The Trapped Girl (Tracy Crosswhite #4)(117)

In addition to her family, Tracy had thought of Andrea Strickland that morning. She wondered where the young woman had gone, and how she was doing. She wondered if she’d had her baby yet, and if so, whether it was a boy or a girl. She wondered if Andrea saw that child as a new beginning, a new life. A chance to start over.

The media frenzy had been intense in the days after the standoff at the cabin, rife with speculation, innuendo, and rumors. When the pack of reporters finally determined the location of Andrea Strickland’s hideaway in the mountains, they descended upon Seven Pines, but found the tiny cabin just across the wooden bridge deserted, though filled with hundreds and hundreds of books. One of the reporters filed a story noting that a book rested on the coffee table, fanned open, as if the person who’d set it down intended to someday return and continue reading. The book was The Diary of Anne Frank.

“The reader,” the reporter wrote, “left the book open to a page with a single sentence underlined.”

In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.

Tracy wondered if Andrea Strickland had meant it as a message to her.

She looked at Kins and smiled. “I’m ready.”

Kins cued the violinist and cellist. A moment later, the man and woman began to play. Tracy walked forward, her arm wrapped through Kins’s, holding a bouquet of roses.

“You look beautiful,” Kins said.

Tracy smiled. “I feel beautiful,” she said.

Today would be one of the good days, one of the days to remember and, she hoped, her own new start to a new life.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


So, one of the hot topics at writers’ conferences is often whether you outline your novel or whether you’re a “pantser.” I’d never heard the latter term, short for “seat of the pants.” I’m not really an outliner or a “pantser,” though I’m definitely more of an organic writer. I take an idea, play with it, and explore where it goes. Sometimes the book unfolds for me, as was the case with Her Final Breath and In the Clearing. In a weird way, the chapters almost write themselves. I just try to keep up. It’s not that simple, but I think you get my point.

Other times, however, it’s a struggle, as was the case with My Sister’s Grave, and with this novel. Usually, I get myself in trouble because I think I have a set idea—in this case, a book that takes place on Mount Rainier. I’d traveled to Rainier with my family and thought it would be a cool place to set a story. Problem was, each time I spoke with an expert in this area, they would ask, “Why does your homicide detective go up the mountain?” I never did have a good answer for that. I suppose there could be a reason, but after several months of interviews and thinking, without success, I decided instead to take a different path. That’s not to diminish their help or expertise. Indeed, they each helped me to map out a course on the mountain and explain how someone could climb it and disappear. They also pointed out that what so many people take for granted—getting to the summit—is anything but a given, and at times can turn deadly.

So, my thanks to Wes Giesbrecht for his patient guidance, to Dr. Dave Bishop, who shared with me the time he spent a week hunkered down in a storm on the mountain, fighting to stay alive. Thanks to Sunny Remington, who powered up the Liberty Ridge route in two days, showing me that it could be done—wow! Thanks to Fred Newman, who provided wonderful details. Thank you for all your time and expertise on the mammoth mountain that stands guard over the Pacific Northwest and beckons so many to climb its slopes, including my wife, father-in-law, and my brothers Bill and Tom. I won’t be one of them. God didn’t give me the body or the blood to climb in altitudes, so I’ll stay at the bottom and watch and admire from afar.

Turns out, disappearing is as difficult as climbing Rainier. With all the social media, going off the grid is tough, and people like skip tracers, private investigators, and nefarious individuals have any number of ways to track a person. I read several books on the subject, and I also want to thank private investigator Gina Brent for her insight, and Chief DJ Nesel, Maple Valley Police Department, who, in another life, used to track individuals and stolen money.

Thank you to Detective Jennifer Southworth, Seattle Police Department, Violent Crimes Section, and to Scott Tompkins, King County Sheriff’s Office, Major Crimes Unit. Scott began my journey one afternoon when he asked if I ever thought of starting a book with a body found in a crab pot. That’s all it took. I was hooked. We sat down and I said, “Walk me through it.” They both did just that. Jurisdiction was a big issue in this novel, and Jennifer and Scott patiently guided me through it. I hope I got it right. All characters in the book are fictional, and where I took any liberties, I did so on my own. Any mistakes or errors are also mine and mine alone. I’m indebted to them for their time and expertise.

Thanks to Ms. Meg Ruley and her team at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, foremost among them, Rebecca Scherer. Meg and I have been together now for just about fifteen years and she has managed my career flawlessly. Yes, there is a business relationship, but you’d never know it when we get together. We talk about families and kids and just about everything truly important. She’s helped to keep me grounded, and this past year, in particular, I’ve needed that bit of perspective. Thanks, Meg. Rebecca is a guru at numbers and computers. At any time she can provide an answer to just about any question I ask. Where she gets all that knowledge is beyond me, but I’m grateful to have her on my team. Thanks also to Danielle Sickles and Julianne Tinari, International Rights Director and Contracts Manager, respectively. They get my books overseas and translated so they can be read by so many. And thanks to Jane Rotrosen, who greeted me fifteen years ago with open arms, a big smile, and said, “We’re going to sell a lot of books together, kid.” They’ve all believed in me, stood by me, and worked tirelessly to make it happen. A truly great team.