Page 52 of The Lake of Lost Girls

“Spoken like a true journalist.”

Ryan shrugged unapologetically. “But it’ll work. Don’t you see that? Ineedto see what he has. It could be a game changer. The answersandthe mistakes that were made back then could be in those files. With the case being reopened, I think it’s important to get ahead of everything so we can be ready.” He reached for me again, his palm cupping my cheek. “And I know what this means to you. I want to help you get the closure you deserve. Maybe then we can move on from this.”

I wanted to believe that in his eyes, I saw genuine affection. And yet, I had seen the photos. Ryan McKay was Jess’s boyfriend.

And I was Jess’s sister.

I turned away from him and I saw the hurt flash across his face.

“Let me grab my stuff.” I went back inside and into the kitchen to gather my coat and purse.

“Is everything okay?” Dad barely glanced up from the car magazine in his hands.

“All good, Dad.”

I couldn’t tell him the truth.

I was too ashamed.

I was too embarrassed.

I hated that I had developed feelings for a man I barely knew. I should have known better. And, I hated that I needed him in order to learn more about Jess. It infuriated me that he held the keys to unlocking the mystery that was my sister.

“Where are you going? Your mom will want to know” he asked. I realized that he never inquired after me for himself. It was always for my mother. As if not for her, he wouldn’t bother in the first place. The effort it took me to overlook the obvious was starting to wear me down.

“I have to head into work.”Lies.“It will only be for an hour or so. I have some things to take care of.”More lies.“Ryan said he’d drive me there and bring me home afterward.”

I lied so easily.

Maybe Ryan and I were one and the same.

“Why don’t you take your own car?” Dad asked.

I struggled to come up with a story on the spot, but I wasn’t very good at it.

Dad regarded me closely for the first time. Was he actually paying attention for once? “What’s going on, Linds? Who is this guy?”

“He’s just a friend from work, Dad.” I gave him a quick hug, wishing for a moment that I was still a kid so I could believe the delusion that my parents could fix my problems. “I’ll only be a couple of hours. Tell Mom that I have my phone if she needs me for anything.”

When I pulled away, Dad’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t like how he looks at you, Lindsey.”

I swallowed thickly, unnerved by his unusual show of concern. “How does he look at me?”

My father stared at me, but I wasn’t sure it was me he saw. “I know how men like that think. Please be careful.”

Feeling touched, I kissed his cheek. I thought, rather optimistically, that maybe it wasn’t too late to have the closeness between us I had always craved. Maybe, there was a chance for us to have our own bond. Feeling a little lighter, I headed back outside to where Ryan waited, not so patiently, for me.

My mood instantly soured at the sight of him.

“Let’s get going,” he said and I followed him to his car. I hesitated before getting in, wondering what other lies Ryan might have told me. Wondering who he really was. I knew I was right to be suspicious of him, but I also knew I had no choice but to go with him if I wanted to find answers. And I wanted answers more than anything.

Once he started the engine I felt him staring at me. I could tell that he wanted to say something, but was holding back.

“Where does he live?” I asked, filling the silent void between us.

“Not far. He moved away from Mt. Randall to the next town over not long after Jess’s case went cold. He transferred to another police department, or was made to, I’m not sure which,” he told me, turning onto the main road.

“I’m guessing he got a lot of heat for not solving Jess’s case.”

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