Page 39 of Resolutions

“Then I'll raise it. And I'll throw in fifty thousand for each of the other two women. I'll call the bank and have it put into an account as soon as we're done.”

“Michael,” Mom's voice cracked as she spoke. “That's very generous.” Tobias and Dad agreed.

I'm numb. I can't get past the dead comment. Are we now actually looking for a dead person?

“Cameron,” the Sheriff drew my attention. “Try to keep faith. Sometimes these cases break when we least expect it.”

“Sure,” is all I can manage.

While Mom, Dad, and Tobias work out the details of the press conference, I stepped next to Michael, who was on his phone, standing facing the wall. When he was done, and the money had been transferred, he turned around. I engulfed him in a bear hug.

“Thank you, thank you for everything. I love you, man.”

Michael, who doesn't normally show affection, returned the hug. “I love you too, bro. Remember, I'm always here for you.”

Hours later

Michael

“You've got to be more careful.” I set my whiskey glass on the desk. “The fucking Sheriff said the sites were a mess. He knew there'd been a struggle.”

“Who knew a damn librarian was a fucking kick boxer?” His voice defensively declared. “You should have seen the fucking upper cut she hit Smithy with. Cold cocked the shit out of him. It was fucking impressive.”

My mind begins to think of the set for her debut tomorrow night. “And what about the teacher? That one should have been easy.”

“Shit, even at gunpoint she came out of her car like a wild cat leaving a cage. Arms and legs flailing about, swearing like a sailor. Took all three of us to get her in the van. Fucking got me hard.”

“From now on, I don't want to give the Sheriff anything to go off. Nothing!” I swiveled my glass on its edge, the amber liquid coming dangerously close to the lip. “Tomorrow, there's going to be a press conference asking for help to find the women. I don't need some old lady remembering your ugly ass face from the fucking grocery store, so stock up on everything you need now. Then no one leaves there until I say. Got it?”

“Yes sir.”

“I'll call you later with the set up for tomorrow.” I hung up.

Taking my glass, I walked to the windows and gazed at the twinkling lights. “Fucking Melanie, all of this could have been easily avoided had you not gone rogue. Oh, you bad, bad, little bunny, I’m afraid you’ll have to learn a lesson.” I adjusted myself. “And oh, am I going to enjoy punishing you.”

Chapter 19

Melanie

I shouldn't be watching this. Every instinct screams to turn off my laptop, but I can't look away from the live stream of the press conference. The Whispering Pines town hall backdrop seems surreal - how many times had I covered events there as a reporter? Now, I can't believe what I'm seeing.

Sheriff Tobias Trenton stands on the stage. He has to lean over to speak into the podium microphone. He's flanked by three large photos. My heart stops when I see mine. Cameron used my engagement photo, the one where we're laughing at something. That was such a perfect spring day. It seems so long ago; all of it feels like a different life.

Wiping a tear from my cheek, I whisper, “You sick bastard.”

On the screen next to my picture, the teacher's school portrait shows her warm smile, the kind that would make any parent trust their children with her. The librarian's photo appearsrecent; she looks intelligent and confident. All three of us smiling, happy women.

How could we have known what was coming?

“Thank you for coming. Tonight, we're here asking for the public's help. These three women,” Tobias's voice fills my tiny apartment as he glances at our pictures, “are missing, and three families, along with the authorities, are searching for answers.”

Behind him sit those families. The Whitakers. The tears flow even more. Evelyn, who's been a mother to me when mine couldn't, is clutching Charlie's hand. Charlie, the dad I never had, who the first time I met him, said I was the best thing for his son. Carson and Colton flanking their wives. All of them welcoming, supporting, and loving me. Then my eyes take in my Cameron. I touch the screen as a sob leaves me. He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks. Dark circles under his eyes, jaw clenched so tight I can see the muscle twitching. Even on the small screen, I can tell he's lost weight. His suit jacket hangs looser than it should.

Bringing my knees up, I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold in the pain as the teacher's sister approaches the podium. Her voice breaks as she describes her sister's dedication to her students, how she'd just started a reading program for struggling first graders. She begs the camera to please come forward if you know anything about our disappearances.

Michael stands slightly behind Cameron, hand on his shoulder, playing the concerned friend perfectly. I slide my coffee mug as far as I can away, fighting the urge to throw it at his face on my screen.

The librarian's husband can barely speak through his tears, clutching a photo of their wedding day. He whispers for someone, anyone, to help find the love of his life.

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