Page 16 of Distress Signal

Unable to help myself, I brought her in for one more squeeze.

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

five

. . .

REAGAN

In my lap,my phone rang, pulling me from the memory of my final face-to-face conversation with Lainey.

That final hug.

The last time I heard her say she loved me.

Watching as she skipped down the porch, loaded her bags into the waiting car, and waved as they pulled away.

If I had known what would happen, I never would’ve let her leave.

Because though the readout on my iPhone screen showed an unknown number, the area code was one I recognized to be from Idaho, andI knew.

I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever the person on the other end of the line had to say.

The thought almost had me letting the call go to voicemail, but there was no prolonging the inevitable.

Sooner or later, I would have to face this.

With shaky fingers, I slid the bar across to answer, and my voice was barely above a whisper when I said, “Hello?”

A deep, stern male voice asked, “Is this Reagan Lindsey?”

“Yes, this is she,” I replied, tone shaky.

“My name is Lane Lawless, and I’m the sheriff here in Dusk Valley, Idaho. I…this is going to be difficult to hear, but we’ve located the body of a woman. Her driver’s license identifies her as Lainey Lindsey. We were able to locate your number as her emergency contact.”

We’ve located the body.

The last fucking words I ever wanted to hear.

Not,we’ve located your sister and she’s okay.

Not,we’ve located your sister and she’s in the hospital undergoing treatment.

We’ve located the body.

Four words like gunshots to my heart.

“Oh, goddesses, my sister,” I managed to gasp through the panic choking me.

“I am so sorry,” he offered lamely.

I didn’t thank him for his condolences, only said, “What do you need from me now?”

“If possible, we’d like you to come out here and give us a visual ID, then we can proceed with the autopsy.”

That pulled me up short.