Page 20 of The Missing Half

“I’m not sure exactly, but he was the manager, and from the way people talked, it seemed like he’d been around a while. A few years at least. Oh,” Lauren adds with a look at Jenna, “I guess that means he was there the same time your sister was.”

Chapter Eleven

We walk back to Jenna’s truck. “Shit,” I say when she turns the engine on and the dashboard clock illuminates. “I’m going to be late for work. I’ll have to change in the car.”

She pulls out onto the road. “I’ll drive fast.”

I lean over to unzip my backpack and pull out my thick black work pants. But just as I’m about to kick off my Converse so I can tug them on, I stop. What Lauren just told us hits me all over again. “I can’t believe we have a name,” I say. It pulses in the air around me:Steve McLean.“I mean, I know that’s what we wanted, what we were looking for, but…I don’t know, I guess I didn’t actually think we were gonna get one.”

“I know,” Jenna says.

“You don’t recognize his name, do you?” I have to ask, even though I already know the answer. I would’ve seen it in her eyes if she had.

“It’s not ringing any bells, but that doesn’t mean Jules never said it. If they worked together, it would’ve been ten, eleven years ago. What about you? Do you remember Kasey ever mentioning him?”

“No,” I say, then add bitterly, “Not that that means anything.” Ihear Lauren in my head,Kasey never told you.“Apparently, she didn’t even mention her best friend quitting the job where they worked together.”

Jenna looks over at me. “Hey, all this happened a long time ago. Kasey could’ve told you and you just forgot. It doesn’t mean you and your sister weren’t close. I’ve misremembered things about Jules—like, a lot. And even if she didn’t tell you, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like that would’ve been this big, earth-shattering news.”

“Yeah,” I say. “You’re probably right.” But I don’t really mean it. It would have been big news to Kasey that summer—at least I think itwould have—which means she would’ve told me about it and I wouldn’t have forgotten. I feel like I’m not seeing something right in front of my face.

Jenna reaches into her purse on the bench seat beside her. “Here.”

I look over to see her holding an unopened bag of peanut M&M’s. “Did you…get these for me?”

She shrugs. “I’m still feeling bad about, you know, the whole lying thing. I’m trying to make it up to you.”

I feel a tug at the corner of my lips. “Thanks.” I open the bag and pop an M&M into my mouth. “I want to track this guy down, Jenna.”

“I do too. But we need to get some history on him first, dig around online. I can do that. And after everything Lauren told us, I think we should talk to Wyler too. If she’s telling the truth and she gave McLean’s name to the police, why the hell have you never heard it before?”

“I’ll call him,” I say as I tug my pants on under my dress. “During the investigation, he made this whole big deal about giving me and my parents his cell, promised to answer if we ever called.”

“You sure?” Jenna’s eyes slide from the road to look at me. “I don’t mind.”

I pull my dress over my head, then put on my shirt. “It’s one phone call, Jenna. I can handle it.”

“It’s just, I know you have a lot going on right now.”

Suddenly, I understand what she’s doing. She’s seen my apartment full of unwashed dishes and unfinished projects. If she doesn’t expect anything from me, she can’t be disappointed. I hear Pamfrom the animal shelter in my head:When you say you’re gonna do something, please just do it.

“I’ll call Wyler,” I say.

“Okay.” We pull into the Funland parking lot. “But just ask for a meeting. I want to be there when you talk to him.”

“Yeah, no shit. Jesus, your faith in me is overwhelming.” I lean over to tie my shoes and look at the clock. I’m twelve minutes late. “I gotta go. Thanks for the M&M’s.” I hand them over, but Jenna shakes her head.

“They’re yours.”

“Right,” I say, opening the door and hopping out. “I forgot. Guilt candy.”

“Hey, it’s better than a guilt tomato.”

I pop one into my mouth. “Mm. The taste of regret. My favorite.”

Jenna laughs and my chest swells. I can’t remember the last time I made someone laugh.

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