Page 67 of Our Daughter's Bones

“Nick, the number ‘916’ turned up in Abby’s diary and on the inside of her locker.”

His eyebrows dipped as he stared at the picture. “That changes things.”

“But I don’t know what it means. It must mean something, right?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “The coincidence is too specific. To find these exact numbers in three different places? I’ll ask Jenna to check if they were involved in some society, or planned to join a sorority, something like that.”

“I wonder if this is the sensitive information Abby came across,” she said slowly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that the way Abby had written these numbers. They were scribbled in her diary and behind a picture inside her locker. It seems like these numbers were important, but she was being secretive about them, considering where she wrote them. What if this is the clue or one of the clues she discovered? What if Abby knows what 916 means? What if this is why she was scared?”

Her thoughts raced through her brain like a train with failed brakes. She hoped she was being articulate enough for Nick; they had worked together long enough not to need many words.

“What does this symbol mean? It isn’t even complete. The top portion is torn off.”

“I sent the picture to Daniel. Maybe the FBI database can give some answers. I’ll ask Clint to run it too.”

“Good idea. This number, though… 916… it’s the area code for Sacramento. I can check if they have any connection there, but I doubt it.” He zoomed in on the picture and scrutinized it. “We need to get this to Anthony.”

“Why?”

“Notice the ring on it? It has a brown tinge to it.”

She narrowed her eyes and adjusted the angle of the phone and saw it. She had missed it before, but there was a clear ring of fading brown liquid. “It was used as a coaster. It’s a cocktail napkin.”

“Yup. So probably some bar or club.” He gave her the phone back.

“I’ll ask Clint to look for any establishment with a connection to these numbers.”

“Sorry Sully sprang this on you. I would have had time to come back to the station—the game ends at nine.”

“It’s fine. It’s good to see her.”

“This isn’t the first time Quinn Jones has given me the runaround. Chasing him during football season is like chasing a ghost.He’s busy at practice. He’s in a meeting with Coach Grayson right now. He’ll call you back later.”

Clint, can you look for any place that could be related to this paper napkin? I’ve attached a picture. Also check if there’s a connection to Eddy Rowinski.

“What do you think of Daniel?” Mackenzie said a moment later.

Nick frowned. “In what way?”

She licked her lips. “Generally.”

“He’s fine. Why?”

“Just wondering why someone with his background wanted to come toLakemoreof all the places.”

Nick nodded slowly. She knew his mind was racing. It was a thought that had been constantly knocking at her brain, like an uninvited guest.

Why was Agent St. Clair in Lakemore? The FBI could have had sent an agent from the Seattle office, someone familiar with Lakemore and Washington state. Daniel had volunteered to come all the way from Chicago.

For all of Mackenzie’s belief in her hometown’s potential, she knew Lakemore was a town people escaped, not chased. What was Daniel chasing? He was an alien in Lakemore, unfamiliar with the town’s moods and workings, new to the rainy and gloomy state of Washington. That didn’t deter him from looking into evidence independently. It certainly didn’t stop him from acting vague and even lying to Mackenzie.

“Aunty Mack, what should I be for Halloween this year?” Luna’s innocent voice interrupted her thoughts.

“What do you want to be?”