Page 55 of Little Buried Secrets

She pulled a note out of her pocket and handed it to me. “The day after Margot went missing, I found this note. It’s in her handwriting.”

“Where?”

“Over the visor in my car. I pulled it down, and it fell into my lap.”

“Why would someone leave a note above your visor?”

“It’s where I keep my sunglasses.”

“Have you shown the note to anyone?” I asked.

“Just you. Right now.”

I opened the note.

It was short but telling.

Bronte,

There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, a secret I haven’t shared with anyone. I get why you’re mad about me seeing Sebastian, but I have my reasons. I didn’t just end things with him months ago because of what happened at his house party. There’s another reason, one I’ve needed time to work through. I haven’t wanted to talk about it until now, and I really need your advice.

When you’re ready to talk, let me know.

“What if Coach Warren was what she hadn’t told everyone about?” Bronte asked. “What if he’s what she needed time to work through? I still don’t want to believe it, but it kinda makes sense.”

If Margot was referring to Coach Warren in her note, she had confided in Elle and Skye, which would have meant she had told someone … unless there was more to it, more about Coach Warren that Margot hadn’t said.

I folded the note and looked at Bronte.

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” I said. “I’d like to keep it for a while if it’s all right. Chief Foley and Detective Whitlock will want to see it, and they should.”

Bronte shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. I’ve been trying to decide whether to tell my mom about it. She’s going through so much already.”

“I think she deserves to know.”

“Fine, I’ll talk to her.”

“I have a question for you,” I said. “What do you think of Grant?”

She huffed a snarky laugh. “Do you mean this week, or in general?”

“In general.”

“I don’t know. I guess I’ve never given him a chance.”

“Why not?”

“He’s not right for my mom.”

“Why not?”

“She likes time to think about the decisions she makes, even small ones. Ever since they started dating, I feel like he’s been pushing her to make decisions before she’s ready.”

I didn’t know Grant well, but I could see what she was saying. There was an undercurrent about him of impatience and unease.

“Can you give me an example?” I asked.

“A couple weeks ago, I overheard Grant tell my mom they should move in together. They haven’t even been dating that long yet.”

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