Page 38 of Tactical Revival

“That’s good, right? Did he find something?”

“There were a lot of things in there about the town. Things she observed working at the diner, and a few passages about how she wishes she lived in a big city. Then she wrote a lot about that detective that moved here?—”

“Jaxson?” I interject.

“Yes. It’s clear she had affections for him.”

I don’t respond, even though it was clear to anyone who had been around her whenever Jaxson was near that Lanetti had a crush on him.

“Then there were a few passages revolving around you.”

“Me?” I sit back, surprised. “What about me?”

“She assumed you and the detective had something going, and she was jealous. Her last entry said that she wanted to get away from the town, somewhere she would never have to see the two of you.” She chokes on her words.

“There’s nothing going on between me and Jaxson.” Not that it would matter if there was, but I don’t add that because I don’t see how it would be entirely helpful.

“He suggested that she might have run away. That it’s a possibility.”

Her response honestly catches me off guard. “Sheriff Vick thinks she ran away?”

She nods.

I recall the card found at her house. How would that make sense if she took off?

“He says it’s a possibility. But I can’t help but think they’re looking in the wrong place. What if they miss something?”

“The sheriff isn’t the only one looking for your daughter,” I remind her. “Knight Security is, too. And I know for a fact that Jaxson doesn’t think she ran away.”

She closes her eyes tightly. “Did she say anything to you? Did you say something to her to make her leave? Is it possible she did run away?”

“Patty, you know I’ve always liked Lanetti. I never would have done anything to hurt her.”

“Her writing is so angry. She was so mad when she wrote about you and Jaxson at the diner together. It was dated just last week. How did I not know she was so mad? I know she’s an adult now, but we live together. How did I miss it?”

“Sometimes people are good at hiding what they don’t want others to see. She probably didn’t want you to know she was so upset.”

“I miss my girl.”

“I know you do.” I wrap my arm around her again. “I am so sorry, Patty. I wish I could help.”

“I just don’t want to be alone, and I’m so alone. With Sean gone—” She sniffles, and I think back to her late husband who’d passed when Lanetti was in high school.

I recall Lanetti being broken up about it, but Patty had been a complete and total mess over his passing. She’d retreated into herself, becoming a shell of who she’d been.

“Now Lanetti’s missing, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to go on.”

“We lean on God in times like these, Patty, it’s all we can do.”

“How can He let me suffer so much?”

“I don’t know,” I answer her truthfully. “But I do know that when everything is burning around you, the best thing you can do is pray. And I hope you know that this entire town is praying right alongside you.”

With two fresh to-go cups of coffee in hand, I make my way up the front steps and into the lighthouse that serves as Knight Security’s main office.

After I managed to calm Patty down, I’d called Andie to see if she could come in and watch the front so I could go tell Jaxson everything Patty had told me. I could have called him, but it just felt weird telling him over the phone.

So, I’d grabbed us both cups of coffee and headed over since he’s on monitor duty today. According to Andie, he’s the only one in the office right now as everyone else is out on an install.

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