Page 60

CHAPTER 44

Cedar Creek, Nevada Thursday, August 1, 2024

SLOAN TOOK THE LOUIS-BULLAT brIDGE OVER CEDAR CREEK, FOLLOWED the roundabout until she was heading north on Harmony, and tried not to speed as she merged onto Highway 67. She dialed Eric’s number again and listened as the call went straight to voicemail. She kept trying with no luck and gave up when she exited the highway and entered the winding roads that twisted into the foothills. She’d already left two messages and sent several texts asking for a callback.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she felt the anxiety of a ticking clock that told her Margot Gray would not stay at the Cedar Creek Inn for long. After thirty minutes, she finally crossed the wooden bridge that jumped the gorge to Eric’s cabin and turned down his long drive. Eric was packing his bag in the back of the 4Runner and turned when he heard Sloan’s car crunching over the gravel driveway.

“Something’s come up,” Sloan said through the open window as she pulled next to him. “I need you to come back to town right away.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I found Wendy Downing.”