Page 6 of Don't Look Now (Ariana Jones)

“Maybe in the paperwork somewhere. Unfortunately it burned along with everything else in my house.”

The detective made notes on an electronic tablet. “Do you remember their names?”

“No, but if you ask around my neighborhood, I’m sure you can get all of that information. We never met them, but our neighbors saw them every day. Someone might have a phone number or address. Maybe they’re on social media. I have no idea.”

Kamada made more notes.

“Can my wife and I leave?” Damon asked. “It’s been a very trying day.”

“I’m sure it has.”

“Did I mention my father-in-law is a detective? Here in Washington state.”

“Interesting.”

“He can give you a character witness, to show you that Ariana and I are good people. We make our living helping others.”

“Doing what?” Kamada asked.

“We teach people how to avoid abductions and escape abusive situations. Both of us were victims in our younger years, and we want to reach others before they end up in similar situations.”

“How do you teach them?”

“We have a podcast and a book, plus we speak at a lot of schools.”

Kamada made more notes. “Back to the remains in your yard.”

“We had nothing to do with that!”

“How could you not know what was buried on your property?”

“Because nobody told us.” Damon wanted to pull on his hair. “I’m leaving, unless you have any questions that I can actually help with. Ariana and I don’t know anything about the bodies the construction crew found. We moved to Rosy Hills to live a quiet life. That’s it.”

“Guess that didn’t turn out too well for you.”

“Clearly not.”

Detective Kamada handed him a business card. “If you think of anything later, let me know right away.”

“I’ll be sure to.” Damon made sure his phone and wallet were in his pockets, then he stormed out of the room.

He itched to go home and beat on his punching bag. But it was ash now.

The best he could do was to pump iron in Charles and Lia’s workout room. Their next-door neighbors had taken Ariana and him in after Boone burned their house. Otherwise they’d be in a hotel room or a temporary apartment until their new home was ready for them to move in.

The only good thing about the entire situation was that Rita was alive and well. She’d been abducted and had fought for her life. Ariana and Damon had refused to back off Boone, so he’d burned down their house.

It was a good thing he was in prison. If he wasn’t, Damon might be tempted to use him as a punching bag.

No. Damon wasn’t his father. He wouldn’t hurt anyone, wouldn’t take any lives.

But how the urges called to him, especially after all the harm Boone had caused.

The justice system was taking care of him. He would pay, and likely would never walk free again. Given his charges, the other inmates would probably rough him up — if what he’d heard about the system was true.

His own father had supposedly died by suicide behind bars.

Cal Jones would have never taken his own life. But his crimes against women and children had finally caught up to him.

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