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John lowered his gaze to Holly’s kitchen window on the first floor, glad now that he’d done what he did. He knew Holly was staying next door only temporarily, hiding out from her abusive ex-fiancé. But every day she stayed in that house posed a risk to him and his dad.
John had read all of Holly’s books before she moved into Norm and Maurine’s home, and he recalled coming across her author’s note inBehind Closed Doors,where Holly recounted being brutally attacked by her ex-fiancé, a detective for King County Major Crimes in the spring of 1985, the same time his dad had been brought in for questioning. Yesterday, John had gone to the library to search through old news articles until he’d found an article detailing how the King County Major Crimes detective had been sentenced to prison for the first-degree assault of his fiancé, crime reporter Holly Sparks.
When John had seen the five-year-old photo of Detective Jared Peretti, he’d nearly fallen out of his chair. He’d never forget the face of the Sylvester Stallone lookalike who’d stuck Sally’s photo in John’s face, shouting at him to confess while John’s father had banged on the door to the room. It was ironic yet satisfying that the asshole detective had gone to prison, not his father.
John returned his attention to the window of Holly’s upstairs office, looking beyond the writer seated at her desk to the lists of murder victims and map that covered the wall. Dread coiled inhis gut like a cold, tightening vise. John couldn’t let her uncover what had really happened.
He thought back to their conversation in Holly’s office, wishing he hadn’t told her about his mom’s death.What if she starts looking into that too?He should’ve just let her believe his parents were divorced.She won’t,he reassured himself.She has no reason to look into what happened to my mom.
Part of him wanted Holly to know, and that scared him.
Even though no one could know the truth besides him and his dad, it bothered John that they never talked about it. Ever since that trip to Fairbanks, John had felt his dad shrink away from him. It drove John crazy that they never talked about what happened to Sally, Jennifer Duran, or the woman found in that ditch in Fairbanks.
His father’s growing distance had made John feel like he’d done something wrong. But deep down, John knew his dad had nothing to be upset with him about. When they’d gotten home from that Fairbanks trip, John had asked his dad why he was acting so different.
I showed you some things about me too soon,his dad had said.Maybe I was wrong. I should’ve waited until you were older.
John had tried to assure him it wasn’t too soon; he’dwantedto know who his dad really was. But his dad had pulled away, nevertheless. They felt like strangers now, pretending to live a normal, mundane life under the weight of long-kept secrets, though John knew they weren't normal at all.
And here he was, fifteen years old, and his father still treated him like a child. How long would it take for his dad to see him as an equal? As a man?
John heard the faint ringing of Holly’s phone on her downstairs kitchen wall. She slipped off her headphones and tilted her head toward the noise. John backed away from thewindow so she wouldn’t catch him watching as she rose to her feet.
From the shadows of his room, John kept his eyes on the house next door until he spotted Holly entering the kitchen and picking up the phone. A stack of mail lay on the counter beside her. She’d be gone soon. He just needed to be patient.
John crossed his room, picked up the phone off the nightstand, and held it to his ear. He recognized Laurie’s voice on the line talking to Holly. Thankfully, his dad and their cul-de-sac neighbors were still sharing a party line. Normally, John found it annoying when the line was tied up because his father and their neighbors stayed stuck in the past to save a few pennies. But John had never needed to keep tabs on any of their neighbors before.
He sat on his bed and moved the mouthpiece toward his neck so they wouldn’t hear his breathing.Man, did Laurie love to hear herself talk.
Since he was grounded, he wouldn’t be going anywhere for the rest of the night. John lifted his borrowed copy ofIn Cold Bloodoff the foot of the bed and turned on the bedside lamp. Being forced to stay at home wasn’t really a punishment when he had a good book. He wondered how long Laurie would keep Holly on the line. He probably wouldn’t learn anything useful by listening, and he was dying to start the book Holly had loaned him.
His dad didn’t understand his love of reading. Said he’d gotten it from his mother. Lately, it seemed to be another thing that widened the chasm between them. John reclined against his headboard and openedIn Cold Bloodto the dedication.
John’s ears perked up, hearing Laurie say his dad’s name on the other end of the line. He set the book down on the bed beside him and gave Holly’s phone call his full attention.
Chapter 29
HOLLY
“Ijust wanted to check in and make sure you were doing okay after everything,” Laurie said.
“I’m fine.” Holly looked around the empty kitchen, trying not to let her disappointment show in her voice. She’d been hoping the phone call was Andy with an update on Jared’s alibi from the night she went over the bridge.
One of Laurie’s twins squealed in the background, followed by an ear-piercing scream. “Ken,” Laurie yelled. “Can you come give me a hand for a second? I’m on the phone.”
Laurie’s daughter’s crying grew fainter as Holly imagined Ken carrying her out of the room.
“Sorry,” Laurie said. “How’s the manuscript coming? I’d like to think you’re taking some time to recover, but I know you better than that.”
“It’s coming,” Holly said, slumping against the kitchen counter. “But I may not finish if I have to keep taking breaks answering the phone.”
“That’s why I’m calling. To make sure youaretaking some breaks. Speaking of that,” Laurie added. “Have you seen Clint today?”
Holly groaned, lifting her gaze toward the neighboring house. “No. And please, stop telling him to check on me like I’m some kind of damsel in distress. It’s embarrassing.”
“But also nice, right?”
Holly contained a smile. Maybe, but she wasn’t about to give Laurie the satisfaction of saying so. “You didn’t tell me he was a widower. Not that it really matters. I just assumed he was divorced.”