All Good People Here(96)

He didn’t look at her as he turned to the stairs. He took one step, then another, and that was when he saw it: the little scrap of baby blanket on the basement stairs. So that was why January had been down there that night. She never slept without her baby blanket, but Krissy had put it in the wash earlier. He remembered because January had made a big deal about it at dinner. She must’ve woken in the middle of the night and gone to get it.

Quietly, Billy stepped up the stairs to retrieve it, then returned to January’s side. He couldn’t just leave her like that, cold and alone. He’d given the blanket to her the day she was born. He always told her it would make her brave if she just squeezed it tight enough. It was their thing together—their little secret. He leaned over to tuck the scrap of snowflake-patterned fabric into one limp hand. He knew it was stupid and worthless, knew she wouldn’t need it wherever she was now. But—who knew?—maybe, just maybe, it could bring her some peace.

Billy turned from January to climb the stairs, his mind already spinning with what the next day would bring, preparing himself for the performance of a lifetime.





   For all of my Crime Junkies





Acknowledgments


Foremost, thank you Alex Kiester and Jenny Chen, who helped me write and edit this novel. They spent many long hours dedicated to bringing my vision to life, and without them this book would not have been a reality. And a special thanks to my literary agent, Meredith Miller from UTA, who helped make my dream of becoming an author a reality.

We also could not have made this book feel so authentic without those who contributed their expertise on subject matter: My best friend, Brit Prawat, who grew up in Wakarusa and helped me make the town feel real. My colleague Delia D’Ambra, who helped shape Margot’s role as a journalist. My friend Steve Dubois, who gave his expertise as a law enforcement veteran, and Brooke Henion, who has worked as an advocate and counselor for human trafficking victims.

I’d also like to thank my husband, Erik Hudak, who has supported and encouraged me through every step of this process. There were times when the days were long as I worked to complete this book while running my company and hosting multiple shows (all while pregnant), but he was my rock and made it possible for me to follow my dreams.

And finally, I’d like to thank my parents. My mother, Lisa, is the one who fostered a love for mysteries from a young age, and my father, David, is the one who taught me how to tell a good story.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Ashley Flowers is the founder and chief executive officer of audiochuck, the award-winning independent media and podcast production company known for its standout content and storytelling across different genres, such as true crime, fiction, and comedy, among others. She also hosts and produces several audiochuck shows, including the top-rated podcast Crime Junkie. In addition to her work with audiochuck, Flowers has collaborated with Parcast to launch and host several podcasts, including International Infamy, Very Presidential, and Supernatural with Ashley Flowers, which debuted at number one on the podcast charts. Flowers was born and raised in Indiana, where she continues to live with her husband, daughter, and their beloved dog, Chuck.

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