Her Last Day (Jessie Cole #1)(77)

A strangled cry floated through the air.

She stopped and listened, then figured she was hearing things.

There it was again. In the distance she saw what looked like a pigpen. Figuring an animal might be pinned or trapped within the fence, she headed that way, hoping she could help. As she passed by a crudely built wooden box, she heard the noise again.

Her skin prickled.

It took her a few seconds to realize the noise was coming from inside the rectangular box. Both sides of it were warped, but the top looked newly constructed with fresh plywood. Jessie leaned over and struggled to lift the lid before she saw that the plywood had been nailed shut. Heart pounding, she dropped to her knees. “Is someone in there?”

This time she heard the muffled screams loud and clear.

Her adrenaline roared to life. She jumped to her feet. Oh my God. Her only thought was to get whoever was inside out of there.

“Help me!”

Her stomach quivered as she tried again to open the lid. It was no use. The barn. There had to be tools inside. “I’m going to get you out of there. I’ll be back!”

She turned and ran for the barn in hopes of finding a crowbar, anything at all to remove the lid. When she stepped inside, she slid her phone from her back pocket to call for help. By the time she heard movement behind her, it was too late.





FORTY-TWO

Ben and his wife were in their bedroom. The door was locked. Melony was pacing the floor in front of the bed while Ben changed out of his work clothes.

“What were you thinking?” Melony asked him. “Bringing our daughter to the morgue? Did you know she caught a glimpse of a corpse as it was wheeled through the hallway?”

He shook his head. “She didn’t mention it.”

“What’s going on, Ben? You promised me twice that you would get help.”

He sighed.

“I talked to Lori Mitchell today, and she said she called and left you a message to come see her and that you never showed up.”

“Melony,” he said after he pulled a T-shirt over his head, “I’ve got a lot going on right now. I really don’t need to be lectured. I’ll make another appointment. I promise.”

She stopped pacing and instead crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “Abigail said that you embarrassed her in front of her friends and the new coach.”

“Have you met the guy?”

“Of course I have. He’s a good man, a decent husband and father. He’s a busy man, just like you, but he finds the time to coach the girls.”

“I might think that was a very generous way for him to spend his free time if I hadn’t seen the way he touched some of the girls, including our daughter.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s a phony, Melony. His hands were everywhere, including around Abigail’s shoulders. He had the team in a huddle, and I saw his thumb brushing against her bare neck. I didn’t like it.”

Melony stiffened. “I’m sure you’re imagining things.”

“I hope for Abigail’s sake that you’re right.”

He grabbed his car keys from the top of the dresser.

“Where are you going now?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I have time.” She released a heavy sigh. “Are you seeing someone, Ben? Because if you are, I want you to tell me right now. I don’t want to hear it from Susan or Diane across the street.”

Ben stared at her, shaking his head. An affair? He had to hold back any amusement he was feeling because judging by the look on her face, she was serious. He slipped the keys into his pants pocket, walked up to her, and put his hands on her waist. “There has never been anyone but you. Not now. Not ever. I love you.”

She rested her head against his chest, and for a long moment they stood silently breathing each other in.

Ben was the first to speak. “I need to talk to Jessie Cole about her sister, Sophie.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“I haven’t been completely truthful with her, and it’s weighing on me.”

“You’ve been holding things inside. That’s not healthy, Ben. Jessie Cole isn’t the only one you need to open up to.”

“You’re right, but I need you to be patient with me for a little while longer. Jessie needs to know the truth about her sister. I’ve learned things about Sophie Cole. Things that Jessie won’t want to hear. She doesn’t trust me as it is, but my conscience won’t allow me to keep what I know from her any longer.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Go, then, and get this over with so I can spend time with my husband.”

He kissed her on the forehead, and then both cheeks, and finally the mouth. “Our anniversary is coming up soon. What do you think about a week in Hawaii?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he put a finger over it. “No kids,” he said. “Just the two of us.”

“Money is tight and—”

“We’ll make do. You deserve to be pampered.”

“We’ll talk later,” she said. “Hurry home.”

It was six o’clock by the time Ben found a parking spot and made his way to Jessie’s house. He knocked, heard the dog bark, then looked up and saw Olivia looking out the window at him.