Page 23 of Lake Hollow Curses

“Cal? Did he do something to you?”

Just tore my heart from my chest.

“Please. Just trust me, okay?”

She sucks her lips in, before replying, “Umm, do you remember when I wanted Mitch to tell you what he’d told me that day on the dock?”

God, I can’t take anymore confirmation. If you exist, could you throw me a lifeline of some sort?

“Uh huh, he told me that I shouldn’t date either Charlie or Cal, because they’re leaving. Was there more to that?” Jeezus, Mitchell. I sink into the dining room chair, a hand pressed against the heart slamming inside in my chest.

She nods slightly, before staring out the window. “After Carlotta died, he was pretty upset.” Natalie can take a lifetime to get to the point when she’s telling a story, but I don’t try to hurry her along. Devastation doesn’t need to come barreling at me quickly. “He said that Carlotta had a talk with him two days before her accident. She told him to be careful around Cal, Grady, and Charlie.”

Taking a stuttered breath, I’m relieved it’s not news to me. Because of the letter, I already knew she had a suspect list.

I simply nod at her. “For now, just steer clear of him. Okay?” I catch myself before I start to cry again. How do I cope with this? Do I confront him in a public place? Do I tell Wilder, Charlie, and Grady? Or do I keep my mouth shut until I leave? If the police can’t arrest him because he covered his tracks that well, what chance do I stand finding solid proof?

My heart is fucking stupid.

When Relia died, I was angry about all the times she’d lied to my face. Over and over. I swore I’d never love someone capable of doing that again. But I have. It’s worse this time, I had nochoice over the mother I had. I chose Cal. I denied the mounting suspicions and I continued to love him.

Now, I have to use the brain I was given and ignore my treacherous heart. I need to protect the hearts of Charlie, Grady, and Wilder. They deserve it.

Chapter Sixteen

Charlie Gibson

“Iwas like, hey guy with the hydration pack, two hiking sticks, and a tactical vest; a fucking five-year-old walked that same trail in Crocs carrying a naked Barbie doll. Relax,” Cal finishes talking about his morning jog while I go back through the paperwork I’m initialing that dad had emailed me.

Cal hops up to sit on his counter. “If we’re having a going away party for Remi, we’ll have to put it together fast. It doesn’t need to be anything crazy; she was happy just having the four of us with her at the cabin yesterday.”

“We can do it at my parent’s place. This coming weekend?”

“That’s excessive, we’re not inviting the whole town. What about the Funpark after hours? Skip would agree to that if you asked. For old times’ sake?” Right. When all was normal with our world. Just a group of rambunctious kids messing around, making memories that we’d look back on questioning the validity of.

“Hey, did you catch what Wilder said yesterday? About the security system at the Funpark?” Skip James gave him access to one of the protections for his business, something meant to also protect Remi. “He said there was spyware installed in it?”

Cal shrugs as he tosses an empty water bottle across the kitchen to the trash. “No. Who cares? Doesn’t that happen all the time to computers?”

“I’m having a hard time trusting Wilder. First his ‘visions’ and now he’s putting his nose in the Funpark security.” Cal gives me a blank look before narrowing his eyes at me. Sometimes he doesn’t seem to care about the right things.

“Look, I don’t get your distrust, but I will say that Skip is bonkers. The guy doesn’t have a single linear thought.”

Waking up without Remi next to us this morning, started my day off poorly. Something as simple as knowing where she is can make the worry over her safety lessen slightly. “What time are we meeting everyone to help Mitch finish clear out Lala’s house?” It was surprising to me that Grady said he’d pitch in. Carter, Grady, Mitch, Cal, and I should be able to tackle what’s left. We didn’t ask Wilder; it was my call to leave him out of the mix.

It’s not easy letting go of the past.

“If Mitchell shows up with Natalie and I’m forced to listen to them argue, I’m out,” Cal warns as he shoves some baseball equipment into a duffle bag. “Or if Carter does that annoying laugh wheeze of his constantly.”

“Is it your time of the month? Why are you so crabby?” He’s been moody before, since we’ve reconnected this summer, but the closer we inch to Remi leaving for Florida the more volatile his demeanor is getting. The Cal I knew growing up was so laidback, I wondered if he was being genuine at times. Who takes everything in stride without showing cracks in the veneer?

He stops what he’s doing, his shoulders dropping as he turns to me saying, “Nah. It’s this town… it’s getting to me, I’m not eager for Remi to leave and then.” He sighs. “My parents left me a message this morning. Detective Hemminger called them yesterday to tell them that Sara’s drowning investigation is being reopened due to new evidence.”

“What new evidence?”

After all this time, the secrets are being exposed.

It took long enough.

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