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Sitting next to network news anchor Haylee Hunt, Denise clasped her hands together and interlaced her fingers, her knuckles whitening.

Denise inhaled, looking out to the woman with the headset, who was standing beside a camera aimed directly at Denise.

Haylee patted Denise’s arm. “Ignore all this hullabaloo. We’re just going to have a conversation.”

Giving her a taut smile, Denise couldn’t believe how quickly everything had moved. Once she’d agreed to be a guest, the network flew her to New York. They’d put her up in a nice hotel the night before her live interview with Haylee at its world headquarters in Manhattan. Now, amid the bright lights, cameras and busy studio crew, Denise watched the headset woman’s hand signals. Counting down, going live to millions of viewers in five…four…three…

Intro music played, then faded.

“Welcome back,” Haylee said into the camera. “It’s been more than thirteen years, but the murders of two teenage girls is a tragedy that continues to reverberate in the rural community of Clear River, Texas.”

The wall-sized video panel behind Haylee and Denise displayed the pages of the Chronicle ’s story with enlarged insets of photos of Abby, Erin and Carrie as teens. Haylee summarized the murders, then referenced Denise’s story.

“New light has been shed on this heartbreaking case through the exceptional work of the local paper, the Clear River Chronicle . What makes the Chronicle ’s reporting outstanding is that despite efforts by larger media outlets, this small paper was first to interview the tragedy’s sole survivor. The Chronicle also revealed new information on the case. But a caution, this story contains disturbing details. Here with us now in New York to discuss the story,” Haylee said, turning to Denise, “is Denise Diaz, the journalist who wrote this riveting account. Denise, welcome.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ve covered this case extensively.”

“Yes, but not when it broke thirteen years ago. I got into it after joining the paper about four years back.”

“What drew you to it?”

“Many things. I immersed myself in it when it was an unsolved mystery, and I found it disturbing.”

“And the case was recently solved when Donnie Ray Hyde made his stunning confession before he was executed for another murder. You witnessed his execution. What was that like?”

“Unsettling. I think it was for all the witnesses.”

“You interviewed Hyde’s mother, who refuses to believe her son was a multiple murderer.”

“Yes, but that’s understandable. Hyde did confess after Carrie Hamilton’s father, who was sheriff at the time of the murders, recently visited him on death row.”

“Like many who’ve followed this case,” Haylee said, “I’m wondering—didn’t you find that timing odd? That Hyde confessed so soon after Vernon Hamilton visited him on death row?”

“I did. But Hyde’s attorney, as well as his spiritual advisor, noted that the confession came after Hyde’s appeals had run out for the murder he was convicted of, Jenna Dupree; they said he wanted to clear his soul.

“I read Hyde’s confession, and Hyde had facts only the person who’d killed Abby Hall and Erin Eddowes would know,” Denise added.

“Years before Hyde surfaced as a suspect, Carrie Hamilton, the sole survivor and the daughter of the local sheriff, had been considered the leading suspect.”

“Yes, primarily because she was the last to see the girls and they’d argued prior to the murders. But the case against Carrie was circumstantial. In his confession, Hyde admitted that he’d attempted to kill her.”

“As your story states. Yes, very intriguing. But no weapon was ever found, no shell casings. Items were missing, as if the scene was staged,” Haylee said. “And what about Carrie’s injuries? Some have speculated that her diminished memory was a convenient way to evade telling all that happened.”

“It definitely fueled rumors and conspiracies. But the case file contained signed statements by doctors that a chip of skull bone had nicked her brain. And there was the trauma of the murders and her near death in the river. The evidence suggests her problems with memory are legitimate.”

“Denise, Carrie’s never spoken publicly on the case; I should mention that we invited Carrie, her father, Vernon, and Clear River investigators to participate here with us, but they declined. So how did you get your interview with Carrie?”

“A series of events—key among them is that I’d obtained the case file. Carrie agreed to go over it with me and revisit the scene, which she hadn’t done since it happened. It was traumatic for her. She still doesn’t remember much, but our return to Wild Pines Forest may have helped her remember a bit more.”

“Well, you and the Clear River Chronicle are to be congratulated on an outstanding piece of reporting.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s testament to the importance of local newspapers. And we’ve learned that there may be plans to submit it for consideration for a Pulitzer in the category of local journalism.”

“My editor has suggested that.”

“Amazing,” Haylee said. “Now, one final thing before we have to go. We’ve learned that based on your reporting, publishers have approached you about a book, and a producer is interested in developing a TV miniseries?”

“It’s all preliminary, but yes, I’ve talked with a literary agency. It’s all overwhelming. But what’s most important is that the victims of this tragedy not be forgotten, and the truth, the full truth, about what happened be known.”

“Absolutely. Thank you for being with us, Denise.” Haylee turned back to face the camera. “Again, I urge you to read her story in the Clear River Chronicle , online at the site provided at the bottom of your screen.”

***

After the show, a car service from the network took Denise to Newark Liberty International Airport for her return flight.

Adrenaline rippled through her as they left Manhattan, taking the Holland Tunnel and surfacing in Jersey City. Along the drive, her phone exploded with messages from people who’d seen her appearance, read her article or both. She was looking at them when her editor called from Texas.

“Denise, that was fantastic,” Lynn said. “Good Lord, the traffic to your story is nearly crashing our site. We’re getting thousands of visits. Thousands. ”

“Wow.”

“And we’ve just surpassed over one thousand new digital subscribers.”

“That’s great.”

“You were so good, so poised.”

“I was so nervous.”

“You did good. Oh, the New York Times wants to send a reporter and photographer from its Houston bureau to do a story on you, the paper and the case, once you get back.”

“Guess I’m getting my fifteen minutes.”

“You earned it. Nice work. Have a safe flight back.”

After moving through airport security and settling in at preboarding for her flight to Houston, she worked on unwinding. A few travelers did a double take, but she was left alone to resume reading posts and messages. They continued flowing in.

Such a tragedy for those girls and their families, Denise.

I’m from California. You didn’t go into the story deep enough; Carrie’s husband killed a woman when he was with the LAPD.

Saw you with Haylee Hunt. Great work Denise.

Come on, the sheriff’s daughter? Fought with the other girls in the cafeteria. It’s a no-brainer. She did it.

Well-written story, Denise. Good job on this terrible tragedy.

You don’t have the real story. That’s not what happened.

Just read your excellent report and thinking how Carrie lost her mother, was almost murdered, and now her father’s dying. How much is a person supposed to bear?

Hyde confessed at the last minute. Something doesn’t smell right.

Great investigative reporting—hope you get that Pulitzer!

The messages kept coming as Denise buckled into her seat and shut her phone off. The plane seemed to taxi forever before it rocketed down the runway and lifted off. During the flight, Denise tried to relax, but the questions Haylee Hunt had asked and comments that followed gave her pause.

Is this story really over?