Page 92 of The Lake of Lost Girls

Daisy’s shoulders drooped. “It makes sense. And by not telling the truth, I hampered the investigation. I messed up. I’ve been terrified of owning up to my mistakes for years, but not anymore. I’m going to tell the truth now. I’m going to the station to tell them that I lied. I’m trying to put this right. Jess deserves it. Tammy, Phoebe, and Meghan, too.” Daisy sounded heartbroken, yet determined.

“Is that what you and Ryan were arguing about?” I asked her.

Daisy blew out a noisy breath. “I was an idiot and called him. I’ve been stewing on what I should do for days—since Lieutenant Higgins called me. She was asking about Jess’s blanket and following up on my interview from back then. But I knew I needed to come clean. So, thinking I was being the better person, I reached out to let Ryan know my plans. I didn’t want him to be blindsided.” She raised her eyebrows. “To say he took it badly is an understatement.”

“So, he came here to what? Stop you?” I asked, aghast.

“I had no idea he was even in town. The last time I had heard, he was living in Chicago. I was shocked when he showed up here, though perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised. If he thought they found Jess, of course he’d come. He could never stay away from your sister.” Daisy looked pained. “He was all fired up, saying he didn’t hurt her. And let me tell you, if I was still nineteen, I probably would have believed him. His sincerity is very convincing.” She made a look of distaste. “He wanted me to hear the whole story before I went to the cops. As if that would stop me.”

“Whatwashis whole story?”

Daisy flicked ash out the window, watching students walk by. “He said that he went to her house and parked down the street. He said he saw her car out front so he knew she was there.”

Daisy aggressively put out the cigarette before turning in her chair to face me again.

“Ryan said he didn’t know how long he sat there. He was wasted. He claimed he’d had a fifth of vodka. The stupidity of driving while intoxicated alone should haveconvinced me to turn him in, but here we are.” She briefly closed her eyes, obviously irritated with herself. “Eventually, Jess came out of the house and he started to get out of the car, but then he saw her talking to an older man he thought was Dr. Daniels.”

“So, Jesswassleeping with him then,” I stated matter-of-factly.

Daisy could sense my frustration. “Like I said, I honestly don’t know. Ryan told me he saw Jess talking to an older man—he assumed it was Dr. Daniels, but it could have been anyone really. Ryan was drunk, it was dark, and he was upset, so who knows. He did say it looked, well … heated. That he felt like he was watching two people about to fight and make up if you know what I mean.”

My empty stomach rolled. “And then what?”

“He said he dropped his keys on the floor and he reached down to get them. By the time he sat up again, Jess and the man were gone, the trunk of her car still open. He said he sat there for a little while longer, but when she didn’t reappear, he decided to head back to school. He swears he didn’t think anything was wrong. He went back to his dorm room and passed out.”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “So, he was there when Jess disappeared. He saw her with a man he thinks was Dr. Daniels, and he didn’t think it important to tell the police?” I sounded incredulous.

Daisy’s jaw stiffened. “I know. That’s exactly what I said to him when he showed up here to tell me a story that should have been shared twenty-four goddamned years ago.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Do you believe his story?”

“I don’t know. What I do know is that Ryan was scared.”

“Scared? Why?”

“Because Dr. Daniels wasn’t the only man to have been involved with all four women.”

“What are you saying?”

Daisy looked conflicted. “Ryan slept with Tammy and Meghan. And he dated Phoebe in high school. And, of course, he was Jess’s boyfriend. So yeah, if the police knew, then he would definitely be on their radar, that’s for sure.”

“Oh my god,” I gasped.

Ryan was connected to all of the missing women.

Every.

Single.

One.

“The police need to know what Ryan saw,” Daisy continued. “They need to know I lied for him. Then let the chips fall where they may.” I could sense her growing agitation. “Ryan says if I go to the authorities with the information now, we’ll both be charged with obstruction of justice and lose our jobs. But at this point, I don’t even care. We’ve both lied for long enough.”

I was still trying to process Daisy’s revelations. “How can you be sure Ryan was even telling the truth about going to my house? I don’t think he’d know how to be honest if his life depended on it.”

“Because why would he implicate himself like that? Regardless, I can’t keep what I know a secret any longer. If there’s a chance—even a small one—that Ryan’s story checks out, it could mean a killer, whether it’s Ryan or Dr. Daniels, will finally be put away and those women will get some justice.” Daisy looked at her watch. “I’m so sorry, Lindsey, but I need to head to the police station before it gets any later.” She stood up and grabbed her jacket off the back of the door.

“Would you like me to come with you?” I got to my feet and watched as she gathered her things.

---