Chapter 6
Nicole
That standard cell ringtone, the kind half the world used, jolted me out of sleep. I sat straight up, disoriented.
It took a moment to remember where I was. My eyes adjusted slowly to the dark, and Lacey and Brian’s bedroom came into view. The old TV mounted on the wall across from me. The cramped space, which that large wooden dresser filled—the one I bought them for their anniversary.
Early morning light came in through the window.
I reached for my cell, almost knocking over my water glass. I blinked at the screen.
Unknown number. It was 5:31.
My heart instantly started racing.
Nobody ever called me from an unknown number at 5:31 a.m.
“H-hello?”
“Are you Nicole Kolter?” a young man’s voice came from the other end of the line.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Ms. Kolter, my name is Officer James Nolan. I’m with the New Hampshire State Police. I’m calling regarding your daughter, Lacey Alderwyn.”
I froze as cold terror struck me.
“Let me first say that Lacey is alive.”
I gasped in relief. My child was alive. I would be able to keep living.
“She’s currently receiving medical attention for a head injury. She’s conscious but in shock.”
“What … what happened?”
“She was found earlier this morning near Lake Seekonk. A man—Zachary Nabb—was found near the scene as well … deceased.”
“De-wh-what?”
My hand shot to my throat. It was tightening quickly, making it hard to breathe or speak.
“Your daughter was found close to Mr. Nabb. Disoriented and injured. An ambulance transported her to North Pines Community Hospital in Cold Hollow. She’s stable.”
A strange silence seeped in. As if I was still sleeping and all this was just a terrible nightmare.
Only, it wasn’t.
“Ma’am?”
“Y-yes, sorry. Umm … can I talk to Lacey, please?”
“She’s currently being evaluated and isn’t speaking much.”
“But she’s okay? What happened?”
“Yes. She’s okay. But it would be better if you came up here so we can talk in person.”
“I’m leaving right now.”
“Thank you. If you need anything, please call me at this number. My name is Detective Nolan.”
I cut off the call, already scrambling for my clothes. I felt physically sick. Like I might have a panic attack at any moment.
This couldn’t be real. Zach dead? Lacey hurt?
“But how?” I said out loud.
My hands were now trembling so badly, I dropped my pants twice. But somehow I managed to dress quickly. Then I rushed down the hallway and tore open Dylan’s door. He shot upright in bed with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“We need to go,” I said. “Your mom was in … there was … an accident. We have to get to her now.”
“An accident?” His face paled.
“She’s okay,” I said fast. “But we have to leave right now.”
He jumped out of bed. “I’ll get Ethan.”
“I’ll wake Lila.”
I stepped into the hallway, dialing Brian. No answer. I dialed again. No answer.
Where the hell was he? With her? At the hospital? Why didn’t he call me?
I called Amanda. Busy signal.
My head spun. Zach was dead. But how? What the hell happened? What did all this even mean?
Lila was in her room. Her night-light glowed red against her face. I touched her shoulder and steadied my shaking hand as much as I could.
“Sweetheart, wake up.”
“Mmm … what?” Her eyes blinked open.
“We have to go, honey. Your mom is in the hospital.”
She bolted upright. “What? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” I said, even if I didn’t fully believe it. “But we need to go see her.”
She nodded hard and jumped out of bed.
In the hallway, Ethan was crying, calling for me.
Everything felt so unreal. Like I was wide awake but trapped in a nightmare.
My daughter was found injured in the woods.
Zach was dead.
I didn’t understand yet what the hell was going on. But I had no doubt it was bad. Alarms weren’t just going off. They were exploding.
Something horrible was happening. I didn’t have all the details yet. But it was something that would change our lives forever.
Somehow, I just knew.