Page 38 of Where the Darkness Goes

“It’s going to be okay.” I want to say it’s impossible that she could ever do this, but we both understand that I don’t know Britney anymore. Even if I once knew her better than anyone in the world.

Eventually, Kristy pulls back, sniffling as she says, “I don’t know if it is. I don’t even know if I’m allowed to tell you this, but Brendan was here earlier because he had a search warrant forthe house. They were looking for any signs that either Britney or Justin had been having an affair.”

“And did they find anything?” I ask when she pauses.

“Well… They…” She drops her head into her hands, sobbing.

“Shhh…” I soothe. “What is it?”

She aggressively rubs her eyes, like she’s frustrated with herself. “Do you remember Cassidy Cole’s death?”

The question catches me so off guard it takes several seconds to process it. “Of course.” She was the third girl. Both she and her mom were killed on the same day, just like Amber Allen. Unlike Amber, Cassidy and Mrs. Cole were the first and only ones who were killed in different locations. Amber and Emily were both with their moms when they died.

“I don’t know if you’ll remember, but there was a necklace and bracelet that both went missing the night they died. Some big thing. I remember my parents talking about it.”

“Right.” I remember the robberies with startling clarity, but I can’t admit it to Kristy.

She sniffs and meets my eyes. “The police looked everywhere for the necklace because her dad swore it was a robbery gone wrong. But Cassidy wasn’t at home when she died, so it never made sense. And they never found the necklace.”

I remember some people thought she’d taken it with her the night she died. Along with… “They found the matching bracelet, right? It went missing too.”

“Yeah.” Her blue eyes search mine, and her mouth drops open, but at first she seems unable to speak. Finally, she utters, “Britney didn’t do it, Tessa. I swear to you she didn’t?—”

“What are you talking about?” I put my hands on her shoulders, trying to understand.

She massages the space along her jawline and under her ear slowly. “They, well, the police, they found the necklace here. When they were searching the house just now, Cassidy’snecklace was in with Britney’s things. And they were asking me questions. I think…I just, I got the impression they believe she had something to do with the murders.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

GARRETT — PRESENT DAY

When I get home from work, I half expect Tessa to have packed her bags and disappeared, leaving me behind again.

Instead, I find her pacing in the living room, phone to her ear. “Well, can you please check the security footage? It’s very important— No, I understand that, but what I’m saying is— I’m not accusing you of anything, sir. I just need to know who was visiting her.” She pauses, catching sight of me. “It’s for her safety. I mean, my brother is her medical POA because he’s the oldest child, but he’s not here right now. I don’t even need to know anything about her medical care, though. I just need to know who visited her yesterday. One of your nurses said it was a woman, but she couldn’t remember anything else about her. I don’t understand why it’s so complicated.” She sighs loudly, not hiding her frustration. “No, I guess that was it. I just hope you realize we have other options for her care, and I’m happy to take her somewhere else if I feel like she’s not safe there.” With that, she pulls the phone away from her ear and ends the call, releasing an exasperated groan.

“Everything okay?”

“If by everything, you mean nothing, sure.” She flops down on the couch. “How quickly can you be ready to go?”

“I just need to change.” I gesture toward my slacks and polo.

“Okay, cool.” She’s not really listening, I know. She’s in her own world, thoughts swirling.

In my room, I change into jeans and a sweatshirt before we head to the nursing home. Once there, Tessa leads the way straight to Frannie’s room. This time, there are no nurses around to usher us inside, so Tessa knocks gently before opening the door.

“Momma?” She eases her head inside the room. “Momma, it’s me. It’s Tessa.” Pushing the door open the rest of the way, she enters and crosses through the kitchen. Frannie is lying in bed, and at first, I think she’s asleep, but once I’m closer I can see that her eyes are open. Tessa sits down on the edge of her bed and rubs her mother’s leg.

“I told you we’d be back soon.” She kicks her feet, swinging them slowly. “We went to Britney’s funeral yesterday. I wish you could’ve been there. Will should be back soon, and I’ll try my best to get him to visit you.” Sliding her hand up, she takes her mom’s hand. “I wish you could tell me who’s been visiting you, Mom. I wish there was a way you could talk to me and tell me who it was. Someone left that note for you. Were they…were they threatening you? Or warning you, maybe?”

I walk up behind Tessa. The last thing I want to do is overstep or intrude, but I want her to know I’m here should she need me.I would do anything for this girl.

I resist the urge to reach out and touch her dark hair, to connect with her in some way. It might be what I need—to discuss last night, to find out where her head is and if everything is as fuzzy and confusing now for her as it is for me—but this isn’t about me. Or us.

If I ever want to have that conversation, I can’t be selfish with her now.

“I’m going to find out, okay? I’m going to get to the bottom of whatever’s going on.” She trails off with a breath. “I’m not going to let anyone bother you, okay? I promise. I’m here for as long as I need to be to understand what’s happening. This place, the staff here, aren’t particularly helpful, but I’ll find out. I, um, actually, there’s something else I wish I could talk to you about. Your doctors say you can still hear me when I talk to you, so I need your help. The police are investigating Britney’s death, but they found something that connects her to one of the deaths back then, which I guess makes her a suspect for all of them. She didn’t do it.” Her voice cracks. “I know she didn’t, but I don’t know how to prove it. They found a necklace that makes her look guilty, and?—”

I don’t hear the rest of what she’s saying because my brain has short-circuited. I take another step toward her. “What did you just say?”

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