Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
EIGHT YEARS AGO
“ Y ou going to be okay?”
Olive looked up at Tom as he stood behind the stage with her.
Today was her family’s funeral.
Four caskets had been placed at the front of the church.
Last time she’d glanced out, the sanctuary was full, and people were standing in the back and in the church lobby. The entire congregation from the community church appeared to be here as well as children, parents, and teachers from the local school her sisters had attended. Even the mayor was here.
Olive had also seen the police chief and some officers.
Did he think the killer might be here?
Her stomach recoiled at the thought.
“Olive?” Tom repeated.
She looked up at him.
The man had been so kind to her since he stepped into the investigation. He’d been patient, compassionate, and made her feel like she wasn’t totally alone in the world.
She was still surprised the FBI had been called in. But Tom had explained that the local police had asked for their help.
The small town of Galax was used to handling speeding tickets and neighborhood brawls.
Not brutal murders like that of her family.
It had been a week since they’d died. Someone—Olive couldn’t remember who now—had told her that it took longer for the bodies to be released because of the manner of death.
That was fine with her. She was in no hurry to go through this funeral. She would skip it altogether if she could.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to honor the lives of her mom, dad, and sisters.
It was just that this whole thing was so painful it seemed impossible to get through.
And Olive felt so alone.
Sure, she’d made a few friends at church and school. But they weren’t real friends.
It wasn’t all the fault of other people either. Olive had learned not to get too close, so she hadn’t.
Over the past few days, she wanted to talk to Jason more than anything.
She’d even tried calling a couple of times. But his number no longer worked.
Why was that? She had no idea.
She’d thought about calling some mutual friends to get his updated number. But she didn’t. She figured it was a sign.
The music started. When the funeral director motioned to her, she walked out from the back. Tom accompanied her and sat with her on the front row.
She’d asked him to do so.
Then she went through the motions of the funeral, trying to keep the tears from coming too fast. If she let herself, she could totally crash and bawl all day.
But not here. Not in public.
Finally, it was her turn to speak.
The ladies at church had planned the funeral. They’d asked her to say something.
Olive hadn’t wanted to.
But for some reason she’d said yes.
Tom patted her back in silent reassurance that she could do this.
With trembling hands, she climbed onto the stage where her father had once preached. She stood behind the pulpit where he’d delivered his sermons—sermons that had been surprisingly good. That had brought people to tears sometimes. That had made them laugh. Led them closer to God.
Olive stared at the people seated in front of her as they waited for her to start.
The moment felt surreal.
She cleared her throat, trying to find her voice.
You can do this , she told herself. You can.
Sucking in a shaky breath, she finally started. “I don’t know what to say. What is there to say in a moment like this? I’ve often thought about what my dad would want me to say. I’m sure there are stories I could tell. Memories I could share. But none of those feel appropriate for this moment.”
Olive paused and sucked in a deep breath.
She glanced at Tom, who gave her an encouraging nod.
Then she continued. “People keep telling me just to speak from my heart. So I wondered what my heart was telling me. Then it hit me what I really wanted to say, and it’s this. To the person who killed my family, you are the scum of the earth. You senselessly took away something that was so precious. Whoever you are, it is my life goal to find you.”
Gasps sounded in the audience.
“And I hope you rot in?—”
Before she could finish, Tom appeared on stage, almost as if he’d been spring-loaded and ready to pounce. He took her elbow and escorted her back to her seat.
But she’d meant her words.
Olive would find whoever killed her family.