Since She Went Away(108)

“I met one of the lonely people she convinced,” Jenna said. “You convinced him so well he showed up here.”

“We were going to come back here and move it—her—when the weather got warm,” Bobby said.

Jenna looked up at Bobby. His cheeks were red, but otherwise he looked so normal, so innocent. The all-American kid. And he was discussing hiding a body as though he were talking about hiding a case of beer.

“And William Rose found out,” Jenna said from one knee. “He was supposed to be following Celia, but he must have seen you two. You went out that night, Ian. Did you call to have Celia followed?”

Ian moved his head. It was barely a nod.

“Somehow he saw us moving the body,” Bobby said. “He knew what we were doing.”

“And what then? He wanted to blackmail your dad?”

“I think that’s why William Rose killed him,” Bobby said. “I think something went wrong there. Dad might have been tired of it. Maybe he didn’t have the money as fast as Rose wanted it.” His eyes filled with tears. “I might as well have killed him myself. I caused it to happen.”

“That’s why Natalie heard your names the night your dad was killed,” Jared said. “He was threatening your dad.”

“Ian?” Jenna said. “What about you?”

Ian nodded. Slowly. “He kept his distance from me after Celia disappeared. Maybe it was just a matter of time and he would have blackmailed me as well.”

Jenna stood up. Jared was shivering and scared. She placed her arm around his shoulder and led him away. When they passed Ursula and Ian, Jenna said, “I’m calling the police.”

“Wait,” Ian said. He looked pale. Terrified. “Jenna, you understand. These are . . . they might be my last moments with my daughter for a long time. Can you wait?”

“Please, Jenna,” Ursula said, her eyes pleading. “Mom wouldn’t want you to do this. You were such good friends. She’d want you to protect me.”

Jenna didn’t bend. “She’d want you to tell the truth. But you put her . . .” Jenna made a vague gesture toward the pool. Toward the secret floating below them. “You did everything to hide it. To cover it up. To try to get away with it. You told Reena about the affairs, didn’t you?”

Ursula didn’t answer.

Jenna and Jared walked out of the pool area and back toward her car. When they were inside, she started the engine and cranked the heat.

She took a deep breath and dialed the police.

After she made her report, insisting that the cop on the other line find and tell Detective Poole right away, she turned to her son.

“It wasn’t your fault, Mom,” he said. “Celia was dead and never even left the house that night. No one hurt her at the park.”

“Yeah.” Her own voice sounded distant. “I think they call that cold comfort. I still called her. She was leaving the house for me when Ursula . . .”

“You can’t think that way,” he said.

But Jenna wasn’t sure.

Two police cars arrived in the alley. The officers jumped out and headed onto the Embrys’ property.

“We should get going,” Jenna said. “You’re cold.”

“Sure.”

“You can change at home and get warmed up. The police know where to find us. They know that very well. And we’ll be talking to them for a while, but maybe we can visit Natalie later,” she said, trying to give them some hope. “We’ll find out where she is, and we’ll go by. What do you say?”

“Sounds great.”

She took one look back at the property where Celia rested and drove them home.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Once again I’d like to thank the many booksellers, librarians, bloggers, and reviewers who help spread the word about my books. With special thanks to Jennifer Plane Bailey and the staff of the Barnes & Noble store in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Lisa Rice and the staff of the Warren County Public Library.

Thanks to my friends and family, especially Tomitha Blair, J. T. Ellison, John Hagaman, David Lenoir, Andrew McMichael, Mary Ellen Miller, Jane Olmsted, and Craig and Tracy Williams. Big thanks to Samantha McAllister for all her help and assistance. And thanks to Kara Thurmond for designing and maintaining my Web site.

Special thanks to Loren Jaggers and the publicity team at NAL/Berkley for getting the word out about my books.

Once again my amazing agent, Laney Katz Becker, guided me with her wisdom, high standards, and determination.

And, of course, my amazing editor, Danielle Perez, showed the way with her commitment, insights, and patience. And special thanks to everyone at NAL/Berkley.

And thanks to Molly McCaffrey for everything else.





QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION


1. At the beginning of the novel, Celia has been missing for several months. In what ways are the various characters—Jenna, Jared, Ian, and Ursula—responding to and coping with the stress of her disappearance?

2. Jenna and Jared seem to have a solid mother/son relationship. Do you think this is because Jenna is a single parent? Do you understand why she sometimes worries about the job she is doing and the lack of a male role model in Jared’s life?

3. Since Jared is only fifteen and inexperienced with girls, does it make sense that he would fall so hard and so fast for Tabitha (Natalie)? Are you surprised that he would go to such great lengths to find out what happened to her, including breaking into her house? Do you believe that Tabitha (Natalie) would fall for Jared so quickly as well?