I studied him, thinking about what to say next. “Did you ever have any interaction with Anne?”
“No, I never spoke to her, and we never met. Like I said, I wasn’t in that neighborhood often, and when I was, I kept to myself. When she went missing, I felt sick for the family, but believe me when I say I had nothing to do with that girl’s disappearance.”
I believed him.
Every word.
Nothing about what he just said was deceptive. He seemed like a man with past regrets, a man who lived alone with a truth he didn’t know how to share.
“Do you have any idea what happened to Anne?” I asked.
“None,” he said. “If I did, I would have told someone long ago. I know what it feels like to lose family. I wouldn’t let someone else go through that if I could help them out somehow.”
Bear was a dead end, but I found myself satisfied that it turned out the way it had. His story didn’t solve Anne’s disappearance or Audrey’s murder, but it filled in another part of the puzzle.
The cabin.
The land.
The family connection.
A man who belonged to the same bloodline but lived outside it.
Bear shifted in his seat, setting the empty glass on the side table. “I should go. I’ve already taken up enough of your evening.”
“You can stay for as long as you need,” Giovanni said.
Bear shook his head, rising. “Thank you for listening.”
I stood as well. “Bear, there’s something I’d like you to consider before you leave. Violet has lost a sister and a daughter. Don’t you think she deserves the chance to know her family, even if it’s someone coming into her life whom she didn’t expect?”
He froze, placing his hand on the back of the sofa.
“You don’t have to tell her now,” I said, “and you don’t ever have to tell her. But she might welcome the chance to get to know you. People find strength in connection, even when the past is complicated.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“If you decide to let her know, I’d be happy to make the introductions.”
He offered me a small, pained smile and walked to the door, Luka trailing after him. After he left, Giovanni cleared the glasses and plates, and we extinguished the fire and headed to bed.
But tonight, sleep felt far away.
There were too many scattered pieces.
Too many shadows.
Too many unanswered questions.
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying Violet’s trembling voice, Bear’s confession, and the echo of Anne’s name which seemed to be at every turn.
I needed clarity, and I knew where I intended to find it tomorrow, at Rosemary Ashford’s house. I’d update her on the case and then ask to search Audrey’s room. Somewhere inside that room I hoped to find a clue, one Audrey never had the chance to share. A clue that might help me understand what happened to Anne and what led to Audrey’s death.
19
As I pulled into the Ashfords’ driveway the next morning, a light glowed in the kitchen window, and for a moment, I saw silhouettes moving inside.
I’d called the night before to ask Rosemary if I could come by. She’d agreed without hesitation.
