeah, I do. That thing was huge.”

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