“Hey, what’s up?”
“Hey. How long do you have to wait before filing a missing person report?” She checked for traffic and turned right onto her street.
“My brother missing in action already?”
Bree laughed. “No. Someone at work.”
“Depends on the situation. Who’s missing?”
“My medical technician.” She pulled into her drive and shut off the engine. “She didn’t come in or call.” She grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and got out of the car.
“—the norm.”
“What? Sorry, my Bluetooth switched off. I missed most of that.”
“I said, I take it that’s out of the norm.”
“Yeah.” She unlocked the mudroom door.
“When was the last time you heard from her?”
She dropped her bag on the bench beside the washer and hung her keys on the hook by the door. “Last Friday, when I left work.”
“Where does she live?”
“Fayette—. Someone’s here.” She paused in the doorway leading to the kitchen.
“Here where? Where are you?”
“My house.”
“Don’t go in.”
“I’m already in.”
“Leave. Now.”
“Oh, good. You’re finally home.”
Cindy stood by the kitchen counter, her blue hospital scrubs stained with large dark splotches. Blood. Blood also dotted her hands.
Bree set her phone on the counter to her left, still connected to Tim. “Cindy. What are you doing here? I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”
“I’ve been waiting for you.” She sounded…chipper. Excited. The same feverish excitement shone in her eyes. A whimper sounded from the dining room. Cindy’s head whipped around to look over her shoulder, then back to look at Bree. “Come see.” She walked into the dining room, to one of the ladder back chairs, and the person tied to it. She rocked the chair and turned it, revealing a petite blonde woman.
Katherine. Bree’s heart pounded in her chest.
Cindy picked up the folding hunting knife laying on the table. “He left you on Sunday and went to her.”
Katherine stared at Bree, beseeching. A gag was pulled tight against her mouth and tears streaked her face, mascara blending with blood that ran from a wound high on her temple. She struggled against the rope binding her arms to the chair. Bree scanned the cuts along her arms. They bled freely, but appeared to be superficial. Defensive wounds, maybe. Large spots of blood seeped through her pink top over her stomach, which worried Bree, unable to see the actual wounds.
Oh, Cindy. What have you done?Bree’s gaze flicked to Cindy. “Who left me, Cindy?”
“Chad! Chad left you and went to her.” She emphasized her words by pointing the knife between Bree and Katherine. “Did you know he slept with me?” She began to pace back and forth. Three short steps away. Three short steps back. “The night you met him. He told me I was beautiful. And special. Took me home with him.”
What was she talking about?“Cindy, you weren’t there that night.” She continued to assess the situation as she took a small step closer to Cindy, edging her way between Cindy and Katherine. If she could distract Cindy while she was away from Katherine, she might be able to get the knife away.
“I was. I was there. I went to support you.” Cindy shook her head, staring at the floor as she paced. “I wasn’t invited. Snuck in. To see you. You were presenting, and I knew you were nervous. I heard you talking about it.” She stopped and faced Bree. “But that’s what makes you so wonderful. You did it for your grandmother. You always go out of your way for people.”
