Page 58 of Healed Heart
“Right.Ronny.He was totally devoted to Lindsay.It nearly killed him when she ended the relationship.”
“That didn’t give him license to stalk her and make her life miserable to the point where she had to leave town.Her parents, too.”
“Did they?”He pauses a moment.“She did seem to disappear into thin air.I’ve kept in touch with everyone from our graduating class.Kept tabs on where everyone is, what they’re doing now.But Lindsay’s been a closed book.She seemed to fall off the face of the earth.”
“She went to Colorado, along with her parents.She and I met in undergrad.We were pretty inseparable.”
Another pregnant pause.“I hate to ask, but I can’t help myself.What happened?”
The question I knew was coming.
The question I can’t answer.
“It’s a long story,” I say, “and up until a few days ago, I thought she took her own life.”
He gasps.“Lindsay?Wow.She was always a ray of sunshine.”
“She was,” I say, “but we lost our three-year-old daughter in a tragic accident three years ago.Lindsay had a very rough time.”
“Damn, I’m so sorry.I don’t even know you, but I feel for you.Losing two loved ones like that.”
Then he stops talking, of course.
Everyone does.They all say how sorry they are, but they don’t know what to say after that.
Just as well.I don’t want to dwell on that right now.
“Thank you.I appreciate it.But there’s another reason for my call.I want to know what happened to Ronny Burgundy.”
“I was surprised when you mentioned him on your voicemail.”Ralph pauses a moment.Then, “He’s been kind of hard to pin down too.Why are you looking for him?”
“Some things have come to light recently,” I say, “and I’m beginning to believe that Lindsay did not take her own life.”
“Oh my God.”
“Right.It was off brand for her, but after the loss of Julia—our daughter—it made sense.”
“But now you think…”
“I think someone may have murdered her,” I say.“And if you know Lindsay, you know she didn’t have any enemies.She was a friend to everyone.Like you said, a ray of sunshine.”
“So you think it was just someone who?—”
“No,” I interrupt.“She left a note, which I gave to the police without reading.Her death was ruled a suicide at the time, and I never could bring myself to read the note.I finally did a few days ago, and I realized that the note isn’t in her handwriting.”
“Oh my God,” he says again.
“And if itwasa cold-blooded murder—someone who just broke into our house—why would they bother leaving a suicide note?Would they even know what Lindsay and I were going through?”
“Right.I totally see your point.”
“Look,” I say.“I don’t even know you.I could be talking to a complete stranger who isn’t even Ralph Parker for all I know.”
“No, I swear to you.I’m Ralph Parker.The same Ralph Parker who graduated with Lindsay and Rebecca.”
“And Ronny?”
“Yes.And Ronny.”
