Page 63 of Left in the Dark

“Considering what Tim and your brother did at that bonfire, I don’t doubt they went after him.” She stares at me. “Do you think they ganged up on Zayne, and his dad tried to defend him?”

“That’s exactly what I think.” I grab my laptop and pull up a browser. “Look at these articles in the Green Haven newspaper.”

“Are they unbiased?” She hangs over my shoulder. There are several articles, so I start with the oldest and work to the newest.

I snort. “Do you think they’d paint the DA and his son in a negative light?”

“You’re right.” She reads over them, disgust on her face. “That is so fishy. Why do those idiots never question anything?”

“My father has the town brainwashed.” I roll my eyes. “Most of them are narrow-minded people who easily get worked up. My father preys on it.”

“What’s your brother doing now?”

“Following in Dad’s footsteps. Still living in Green Haven. He’s the DA. Dad was elected for two terms as mayor and is in his last term. Mom said he’s running for state governor.”

“Oh shit. He’s on the November ballot?”

“Yup. Two months away.” I sigh. “And my brother is running for mayor of Green Haven. Mom said Aidan and Tim also work for the mayor’s office.”

“Shit, Delaney. They’ve taken over that town.”

I shudder. “Glad we don’t live there anymore.”

“Absolutely.”

Although I don’t voice the thought out loud, I’m glad that Zayne and his family left. Mom said she heard he went to a college in California and took his mom and brother with him.

Looks like he left the past behind.

CHAPTER 41

Delaney

There’s a strange buzzing sound pulling me from sleep. I open my eyes, blinking rapidly, disoriented as the bright sunlight pours through my bedroom windows.

Realizing the noise is my cell phone ringing, I grab it. My heart thumps at “Unknown” on my screen.

“Hello,” my voice rushes through the line, hoping to catch her before she hangs up. “Mom?—”

“Is this Delaney Warner?” A male voice on the other end of the line asks.

“Yes. Who is this?”

“This is Officer Grayson. I’m calling to inform you there’s been an accident. Your phone number is on Lindsay Warner’s phone?—"

“Is she okay?”

He pauses before this grave and sympathetic tone comes through the line again. “No, she’s not. She was in a car accident. From what we know thus far, it was a hit-and-run. Her car slammed into a telephone pole.”

No, no, no.

Tears course down my cheeks. “Where is she?”

“We originally took her to the hospital in Portland, Maine. When we notified her husband?—”

“Oh, shit. No.”

The officer’s voice is stunned. “I’m sorry.”

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