Bethany/Betty Two
Nessa/Betty Three
Gus Flanders
According to Aiden, the Betties are the women we saw out near Solomon the Spud on the night we saw Sandra’s body. They apparently didn’t like Sandy, and they were being sketchy that night; that was enough for us to add them to the list.
Now, though, I find myself thinking further about the situation. I hesitate for a second, biting my lip. Then I grab the dry erase marker and add three names to the list:
Lionel Astor
Thomas Freese
Cam Verido
I’m grasping at straws; I know that. But it’s not impossible that Sandra was killed because she was going to tell me about my parents, and that means that anyone who might be my father should be up here. My eyes linger on the nameLionel Astorespecially; I’ve got to imagine someone running for governor wouldn’t be happy about an illegitimate daughter coming out of the woodwork.
I shake my head, laughing weakly. I’m being stupid. Of course I am. Like I said, this isn’t a detective show. Huge, dark conspiracies don’t happen in sleepy little towns like Autumn Grove. Besides, how would any of these men have known Sandra anyway?
But when I fall into bed later that night, it takes hours for me to fall asleep. I pull out my phone and find the picture I took of the photo from theyearbook, my mother and her friends. They’re all smiling—some at the camera, some at her.
Where are these boys now, with their black-and-white smiles and laughing eyes?
Could one of them really be my father?
And why would that information be worth killing over?
13
IN WHICH JUNIPER MAKES A HOUSE CALL
School starts again.?*
The students return from break.
But one student does not.
I follow Aiden around the kitchen as he talks to the sheriff on the phone, craning my neck so that I can keep my ear as close to the receiver as possible. From what it sounds like…
“She texted her mom and told her she wants to extend her visit?” I say, incredulous, seconds after Aiden hangs up.
He nods, looking just as frustrated as I feel. “After chewing me out for asking so many questions?—”
“I heard that,” I say with a wince.
“Garrity said Sandra has been sending her mother updates, pictures of herself at the colleges included, and she supposedly even told her mother she would be arriving home a few days later than they’d originallyplanned.”
“Pictures of her at the schools?” I say, my mind whirling.
Aiden nods.
“Someone has her phone,” I say, dazed. “I figured, but…”
“Yes,” he says, looking grim. “However.” He holds up a finger. “Garrity did admit that it’s suspicious, because apparently he’s checked with some of her friends, and they haven’t heard from her. He also says she hasn’t been active on social media or the town forum. So he told Sandra’s mom to tell her to come home now. He says he’s keeping in touch with her mom, and he’s working on finding someone who can analyze if the photos being sent are photoshopped or not.”?*
“They have to be, right?” I say. “Unless—” I break off, swallowing. “ItwasSandy we saw, right?”
“It was,” Aiden says firmly. “I truly think it was.”
