Page 18 of The Girls in the Snow

A large art table sat beneath the big window that overlooked the neighborhood. All the supplies were organized and labeled, stored in containers under the desk.

“She liked things neat. She was a very good organizer.” Sadness laced Amy’s tone.

“It’s a lovely room. May I look in the dresser drawers?”

Amy nodded, and Nikki worked her way through the dresser, searching for anything hidden. It was just as organized as the rest of the room, and she made sure to leave it that way. Madison’s nightstand had several books, and a large jewelry box sat on top.

Amy hovered over Nikki’s shoulder as she examined the walk-in closet. “What exactly are you looking for? If she did have any big secrets, they would have been hidden on her phone.”

“Most likely,” Nikki said. “Honestly, I’m not just looking for something tangible. I want to get a feel for the type of person Madison was. Now I see that she was very methodical, am I right?”

“Yes, and she was driven. She was in the top five percent of her class. She excelled at everything she tried.”

And probably knotted up with tension and anxiety. Feeling the need to be the best and have things exactly as a person wished was exhausting.

“Madison didn’t make snap decisions,” Nikki said.

“No, at least not until she met that girl. Kaylee was always telling her to loosen up and live a little. Look where that got her.” Amy rubbed her temples. “John says I have to get it together. Put on a good front for Bailey. I’ll be strong for our son, but John just wants to make sure we don’t embarrass ourselves with public outbursts and displays. We should grieve in private.”

John had been the same way when she dated him. Their relationship was volatile at times, and he’d always been more concerned with his image than her feelings. Still, Nikki saw her opening. “Is that why you’re so angry at him?”

“I never said I was angry—”

“You didn’t need to,” Nikki said.

“It’s not meant for him. I’m just angry at the world for what’s happened to my child.”

Nikki tried to steer the conversation back to the couple’s relationship. “That’s absolutely normal, but I can see how much it bothers you when John talks about Kaylee.”

Amy bristled. “He never should have allowed that girl into our home. I told him she was trouble. She just brought too much baggage into Madison’s life.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Are you finished?”

Nikki knew she wasn’t going to get anything more out of Amy, but she sensed that Amy was still holding something back. “I don’t want to cause problems between you two. But I know this about grief: it does what it wants, when it wants. Everyone grieves in their own way, and any person who thinks they can control the process is in for a big surprise. Asking for help when you need it is crucial.” She walked back into the hall, trying to give Amy some space.

Amy followed her and closed the door. “Tell John that.”

“I will.” Nikki was certainly no marriage counselor, but she’d seen enough families torn apart by death to know what not to do, especially when kids were involved. “And I’m going to do whatever it takes to get you justice.”

“Like you did with Mark Todd?” Amy said sharply.

“I’m sorry?” Nikki turned around, working to keep the frustration out of her tone.

“That didn’t come out right,” Amy continued, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to see the protestors when you go to the sheriff’s office, and with everything being dredged up by the media, how will you stay focused on my daughter?”

Nikki hadn’t seen anything on the news about Mark’s appeal, but she realized now that the local paper was probably making it a front-page story.

“Mark Todd is in prison, where he belongs. And I learned to compartmentalize my life a long time ago.” Nikki hoped she’d had her last conversation about Mark Todd.

Six

Nikki wrapped her scarf around her face. Beyond the bare trees, a group of kids skated on the lake. The county closely monitored the lake’s ice, but Nikki didn’t care if six feet of ice covered the water. It only took one weak area to crack and pull someone under, especially kids.

“You skate?” Miller asked.

“Not very well. And never on the lake.” She and Miller bent their heads against the wind as they made their way down the trail toward the Hansons’. “What do you think of the dynamic between John and Amy?”

“She’s grieving and he’s in shock,” Miller said. “I think she blames him more than she wants to admit.”

“Do they have a history of marital issues?”

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