Page 91 of The Girl in the River

He went so still Ellie wasn’t sure he was breathing. “Listen to me,” he said in a menacing whisper. “This is my town and I have things under control. Do not interfere, Detective.”

“If you have things under control, then why are bodies piling up? Why is everyone in this town afraid to talk? Including you?”

His lip twitched as if he was biting back a threat. “I believe you’ve had your own share of murders in your town, Detective Reeves. You weren’t able to save everyone, were you?”

Ellie’s heart thundered. “No, but I certainly didn’t cover up the truth. I did what I could to get justice.”

“And so will I,” Sheriff Kincaid said. “Now, get out of my county.”

She shook her head. “No way. My medical examiner will join yours for the autopsy.”

Furious, she turned and pulled her phone to call Laney.

ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE

SOMEWHERE ON THE RIVER

Mia’s stomach roiled, her mind a tornado of emotions. What was her kidnapper planning to do to her next?

He was torturing her, letting her die a slow death and keeping her away from Pixie.

Thank God Kevin didn’t know about Pixie and she was safe.

She nibbled on the dry crackers, anything to give her energy, and prayed they’d stopped drugging her water. Her past life drifted back to her, a memory of when Patty had first come to her, upset, and raised alarm bells in her head.

“Jess, something’s wrong. Last night I noticed a discrepancy with the books and asked Kevin, and he… he scared me.”

“What do you mean?” Mia – Jesse – had asked.

“He ordered me to do my job and let him take care of it. But… I followed him outside and heard him talking to someone and… he told them he’d take care of me and stop me from asking questions.” Patty burst into tears. “I’m scared, Jess. I think someone’s been following me all day.”

That night she’d asked Kevin what was going on. He’d wrapped his hands around her throat, squeezed her neck and she’d thought he would strangle her to death.

ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO

CROOKED CREEK

Pixie hugged her beach towel around her as she trailed Norah and her brothers from the van. The boys ran to the trampoline again and Norah chased after them.

Pixie trudged behind them. She didn’t feel like jumping, just like she hadn’t felt like swimming today but she had climbed on the big pink flamingo float with Norah and for a few minutes she laughed and forgot that her mommy wasn’t coming back for her.

Tears bubbled in her throat and she swiped at her eyes.

“Come on, sweetie,” Ms. Emily said as she put her arm around her. “You want to play outside or watch a show?”

“I want Mommy,” Pixie cried. “And Mr. Mark.”

Ms. Emily scooped her up and carried her to the backyard then they sat in the glider for a minute, rocking back and forth. Pixie looked up for a minute and saw the black car she’d seen before slowing as it drove by.

She buried her head against Ms. Emily and cried and cried. Finally her tears dried up and she settled down.

Then she heard Ms. Emily talking on the phone to Ms. Ellie. “I think it might be good for Pixie to see Mark. Is that okay?”

Pixie clenched her hands as she tried to hear what Ms. Ellie had to say, but she couldn’t hear.

Then Ms. Emily said, “Okay, I’ll set it up.”

Ms. Emily patted her back. “I’m calling Mark now.”

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