Page 31 of Crosshairs

He shrugged. “Probably to smoke weed. Hannah had some Monday night. Offered to share it.” He stared at his thumbs pressed together. “Told her I didn’t touch that stuff. My dad, if he smelled it on me, he would’ve killed me.”

“Is that when you talked to her—Monday night, not Tuesday?”

He nodded.

“Start at the beginning and tell me what happened.”

His response was slow in coming. “I ... couldn’t sleep and was out walking when I saw them. They were arguing and didn’t see me. She was at one of the picnic tables up near the church...” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“And?” she prompted him.

“After he left, I said something to her and about scared her to death. When she saw I wasn’t going to hurt her, she calmed down. Told me her name, but I already knew it was Hannah. She said she’d called someone to come get her. We talked until her friend showed up, and then I went back to our camper.”

“Who picked her up?”

“It was a girl she hung out with sometimes at school.”

Ainsley wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not. He clearly had issues, and she’d had to push him to get answers. Still, his story had the ring of truth in it. “And she came back Tuesday night?”

Colton nodded. “Hewas with her again. Guess they made up.”

And maybe they fought again and he killed her. “Did anyone else come around?”

“I didn’t see nobody.”

“Can you think of anything else that might help find her killer?”

He chewed his bottom lip as he looked up toward the sky. After a long minute, he shook his head.

“Well, if you remember anything, give me a call.” She gave him one of her business cards, and then closed the recorder app and pocketed her phone. “Thanks, Colton. And do me a favor.”

He looked up from the table.

“Don’t take that job.”

“I have to. I can’t stand living with my dad.”

“How old are you?”

“Just turned seventeen.”

“Then you’re not out of school yet.”

He shook his head.

“No one is going to pay you twenty dollars an hour without experience in landscaping or any other job. You’ve heard of human trafficking?”

“This ain’t nothing like that—it’s just working! The man said I’d be driving a mower.”

“Legally you can’t operate a mower or weed trimmer or any other motorized equipment. Legitimate companies don’t do that. And there are more people caught up on the labor side of human trafficking than the other,” Ainsley said. “And if that company has no problem breaking the law by letting you operatea machine, they won’t have a problem lying to you about the job. Or the pay.”

Hope faded from his face.

“I’m sorry. Can I give you some advice? My dad and I fought like crazy when I was your age,” she said without waiting for his answer. “Until I finally learned to agree with him and—”

“I can’t do that. He puts me and Mom down like we’re trash.”

“You didn’t let me finish. Just because I agreed with my dad doesn’t mean I let him win. You only have a year until you’re eighteen. Do whatever it takes to get through the year. Stay away from home as much as possible. Go to the library or hang around school in the afternoon. Study hard and find a scholarship, or do whatever it takes to get a good education. That’s your best revenge.”

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