Page 41 of The Graveyard Girls

“No. It’s a secret.” Ruth squeezed Tilly’s arm. “And you’d better not tattletale. If you do, I’ll tell Mom and Dad you have no friends at school.”

Her sharp words cut through Tilly and tears stung her eyes.

“But going out at night could be dangerous, Ruth. Mom and Dad will?—”

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them,” Ruth said with a giggle. “Besides, I’ll be back before they wake up and they’ll never know.”

Ruth surprised Tilly by giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t be such a worry wart and go back to sleep, sis. Tomorrow we’ll watch a movie together. Your choice.”

Tilly nodded. That would be fun, like old times.

With a little wave, Ruth pranced across the room and climbed through the window. Tilly noticed her sister was wearing her red knee-high boots, the ones that made her look an inch taller. The ones Tilly wanted to borrow but Ruth refused to share.

Shivering as another gust of wind whipped through, Tilly tiptoed to the window, closed it then hurried back to her room and crawled in bed.

Then she closed her eyes, shutting out the worry gnawing at her. Ruth would be fine. She always came out on top. She’d sneak back in the morning gloating at the fact that she got away with her secret midnight rendezvous.

And then she’d make popcorn and they’d huddle on the couch and watch a movie together just like they used to do when they were little.

FORTY-SEVEN

Crooked Creek Police Station

Given their tasks, the team disbanded from the conference room to their own offices and cubicles, except for Cord who remained to study a topical map of Brambletown, the graveyard and No Man’s Land.

A call had come in about Earl Bramble, someone who claimed they’d seen him in Helen, Georgia, so Sheriff Waters left to check it out. If they found him, maybe they could end this killing spree of his and finally locate Ruth Higgins.

Ellie retreated to her office and called theAtlanta Journal-Constitutionnewspaper office to inquire about Tilly while Derrick used the corner area in her office to work on locating Ruth’s brother.

A receptionist answered, “AJC. Jennifer speaking.”

Ellie identified herself. “I need to speak to Tilly Higgins. I understand she works there.”

“Yes, she freelances for us. But she’s currently on assignment in Brambletown.”

Tilly was in Brambletown. “Can you give me her contact information? I need to talk to her.”

“Sure.”

Ellie jotted down Tilly’s phone number as the woman rattled off the numbers, then thanked her, hung up and phoned the number. The call went straight to voicemail so she left a message asking Tilly to return the call.

Tilly being back in Brambletown was no coincidence.

Was she trying to connect the dots between Bonnie’s murder and Ruth’s disappearance?

FORTY-EIGHT

Daisy’s Diner

Ida choked on her fried chicken as her gaze met Tilly’s. A litany of curse words boomeranged in her head.

She leaned closer to Hetty and whispered, “Lord have mercy. You were right. Tilly’s here. I hoped we’d never have to see her damn face again.”

Ida wiped her mouth and reached for her sweet tea, washing down the chicken stuck in her throat.

“Bet she came about that body,” Hetty muttered. “I heard she’s some kind of reporter at the Atlanta paper.”

The ice in Ida’s glass clinked as she set her tea glass on the table. She had to admit Tilly looked better than she used to. She’d always lived in Ruth’s shadow, but she was attractive now, not the mousy girl with her nose crammed in a book all the time. Her dark auburn hair looked soft and wavy, her skin clear, and without glasses, her brown eyes looked almost golden. Her sweater was neat, her jeans nice, not raggedy like hers.