Chapter 45
FORTY-FIVE
INDY
The police station looks better than I remember. There’s actual pictures on the wall of current employees, and absolutely no sign of the cop who hurt Lucy last year. Sheriff Folley even has a plaque of honor on the wall with his picture on it.
“Indy, Summer,” Sheriff Hartley greets us, coming out of Folley’s old office and shaking our hands. “Let’s go to my office, I’ve got news.”
We turn to each other, sharing equal looks of confusion, but follow her in. She’s definitely done work in here, instead of off-white walls, they’re painted a cool blue. She’s got a plant in the corner and her desk is tidy, with only a computer and a photo frame facing her way.
“I’m glad you called,” she says, motioning for us to sit.
Sitting in the chair opposite us at her desk she puts her elbows on the table and steeples her fingers in front of her chin.
“We were able to find the tower the cellphone was connected to when it sent the message to you, Summer.” She looks back and forth between us before she continues, “It was mostly fields and farmland, there was only one populated area located within that tower’s geographical range. The Turner Ranch.”
“What!” Summer shouts, her eyes bounce between me and Hartley and she scoots up in her chair. “You mean it came from inside the camp?”
“That is what it looks like,” she starts, “I’ve already stationed a unit at your parent’s house, and I plan to speak with all of your employees personally, and one at a time.”
“Wait,” I shake my head, “like interrogate them? I understand your records gave you this information, but I don’t know if I can stomach the thought of good people being made to feel like criminals.”
Hartley smiles, her teeth on full display, “I understand your position, really I do. But I had the team double check to make certain before I brought this information to you. Someone in your camp is threatening Summer, and now you, and I plan to get to the bottom of it. If they’re good people, like you say, they should have no problem answering my questions. ”
I know she’s right, but I don’t have to like it. My stomach’s in knots, and I can’t understand how this could be. Who would do this?
“Who at camp would know about Val?” I ask, turning to look at Summer. Her brows are dipped in concentration as if she’s running through her own questions. “Wait! The whole reason we called is because Summer has information from last night. Go ahead, and tell her what you told me.”
She looks up and shakes her head as if getting rid of the thoughts she had.
“I followed the diagram left on one of the notes they left. The one that said to meet them… When I got there, I thought there was nothing, but then Molly came out of the woods. I took a picture and spooked her, and she ran. I followed for a minute, but realized I was in unfamiliar territory and didn’t want to cause an even bigger stir by going missing myself. ”
Hartley scoots her chair forward and leans on her elbows. “You saw Molly? Molly Carmicheal?”
Summer nods I pull my phone from my pocket. Turning the screen on, I opens the photo app and offer it to Hartley.
“I see,” she says, “do you mind if I email this to myself?”
“Not at all,” I say, “do what you need to do.”
“For full transparency, Indy, my team is pulling background checks on the rest of your staff.”
Summer’s hand lands on my knee and she offers me a smile, it’s tense, but it tells me she’s with me.
A uniformed officer barges into the room, unaware of us sitting here. “Boss, you need to see this. It’s–OH!” He backs up a step, but holds the folder firm. “I’m sorry to interrupt but it’s–well, it’s about one of your workers.” He says, looking directly at me.
“Sanders,” she snaps, standing and straightening her uniform before excusing herself. Walking out, she shuts the door behind her and I turn around to look at Summer. She’s just as mystified as I am, I can tell by the expression on her face.
“Who do you think–”
“I’ll be right behind you,” Hartley says as she opens the door. “You two need to come with me. I’ll explain in the car.”
She’s a flurry of motion, hard steps on the concrete floor, pushing open the door and walking to her cruiser. Summer and I follow, hands gripped tightly together.
Opening the back door she motions for one of us to get in the passenger seat. It’s clear her ride is not for transporting criminals, there’s no cage between the seats, and there are handles inside.
“I’m just gonna come out with it,” she states, already hitting the gas and spitting gravel behind her. “Kyle McKinny is not who you think he is, his real name is Vincent Brown, youngest brother to Val Brown.”
“That can’t be right,” Summer says, “Val only had one brother, Victor.”
She looks over quickly, with sad eyes and thin lips.
“Sanders confirmed it with birth records. Vincent is the youngest of three siblings in the Brown family. But I think I know why you might not know that. Vincent was institutionalized when he was ten. He’s been in a psychiatric facility for fourteen years, he was released right around the time of the fire. ”
“What fire?” Summer asks, her teeth are clenched, jaw rigid. Suddenly, I realize why Summer’s face has gone pale, and her hands won’t stop shaking, and the moment Sheriff Hartley opens her mouth, it’s confirmed.
“The one Val set.”