At the Quiet Edge(76)

Everett finally spoke up. “You look like him.”

“People mistake us for brothers, yes.”

“So maybe it was you who was seen with Mary. Maybe he was never involved at all.”

Alex smiled a little sadly. “That’s a smart theory, but I really was in college in Ohio at the time.” He held up a hand when Everett opened his mouth. “And I know just what a savvy investigator would say, so I’ll tell you right now to go check the dates of all those articles. I wasn’t here, Everett. I swear.”

Lily cleared her throat. “Okay, but what about your uncle? You already said he knew those girls.”

Alex’s head was shaking before she’d even finished talking. “I know him, Lily. He’s a wonderful man.”

Everett snorted. “Everyone always says that until the truth comes out.”

Lily tipped her head in question, because everyone did always say that. He was quiet, he was involved with the community, he never gave any indication . . .

“Uncle Alex asked for my help a few years ago. He wouldn’t have done that if he were involved. Yes, he got a little obsessed with the cases, but that seems normal, doesn’t it? His son was accused. He knew these women. Heck, in a town this size, most people knew these women.”

“True,” Lily said. “So why wasn’t everyone else obsessed?”

“My uncle says the town considered them throwaways. People expected the worst for them, and hardly anyone blinked an eye when the worst happened. And no bodies have ever been found, so it’s not even murder. Hell, most people barely remember the girls at this point, and those who do will say they’re just runaways. Lord knows teenagers around here are still desperate to get away from Herriman.”

Everett protested. “The Herrera family doesn’t say that.”

“No, you’re right. The Herrera family never believed their daughter ran away, and they were absolutely the most vocal. They raised a fuss, they organized search parties, and they wouldn’t let it drop. And the funny thing is that girls stopped disappearing after that.”

“I’ll be right back,” Everett abruptly said, aiming a hard look at Alex that would have made Lily smile under any other circumstance. She could see a bit of the man he’d be in that narrow look, the muscles beneath his skin tightening enough to square off the round edges of his face.

Lily and Alex both stared at the door after he disappeared, until Alex finally spoke. “He’s going to check my alibi, isn’t he?”

“I think so.”

“Good boy.” Alex leaned back and tipped his head toward the blue sky. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth.”

She turned to look at him, studying his face, his closed eyes, listening for the rest of the truth, because that wasn’t all. Alex was practically still holding his breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Are you going to?” she finally asked.

“Yeah.” He turned his head and opened his eyes, and she felt struck by the way his face had already become familiar. “I didn’t just come here to organize my uncle’s things.”

“He seems to have a son who could do that.”

“He does. I came here because I’m working on the story.”

That surprised her, though she had no idea why. She’d thought maybe he’d come to find proof for his dying uncle or fulfill a promise to help with the research. “For your newspaper?”

“No. I did leave the paper. That wasn’t a lie. I’m thinking about a book or maybe even a podcast.” He flashed a nervous smile, but she ignored it. “Trying to keep up with the times, you know. Print journalism isn’t exactly thriving.”

Everett banged outside again, the door flying wide to reveal him still glaring. “Well, it checks out,” he snapped. “He was publishing stories in Ohio during a couple of the disappearances. He even did a video interview at a basketball game.”

Lily was surprised by the deep relief that sank through her at Everett’s declaration. She felt thankful for her own sake, of course, but more than that, she felt a sense of near deliverance that she hadn’t brought a dangerous man into her son’s life. If Alex had been revealed as a monster, she could never begin to trust herself again. Not with her own safety, and certainly not with her child’s.

“You’d make a great reporter,” Alex said. “Good work.”

Everett’s eyes still hadn’t softened from their narrowed glare, but at least he didn’t accuse Alex of murder again. Sadly, Lily took that as a positive sign.

But it wasn’t the end of this. Not by far.





CHAPTER 28


“I want to see what Everett saw,” his mother said. “He said there were photos? Articles?”

Alex nodded. “Sure, come to the locker.”

Everett glared at that and lifted his chin toward the camera when his mom looked at him.

She nodded. “No. Bring them here.”

“Oh.” Alex glanced up at the camera too. “Got it. Sure.”

After he walked away, his mom turned to him and opened her arms. Everett took three quick steps and sank into the safety of her hug. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You were trying to do the right thing. I know that. We’re all just trying to do the right thing, and we all screw up.”