The Last Sister (Columbia River)(84)

“Correct.” Zander waited a long moment. “You once told me this town had an ugly underbelly, Vina. I took it as there was some racism, but did you know these men were associated with that sort of hate?”

The women were quiet.

He took that as a yes. “Your mayor, Harlan Trapp. What do you know about him?” He studied the women as he waited for an answer. Vina was better at hiding her thoughts, her appearance calm and serene. Thea was twitchy, her gaze unable to settle anywhere.

“There were rumors,” Vina finally said. “There are always rumors . . . about everybody.”

“I suspect you know which rumors to ignore and which to give a little more credence to.”

Thea licked her lips, her right leg bouncing. “Harlan attended those meetings.”

“What meetings?”

“In Portland. Lincoln went to them too. But he’d been raised by parents who believed the same. When he moved here from North Carolina, I think he felt like a fish out of water. He found what he needed with this group in Portland. And as long as he kept it to himself, we tolerated him with Brenda—we primarily had issues with the way he manipulated her. She wouldn’t stand up for herself. But every now and then, his group would come to the coast and be obnoxious—no hoods and white robes, of course. They didn’t do that sort of thing, but they’d drink and cause havoc in town—just blowing off steam like men do.”

Zander bit his tongue. He’d never blown off steam that way. But apparently the women had tolerated Lincoln Mills as long as he kept his active racism behind closed doors.

It was a different generation.

“Did this Portland group have a name?” asked Zander.

The women considered. “Not that I remember,” said Thea. Vina agreed.

“Did all the men in the picture belong to Lincoln’s Portland group?” he asked.

“Oh, no. I’m sure Lincoln and Harlan were just hamming it up,” said Vina. “Probably showing off. They liked to talk the big talk, you know.”

Boys will be boys.

“What about Sheriff Greer? What was his reputation?”

Vina tipped her head and looked at Thea thoughtfully. “Merrill was always a quiet one. Not the brightest man, but dependable.” Thea nodded in agreement.

“So you don’t know if he was a member of this Portland group.”

“Correct.”

“Thank you,” said Zander. The women went back to socialize with their guests, and Zander studied the pictures. Am I jumping to conclusions about Harlan?

He still couldn’t decide if he should talk to the sheriff.

I’m getting worked up about a twenty-five-year-old photo that shows a few jerks.

He took the photos back to the office, where Dory was looking frustrated.

“Agent Zander? The girls are taking way too long. I’ve tried to call them, but neither are answering their phones.” Her soft face was lined with worry.

Yesterday’s car accident flashed in his head. “Where did they go?”

“Well . . . it’s a surprise.”

“Dory, you can tell me. The surprise is for your sisters.” Tension ratcheted up his spine. “You’re clearly concerned. I can’t help unless I know where they are.”

“They went to get Tara. Vina and Thea will be so excited!” She clasped her hands, glee on her face.

Emily told them about Tara?

“Madison and Emily are driving to Beaverton?”

“Of course not, Tara is here.”

Is Dory confused?

“Tara is in town, Dory?”

“Well, we assume she’s gone here.” Dory touched a photo of a young couple on a ridge above the ocean.

Lincoln and Brenda Mills.

“I saw Tara turn onto Seabound Road. There’s only one place to go on that road.” Dory triumphantly picked up the picture of the parents. “This park.”

She saw Tara?

“That’s where Madison and Emily are? This park? Right now?”

She looked at him over the top of her glasses. “Didn’t I just say that?”

“And they know Tara is there?” He struggled to believe that Tara had come to Bartonville.

“It’s the only logical place.”

“Tell me how to get there.”





34

Emily held her breath, her mind reeling as Madison peered over the steering wheel in the dark. Why had Tara come to town when she’d clearly stated she wanted nothing to do with the family? Had Dory mistaken someone else for Tara again?

Emily’s phone vibrated with a text.

Did you mean it when you said you wanted me back in your life no matter what I’d done?



Emily’s lungs seized. She’d shoved her cell number into Tara’s mother-in-law’s hand, begging her to give it to Tara, as Wendy had showed her and Zander the door.

Apparently Wendy had listened.

Yes

What if someone is dead because of me?

It doesn’t matter



Emily waited, holding her breath.

Madison shot her several glances. “Who is it?”

“It’s Tara.”

The vehicle jerked as Madison gasped.

“It’s not what you think,” Emily said quickly. “I started to tell you earlier that Zander found her. He took me to her house in Beaverton today, and I left her my phone number—I’ve had absolutely no contact with her since she left us.”