Page 67 of The Girl in the River

Ellie took her laptop to the deck overlooking the water while Derrick headed inside the outfitters to question the owner. She booted up her computer and entered the name Patty Lasso, first checking DMV records.

Patty was a pretty brunette in her twenties, five-three, 130 pounds. According to her license, her address was not in Red River Rock, although the license had been issued ten years ago and had not been renewed.

Her skin prickled. Why hadn’t she renewed it?

Curious, she googled Patty’s name to see what came up and she found an outdated Facebook page, with no posts in five years. Her search for an Instagram and a Twitter account ended with nothing as well. Finally, she found a LinkedIn page. It was short but indicated Patty worked in retail and was an assistant manager at Moonbeams five years ago. Nothing since.

Her gut clenched and she googled Moonbeams’ website. It took a few minutes to navigate the pages which catered to the millennials and Gen Z’s. She checked the names of the staff, but Patty Lasso was not listed anywhere on the site.

A bad feeling stirred inside her and she decided to search death certificate records. That took another few minutes but she didn’t find one for Patty.

The timing of everything hit her – if Patty worked at Moonbeams, she must have worked with Jesse. She might know what had happened to her.

She pulled up Sheriff Kincaid’s phone number and called him. His voicemail kicked in, and she left a message. “Please call me, Sheriff. I’d like to talk to you about a woman named Patty Lasso.”

EIGHTY-NINE

RED RIVER ROCK OUTFITTERS

Derrick watched the visitors listen to the raft guide’s instructions and smiled at their excitement. Twin boys who looked to be about twelve years old were strapping on life vests with an exuberance that indicated it was their first time.

They reminded him of Rick and Lindsey’s son, Evan, who was only nine. He was too young to take the trip yet, but he would be old enough soon. Only Rick wouldn’t be here to take him.

Maybe you can.

Grief and guilt tightened his chest. He’d be happy to do that but Lindsey wanted him nowhere near the kids.

Maybe that would change. Maybe not. He didn’t blame her for how she felt. She was in pain and so were those children.

“You here for a tour?” the thirty-something guy in jeans and a T-shirt sporting the logo for Red River Rock Outfitters asked.

Derrick eyed the posters on the wall. “Not today, but one day.” Maybe he’d bring Evan.Or maybe a child of your own.

He shook his head in surprise at his own thoughts. What in the hell had made that idea pop into his head? He’d failed his sister. And Rick. Lindsey didn’t want him to have anything to do with her kids. He didn’t deserve to have one of his own. He’d probably just screw that up, too.

“Sir?” the young guy said.

Derrick shook off his thoughts and steered his mind back to the case. “Actually, I’m a federal agent. I wondered if you could shed some light on the Moon family.”

The guy’s eyes twitched as he glanced around the store. Derrick saw the security cams and silently cursed. “Don’t know them personally but heard they help folks in trouble around here.”

“How so?”

“Give them loans to support the businesses,” he said. “Although we’re doing fine with the raft company. The tourists keep us alive.”

“I can see that,” Derrick said with a smile. “Did you know Jesse Habersham?”

The guy tilted his head toward the two rednecks he’d seen inside who’d followed him into the store, then shook his head. “Naw, heard about her. Ran that boutique in town.” He motioned around the store. “More of an outdoor guy myself.”

“I hear you. How about a woman named Patty Lasso?” Derrick asked.

The guy shifted, picked up a T-shirt from the counter and rang it up. “Cash or credit card, sir?”

Derrick took the hint and pretended to be a customer buying a souvenir shirt. “Cash.” He handed the guy a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet.

“You might want to talk to Reggie, one of the guides. He’s our best and gives you just the kind of ride you want.”

Derrick took his change and T-shirt and headed outside. He couldn’t help but notice the men hovering by the section of souvenir shot glasses watching with narrowed eyes.

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