Chapter 41
CHAPTER 41
Litchfield, Connecticut
I ’m sitting at home in the upstairs alcove I call my office looking at news reports on Amber Keenan’s murder.
So far, I’m finding nothing beyond what O’Halloran already told us except that her two kids are temporarily in the care of a neighbor, and the store clerk is not a suspect.
The killers are still on the loose.
Plink! Plink!
I’ve got a ten-gallon pot on the floor near my desk to catch the drips from the farmhouse’s leaky ceiling.
When Garrett texted me after his prison meeting, he had a two-hour drive ahead of him.
He should be home by now.
I hear a car in the driveway.
Finally!
I get up from my desk, look out the window, and see the reflection of blue lights.
I look down. It’s a police car.
I take the steps two at a time and yank open the front door.
The cop is standing on the porch, ice already forming on his cap and slicker.
He’s backlit by the headlights of his car.
“I’m Officer Blaine, Litchfield Police,” he says.
“Is this the residence of Garrett Wilson?”
My heart is pounding and my vision narrows.
I grab the door frame.
“What happened? Where is he?”
“Are you a relative, ma’am?”
“I’m his partner! Girlfriend! My name is Brea Cooke! We live together!”
“There’s been an accident, about five miles from here. Car went into a ditch. The Enterprise rental agreement shows the name Garrett Wilson and this address.”
“Yes! Yes! He was driving a rental from Rhode Island. Is he hurt? Is he in the hospital? Which hospital? Can you take me? I’ll get a jacket!” I grab a raincoat from the front closet.
Officer Blaine holds up his hand.
“Ms. Cooke, there was nobody in the car. No victims at the scene. Mr. Wilson is not here?”
“Here? No, he’s not here! I’ve been waiting for him!” I take a breath.
“Hold on. The car was empty?”
“Yes, ma’am. We found a cell phone under the back seat.”
“Well, he must still be out there! Get helicopters! Get bloodhounds! Start looking!”
“Not much we can do until this rain lets up, ma’am. We’ve got alerts out to all the hospitals. And patrols are searching the roads in the vicinity.”
That’s it.
I’m done talking. I push past the cop and head for the Subaru.
The mud sucks me in with every step.
“I’m joining the search.”
“Ms. Cooke!” Officer Blaine shouts at me.
I stop and turn around.
“We can’t have amateurs on the road during a storm like this. Stay here. We need to know where to find you when we locate him.”
I feel all the strength drain out of me.
I nod and watch him get back into his car.
He does a quick K-turn and drives off.
I turn to the house, and a figure appears.
I stop in my tracks, then back away.
The figure takes a few steps forward until he’s hit by the porch light. Garrett!