Page 44 of Distress Signal

She sounded so sure, and I wasn’t about to refute her.

If Aria believed in me, the least I could do was make sure that belief wasn’t misplaced.

thirteen

. . .

REAGAN

THREE WEEKS LATER

My sister was still missing.

A month had passed without her.

And we were no closer to finding out what happened to her.

Sheriff Lawless had been in touch a few times, mostly to check in and pass on what little new information they’d gathered. In addition to sweeping her motel room for prints and particulates, the department had also canvassed the area, asking anyone who lived or worked nearby if they remembered seeing her that evening, if she’d been with anyone, or if they’d noticed anything out of the ordinary happening.

Naturally, no one had anything to report.

Lainey had seemingly vanished into thin air, which didn’t bode well for her safe return. Deep in my bones, I knew she was alive, so I forced myself to cling to that small comfort, protecting the little ember of hope that still smoldered in my chest.

Still, I couldn’t sit around all the way across the country, doing nothing while she was out there somewhere. Before I’d even gotten on the plane home from Idaho, I’d made thedecision to move to Dusk Valley, at least for the summer. I could operate my business from anywhere, and I had nothing keeping me in Tennessee.

Lainey and I owned our home outright—the same house our parents had purchased shortly after we were born that reverted to our names when they passed. Troy was an attorney, and though he admirably pleaded his case for me to stay, I knew I needed to be in Dusk Valley.

I had no idea how long I’d be gone, but I cancelled all photography jobs we’d scheduled this summer and secured a three-month lease in Dusk Valley. I also offered the same here. My renters were a travel nurse and her husband, who worked from home. I’d had Troy run background checks on them. Both had clean records, excellent credit, and provided glowing personal references. By all accounts, they were upstanding citizens who kept to themselves.

Did Ineedto move to Dusk Valley? Of course not. But I wanted to be there, in Lane’s face, reminding him Lainey was still missing. AndmaybeI was delusional enough to think I could help in some way.

Though he was no closer to locating Lainey than when I’d left three weeks before, Lane had been helpful in finding me a long-term rental. Most rentals in the area were short-term, and with the summer tourist season rapidly approaching, I’d had difficulty finding anything myself.

I hadn’t seen pictures of the place, but the sheriff assured me it was safe and well-maintained. The price was right, so that was good enough for me.

My doorbell rang as I was packing the last of my clothes.

I was unsurprised to find my ex on the other side.

To be honest, my and Troy’s relationship had been ill-fated from the start. We’d met shortly after Lainey and I graduated college. He’d come into the restaurant where we’d been waiting tables, working crazy hours to save enough to get our photographybusiness off the ground. In his bespoke suit, with that expensive haircut and warm brown eyes, I’d been immediately drawn to him. To his stability. How he seemed to see me forme. Not Reagan, the twin. Not Reagan, the reformed party girl. Not Reagan, the woman who remained trapped in the backseat of a car with her parents dead in the front.

Simply…Reagan, the woman.

Our romance had been a whirlwind, and I’d been so caught up in the glamor of it all—me, fresh out of college pinching pennies, catching the eye of this well-established, successful attorney—that I ignored the red flags for far too long.

Troy had been instrumental in bringing me back to myself, and for that, I would always be grateful for him. But this version of me had simply outgrown him.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t taking our separation as gracefully as I’d hoped—as evidenced by him showing up at my house unannounced, once again attempting to get me to stay.

“Damn, it looks empty in here,” he said when I let him in.

“That’s what happens when you move,” I replied, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

“You don’thaveto, though.”

Rolling my eyes, I didn’t respond. We’d had this same argument numerous times over the last few weeks.

“Please, Reag. Don’t do this.”