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“Not really. What I saw was more of a confirmation of what Jake already knew, but at least it shows he’s on the right track. I hope I can find something soon.”

“What’s next then?”

“Jake is getting in touch with Alice’s roommate to arrange a time for us to stop by so I can look around and see what I can find. After that, I guess I’ll keep looking for clues.”

Lynn sighs. “I guess I’ll be doing a lot of stuff alone this vacation.”

“I’m so sorry. But we can still do lots of things together. I mean, helping Jake shouldn’t take all my time.”

She puts the back of her hand on her forehead and falls back into the sofa like a fainting old-time movie star. “I’ll just have to do a lot of shopping and flirting with the local guys while you’re busy saving the world.”

I grimace. “I promise the next vacation will be the best one ever.”

Journal

I love watching them as they realize the God they’ve been praying for isn’t coming to save them. The hope vanishes from their faces with each ragged breath. The life dimming in their eyes, the clouding of their vision, is almost as satisfying as the first cut.

Almost. But not quite.

That first cut is like losing your virginity. You can only experience it once. I still remember my first time. That first cut was the sweetest of all. I’ve been chasing it all these years, but no one was ever as sweet as my first one.

Chapter17

Avalon

Jake drives in silence.The only sound is the hum of the motor. I steal glances at him. He’s staring at the red light, lost in his own world.

I clear my throat and shift my body so I can face him. “I went to the bowling alley with Lynn yesterday.”

He whirls his head to me. “You did what?” His voice is like the crack of a whip.

I ignore the trace of anger in his tone. “I went to the bowling alley with Lynn.”

The lines around his mouth deepen. “Why would you do that? Do you have any idea how dangerous that could be?”

I cross my arms and stare him down. I know he’s glaring at me, even though those damn sunglasses hide his eyes. “Lena went missing six months ago. I doubt the killer will strike in the same place twice. He’s not stupid. We were perfectly safe.”

A light beep sounds behind us. I glance at the now green traffic light and back at him. He doesn’t make a move. The beeping is a little louder now. His hands squeeze the steering wheel. The beeping increases and is accompanied by others. I raise one eyebrow, and an image of Grandma giving me the same look flashes in my mind. Gosh, I need to call her. It’s been a few days since we talked. She might have some insight into these cases.

He turns to face the road and drives. Someone passes us and gives him the finger. I laugh. I have to.

He grinds his molars. “What’s so funny about that?”

“I’m a New Yorker. Flipping the bird is practically the official state salutation.”

The corner of his mouth twitches. His chest expands with a deep breath. He glances at me. His face resigned, but no trace of anger remains. “Why did you go to the bowling alley?”

I lift a hand as if the gesture could explain my reasoning. “I had to go and see for myself. I hoped that something else would come to me.”

His eyes are fixed on the road. “And did something else come to you?”

I shake my head, but he’s still not looking at me. “No. Nothing.”

He glances at me. “I could have come with you.”

“Yeah, I thought about that. But it would have been a cop and me, and cops tend to make people wary. I figured if I went with Lynn, it would be just two girls having fun. People might have talked. But no such luck.”

He nods once, the steering wheel sliding through his hands as we come out of a turn. “This is a small town, and people like to talk, but usually not to strangers. And to them, you’re a stranger.”