Page 55 of Dead Man's Hollow

“Oh, right. Quebec.”

“For hardware store business?”

“No.” She leaves it at that.

“Well, it’s better that he’s not here,” Lynn says.

“Why’s that?”

“Do you want to sit down?” Michelle suggests.

“No.”

The two women exchange another look, then Lynn shrugs.

Michelle clears her throat. “We are going to reach out to Maisy Farley like you want and agree to go on the air. But we wanted to tell you some things first before you hear them on the podcast.”

Amy’s chest tightens and she grips her mug. “Okay. Well, just tell me. I’m tired of not knowing what happened to my sister. Whatever you have to say, it can’t be worse than being in the dark.”

Michelle gives her a look that Amy interprets as ‘be careful what you wish for,’ then says, “Rich was the one who wanted everyone to keep quiet about the fight. He said it was to protect Brett’s cousin, but that’s not the only reason.”

Amy looks at her, waiting.

Michelle takes a breath. “Rich was sleeping with your sister.”

Amy’s not sure what she’s expecting to hear, but this isn’t it. “Excuse me?”

“Rich was cheating on Julia with Heather. He had been for a while. Brett and some of the other guys knew. They covered for him a few times.”

Amy places her mug on the island with great care because her hands are shaking violently. She pushes down her disgust and disappointment at the man she married to focus on learning what happened to her sister.

“Okay. If that’s true, what’s it have to do with what happened in Dead Man’s Hollow?”

“The way I heard it from Brett, Rich was looking for Heather after the cops came,” Michelle begins.

“That’s right. I couldn’t find her. I ran into him, and he said he’d look for her.”

“He said he didn’t find her, but he found that kid she’d been talking to all night. He was with a group of his buddies,” Lynn explains.

“Andre Newport,” Amy tells them.

“What?”

“That’s his name.” She watches their faces, but if they already knew, they don’t let on.

“Oh, I didn’t know who he was. Maisy found him?” Michelle asks.

“She hasn’t talked to him, but she showed me a picture. It’s him.” She doesn’t mention that he’s been missing since that night.

“Well, when she does, he’ll be able to tell her more. But the way we heard it, Rich asked him where Heather was, he mouthed off, and one thing led to another,” Lynn says.

“The fight?”

“Yeah. Some black eyes. Chris had a bloody nose. But nothing major. They were scuffling when the cops came over the hill, and everybody scattered.”

“Including Andre?”

They seem surprised by the question.