Page 52 of What Lies in the Woods

“Jessi with ani,” Dad said musingly. “I knew her, but Alan Stahl didn’t kill her. She just left town. You knew her, too.” He nodded his chin at me.

“I thought I recognized her,” I said. “But I don’t remember why.”

“She worked at the Chester Diner. Waitress. She always made sure they gave you an extra pancake. Said you reminded her of her niece,” Dad said. I tried to reach back to the memory, but everything before eleven was ragged at the edges.

“You said she left town. Do you know where she went?” Ethan asked.

“No, I don’t. I know she said she was leaving and then she was gone. She was a waitress. We didn’t pour our hearts out to each other,” Dad replied. “You think she got killed?”

“She was reported missing. She hasn’t been seen since,” Ethan saidsmoothly. “Is there anyone else who might have known her better? Known where she was going, maybe?”

“Eh. She was a kid. I didn’t socialize with her,” Dad said. “And it was a long time ago.”

“Do you have any idea who she might have hung around with?” I pressed. “Come on, Dad. It’s important.”

“Why?” he asked. “He’s nosy, that’s why he gives a shit, but you?”

“I’m just helping out,” I said, setting my jaw.

He grunted. Looked at Ethan. “You sleep with her yet?”

Ethan’s face reddened. “That’s not—”

“Leave him alone, Dad,” I said warningly.

“Don’t go thinking it makes you special if she does. It’s like a handshake with this girl,” Dad said.

“For fuck’s sake, Dad—”

He gave an exaggerated shrug. “Nothing wrong with it. Just think the boy ought to know what he’s getting into.”

“All right. We’re leaving,” I said, turning. At least we’d confirmed that Jessi had been in Chester.

“Oscar Green,” Dad said. My head whipped back toward him. “She hung around with Oscar Green. That’s all I remember.”

“Thank you,” Ethan said quickly. He touched my shoulder with the very tips of his fingers, propelling me toward the door. I let him, stalking forward and not stopping until I heard the door shut behind me. Then I turned on Ethan, clamping my teeth down over anger that wasn’t meant for him.

“I should just burn that fucking house down to the ground and be done with it,” I growled.

“I take it you and your dad don’t really get along,” Ethan said mildly.

I laughed. “You could say that.”

“Cassidy’s book wasn’t very flattering in its portrayal of him,” he noted.

“He was pissed about that, but he got a big enough cut of the money that he didn’t say anything,” I said.

“The Greens split the royalties?” Ethan asked, sounding a bit surprised. “Even though you didn’t cooperate?”

“I think they felt guilty about profiting off the whole thing,” I said. “Or maybe it was just preemptive defense against bad publicity, making it all about the girl whodidn’tget stabbed.”

“Cassidy did seem to be the one who came out of the experience relatively unscathed,” Ethan said.

“It looks that way, doesn’t it?” I asked. “But she was just as damaged as me and Liv. She’s better at hiding it, but it’s there.”

“How well do you know her brother?” Ethan asked.

“Oscar.” His name was like a bit of gristle between my teeth. “He’s an asshole.”

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