Chapter 44
FORTY-FOUR
SUMMER
Getting back into the house was just as hard as getting out. Though, this time I didn’t quite succeed because Indy is awake and waiting for me.
And she’s pissed.
“Let me explain,” I start, holding her phone up with the blurry picture of Molly creeping around the woods.
“What the heck? Is that Molly?” She looks up at me, her anger giving way to confusion when I nod.
“I should have told you what I was planning, and trust me, when I got out there, I knew what I’d done was wrong. I was only trying to protect you, and keep you out of this mess.”
My whole defense system’s fucked, I’m blurting everything out like I’ll never have another chance to speak to her again.
“You promised we’d do this together,” she says, but her face softens and she sighs. “I know you aren’t used to being in a partnership, but that’s what love is, Summer. It’s communicating with each other, even if it’s ugly or hard.”
“I know,” I nod, sinking down to the floor in front of where she sits with her legs dangling over the bed. “And I promise, after tonight I’m done playing detective.”
“You’re sweaty,” she says when I lean into her bare legs. “What happened? Tell me why you have a picture of Molly runnin’ around my property, with a time-stamp from today. She went missin’ weeks ago.”
“I followed the note that told me to meet. I knew it was a long shot anyone would be there since it’s been weeks, but I figured I’d try.
It goes to the farthest fence of the pasture, the one that butts up against the woods.
Molly came out, and when she saw me, she ran.
I tried telling her to stop, and when she didn’t I ran after her, but then I realized I don’t know these woods, and I’m not stupid enough to get lost in them. ”
She nods, cupping my chin and tilting my face to the side. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m sure it’s just a scratch, here,” putting her phone in her hand, I show her the picture again, now that I’m not a shaking mess. “It’s her, I know it is. She’s not missing, she’s fucking with me.”
Indy nods, looking at the picture like it’ll solve all our problems. “But why?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never met Molly before the camp, and even if I had, she’s too young for me to have glanced her way.
” I thought about it the whole way over, how she could possibly know about Val and the fire.
Val wasn’t having an affair, and her brother lives overseas with her parents.
Plus, I’ve met them all, and even though they had a hard time believing what had happened, her brother was the ultimate voice of reason.
None of them would stoop to this level of mind games and cruelty.
“Maybe Val has an ex who’s angry, or blames you for her death?”
“I thought about that, but why follow me around? Unless this person is truly unhinged, it makes no sense.” I had thought about that, but Val was always open with me about her dating history, and there wasn’t much of it. She was pretty reserved and shy.
“Have you contacted Val’s parents to ask if they’ve received threatening notes?” Her questions throw me off, we haven’t talked about Val this much since I told her about the incident.
“I haven’t, no. Her parents live in Germany, along with her brother.” Shaking my head slowly, I rest my hand on her knee.
“When’s the last time you talked to any of them?” She asks.
“Not since the funeral,” my brows furrow and I tilt my head, “what are you thinking?”
She takes a deep breath and looks down at the picture, “I’m just trying to help you solve the puzzle by asking questions you may not have asked yourself.”
I hadn’t thought about Val’s parents, or reached out about the notes, but maybe I should. I assumed they were safe being halfway around the world.
“That’s not a bad idea, I’ll call them in the morning.” I’m tired, and the adrenaline I’d been riding is starting to wear off. “Can we try to get some sleep now? Maybe regroup in the morning, with coffee?”
She nods and scoots back on the bed, pulling the covers back so I can slide in after shedding my clothes.
“You’re letting me clean that scratch in the morning,” she warns, and I chuckle.
“Yes, ma’am,” kissing her, she wraps her arm around my body and tucks her head into the crook of my neck.
The morning feels different. I’m nervous to head to the police station, but knowing Indy’s coming with me helps. The last time I was in a police station was after everything happened with Val.
“I’m right here,” she says as we finish breakfast and walk to her cabin.
Both our vehicles are still there, and when we clear the trees, her smile fades.
The porch of her cabin is charred, the roof’s caved in.
One of the beams is wrapped in yellow tape, and her cute little door hanger sits discarded on one of the steps.
There’s so much damage, I’m worried it may be a total tear down.
“We’ll get that fixed in no time when we get the okay to move back in,” I promise, turning to look at her. “I’ll even go with you to the hardware store to get materials.”
She gives me a small smile, and a honk followed by the frantic flapping of wings captures her attention.
“Twatla!” Indy hollers, bending down on one knee to catch the bird. “Oh my gosh, I was so worried! Where have you been? I’ve been back every day since the fire just to see if you’d come back!”
I didn’t know watching my girl yell at a bird would be so cute, but here I am. Indy’s curled the goose up in her arms, pressing kisses to her head as Twatla preens. When she sees me, she honks and clicks her beak.
“She’s happy you’re alive too,” Indy assures her, and I can’t help my laughter then. Indy laughs too, and the sound damn near threatens to send me to my knees.
“I’ve missed hearing you laugh, Honey.” The real, full laughter she holds inside has been missing the past few days and it’s a relief to hear it again. It’s sweet, full of so much joy I wonder how she holds it all in.
“We should take her to Mama’s so I can have her checked out, don’t you think?” Indy asks, stroking the bird’s head and using her other hand to lift her when she stands. “I’ll drive my truck, and meet you around the way at the house, then we can go to the station.”
I nod, and tap Twatla’s beak, “You can terrorize the bees for the day.”
Indy laughs again, reaching up to kiss my jaw as we head to our vehicles.
I make her wait while I look them over, just to make sure no one tampered with them before I allow her anywhere near it.
Everything looks alright, and when I nod she climbs in, puts Twatla in the passenger seat and turns the key.
Letting out a relieved breath, I hop into my Jeep and crank her up. She ticks once, before firing. Which is normal, she’s a little on the older side, so I understand a cough or two. Plus, I still need to get it checked out by Lucy’s brother.
Following Indy back to the house, I turn up the air conditioning and wait. When she comes out her dad’s behind her holding the goose, and I snicker a little to myself.
“I always crack up when Twatla demands for Papa to hold her,” she says when she climbs in. “She honks and nips at his calves until he picks her up.”
The image of that alone makes me laugh. Putting the Jeep in gear we reverse out and turn around to head into town.
Indy gives me directions, and sings along to the radio.
We don’t have her phone connected, because I don’t want to risk anything compromising the picture I have.
Maybe that’s being a bit paranoid, but I’m not sure what this person is capable of, and if Molly is connected to them, then the police will want proof.
“Are you ready?” She asks, checking her phone for the time. We told the sheriff we’d be in by ten, and here we are thirty minutes early.
“I want this over,” I admit, “I hate that my past is impacting your family.”
She smiles and leans over to gently caress my cheek. “I think they understand.”
I hope they do, or at least I hope they’re willing to see past this to the real me underneath. She pops the handle on her side and steps down. Doing the same, we meet at the front of the vehicle and she grabs my hand.
“Together,” she whispers.
“Together.”