Page 9 of Depraved Truths

It wasn’t long before the news broke—another girl, around Paisley’s age, had gone missing that same night in a neighboring town. Paisley’s phone was never recovered, but text records showed she had planned to meet up with Sasha. She never made it to her house.

I still check with the sheriff several times a year for updates, but there’s never anything new. To this day, the case remains unsolved. No leads, no evidence—just an empty hole in my heart and the crushing guilt of having failed her.

I snap back to the present as we reach our fishing spot, drop the anchor, and grab our poles. The faint sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd’sSimple Manhums from the radio as I crack open a beer and toss one to the guys. Just as I’m about to take a sip, something—or someone—nearby grabs my attention. I spot my blonde goddess, Tessa, and my cousin Allie walking along the lake’s edge, each with a tote bag and a lounge chair and I can’t help but gawk at Tessa as she gracefully removes her black swimsuit cover-up, revealing sun-kissed skin. The shimmering gray bikini fits her body like it was tailor-made for her.

“Hot damn, the view’s amazing today,” Trevor drawls.

Jace turns his head, his gaze flicking over to land on the girls. “Is that Allie? I wonder if she’s still with that douchebag, Dalton,” he mutters, clearly disgusted. “She could do so much better.”

“Last I heard, she was,” I say.

“Forget Allie, look at Tessa. I’d tap that ass,” Trevor leers.

“Be respectful, man,” I say, reaching over and sucker-punching him in the stomach. An inexplicable anger roars to life inside me,along with a feeling of possessiveness.

Trevor grabs his stomach and laughs. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t. I saw you checking her out. Beauty and brains, too.”

I shoot him a sharp look. “How do you know her?”

“Remember when I nearly cut my finger off with that table saw? She was working in the ER and sewed me up. She’s like a doctor or nurse practitioner or something.”

I frown. “Why have I never seen her before?”

“I think she moved here a few months ago,” Jace says. “I heard her dad’s some bigwig in Atlanta, and she spent a few summers at Camp Lanier when she was younger.”

“You’re wasting your time, Eli.” Trevor smirks. “ My buddy Shane says she’s turned down every guy who’s asked her out since she moved here. Guess small-town boys aren’t good enough for her.”

We’ll see about that.

I feel a tug on my fishing line and grin as I start reeling in, eager for more than just a bass today.

I’ve barely finished putting the eight-pound bass in the live well when a boat approaches loudly, coming in way too fast. My eyes scan the surroundings. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a flash of blonde hair. Tessa breaks the surface of the water, unaware of the approaching boat.

“What the fuck?” I yell, diving in, adrenaline surging through me as I plunge into the water.

Chapter 10

It’s such a beautiful day to be on the beach. Although it’s not arealbeach, the beauty of this man-made creation is undeniable. This spot is my favorite on the lake, nicknamed Laguna Beach because it resembles a lagoon, and with its clean sand and sparkling, crystal-clear blue water; the lake offers a picturesque sight.

I thought we'd never get here. Being her typical self, Allie was almost an hour late but brought gifts that made her tardiness forgivable: a half gallon of wine slushy from the nearby winery and a charcuterie tray with various cheeses and salami.That’s my girl.Hopefully, the warm embrace of alcohol will soothe the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. While waiting for Allie to arrive, I did a deep dive into Candice Smith, mother of seven-year-old Ansley. They live in a low-income neighborhood on the outskirts of town, and Candice has a history of multiple arrests for public intoxication, possession of methamphetamines, engaging in prostitution, and shoplifting. She’s been investigated by the Department of Family and Child Services a staggering fourtimes for child neglect. It’s unfortunate that the woman couldn’t utilize her Oscar-winning acting skills to benefit her child. Several neighbors have stated that Ansley is frequently left home alone or under the care of strangers Candice invites into her house, and teachers have also reported that Ansley shows up in dirty clothes with unwashed hair.

The little girl recently started acting out at school, likely due to her home situation and bullying by other students. I make a mental note to contact Bryce, my college best friend, a hacking expert, and someone I can always rely on. Aside from Allie, Bryce is the only person in the world I completely trust, and he lives in North Carolina with his partner.

“I'm really happy we decided to do this,” Allie exclaims, pulling out two cups and filling them with wine slushy. The dark red marks on her wrist immediately grab my attention.

“Allie, what the hell happened to your arm?” I demand, anger boiling inside of me.

Her eyes dart away. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she says dismissively. “I snagged my bracelet on the door handle at work.”

I narrow my eyes suspiciously, my attention drawn to the distinct fingerprints. “Huh,” I mutter under my breath, barely audible.

I’ve never seen her wear jewelry on her left wrist. I let it go for now, but if Dalton is hurting her, I will fucking kill him.

Frustrated, I look over at the lake. The gentle lapping of water against the shore is accompanied by the distant chirping of birds. It’s quiet and peaceful, with only a few boats scattered around. Firmly resolved to embrace the day, I push aside my dark fantasies of torturing Dalton.

Taking a leisurely sip of my drink, I lean back into my lounge chair, and the sun’s caress lulls me into a state of pure relaxation.

I must’ve dozed off for a few minutes because I suddenly jolt awake, my heart pounding and my lungs gasping for air as my recurring nightmare slowly dissipates.Why do these nightmares persist, refusing to release their grip on my mind?And what caused them to come back so soon? After eliminating a monster, I usually feel a sense of relief that lasts for weeks or even months.

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