Page 40

Chapter 39

W e leave Allie’s house, bags packed and loaded into the truck. Yes, bags. With Allie, it’s never just one bag. The noon sun blazes brightly overhead, and the skies are a clear blue— a sharp contrast to the weight and gravity of the situation.

She hasn’t said much, and didn’t even flinch when she saw us come back inside from the shed—Eli holding the manila envelope, his hands gripping it tightly.

This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen from her, and I don’t know how to comfort my friend. It’s as if she’s just a shell of the person I know, almost like her soul has been lifted from her body.

A breaking news alert snaps me to attention, and I turn up the volume on the radio.

“Police have arrived at the scene where a body, believed to be Wilson Randall, has been found. Wilson is the son of local Sheriff Bob Randall, who is unavailable for comment at this time. Police are investigating and are scheduled to hold a press conference later today. ”

I glance at Eli before checking the rearview mirror, gauging Allie’s reaction.

“What? W–what? Wilson is dead?” Allie stammers, panic lacing her voice. “What about Dalton? Where could he be? Is he coming for me?”

“Allie, you’re safe. You’re safe with me,” Eli insists, reaching behind to rub her hand for comfort. “And with Tessa. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tears spill down her face. “But why?” she implores. “Why would you help me? It would be best if you hated me. For everything. For the things I didn’t tell you.”

Eli doesn’t flinch. “I could never hate you. What happened to my sister, to your cousin, was not your fault. You were just a child. I love you, Allie. Nothing will ever change that.”

“I love you too, cuz,” she replies, weeping quietly.

We get Allie settled into my guest room. It’s next to mine, so I can hear her if she needs me. She crawls under the covers without unpacking, curling in on herself. I try to coax her to eat something, but she refuses. So I leave a bottle of water and a granola bar on the nightstand.

I hold back the urge to act impulsively, to go downstairs and end Dalton’s life right now, but I know Eli needs me to restrain my urges. This isn’t about me, nor is it only about Allie. We have direct evidence linking Dalton and Wilson to his sister’s disappearance, but there’s still so much more to uncover.

I find Eli on the couch, staring at the photos. Going to the sidebar, I pour him a glass of whiskey, grab a bottle of water for myself, and settle beside him with my laptop .

“I’ve been waiting for answers for years but now all I have are more questions,” his voice cracks, filled with despair.

“I know. We won’t stop until every evil bastard is accounted for, and their justice served.”

He grabs another photo. “This girl. She disappeared the same night as Pais.”

“You said two girls, similar in appearance, have disappeared every year around the same time. These must be the other girls.” I lift another photo and look at it closely before picking up the thumb drive and connecting it to my laptop. Eli leans in, watching over my shoulder as I pull up the documents, one by one. Some are photos, others are emails and phone records.

“Dalton must have been gathering data on everyone involved. Maybe he was collecting blackmail material in case his involvement was exposed?” I suggest.

“There are some big names here. Doctors, lawyers, CEOs… The fucking mayor?” Eli exclaims, his voice shrill. “God damn it.”

When the next photo pops up, I freeze, and a shiver runs down my spine.

“Wait, is that Governor Hunt?” Eli asks, his tone tight.

Bile rises in my throat, and I fight the urge to vomit. My body shakes uncontrollably, but I can’t look away.

This isn’t happening.

This can’t be happening.

“Tess? Tessa!!” Eli’s voice is laced with panic.

All I can do is look at him, apprehension pooling in my stomach. I see the moment when it all clicks for him .

“It’s him. He’s the fucking monster who touched you? He’s a dead man!” Eli snarls, slamming his fist onto the white oak coffee table.

“I could have stopped this. These girls… this is all my fault,” I mutter, my arm sweeping toward the photos. Horror and understanding settle into me like a weight.

Jumping off the couch, I pace, cursing myself for not seeing it sooner. I should have known my attack wasn’t an isolated incident. All these years, I thought I was just a victim of convenience.

What else have I missed?

Eli grabs me, holding me in place.

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, or Allie, but this is not your fault. These men didn’t act alone. This has been going on for a long time, and we’re going to end it,” he says, his voice growing louder with each word.

“We need to deal with Dalton,” I respond, my voice hard. “We have everything we need from him. It’s time he pays for his sins,” I whisper harshly.

Eli freezes, his eyes locked behind me. I turn, finding Allie standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock, her face so pale it’s almost gray.

“What do you mean ‘deal with Dalton’? What’s going on?”

“Alls—” I start.

“No. No more secrets. No more lies. I knew you two were hiding something.” Her whole body trembles. “Oh my god, is he here ?”

“Yes.” I straighten, pulling myself together, and resist the urge to flinch as her eyes fill with horror, her hands covering her mouth. “He’s locked in the basement.”