“So, tell me what’s cookin’ … I listened to the pod. You sounded great. Where’s your head at?”
And one of the best things about our relationship was that Sidney was my willing sounding board for my work. Somewhere along the way, she became the all-around friend I never realized I needed.
“It’s a weird one.” I steered onto the small road that led to the cabins, grateful the service was good back here.
“I’m listening. I’m in the staff room on lunch, and I already peed,” she added.
“Good job, bestie.” I was always hounding her to use the damn bathroom. Sydney had had more bladder infections than she should have because she never had time to pee. Teachers seemed to be run ragged. They should gettriple their salary plus hazard pay. “Talk to me. Tell me the goods.”
“Ok. So, everything points to the husband being an abusive dick, and the narrative they spun is that she took off.” I tapped my fingers on my thigh as I pulled the car up to the cabin and put it in park. “But she bought stuff the day she disappeared, that doesn’t make sense. If anything, it makes me wonder where her head was at. Get this.” I leaned in to the phone as I told Syd what she bought.
“Whoa. Weird. I mean, that doesn’t mean she didn’t get murdered in the woods herself or run off, but if I were a cop, I’d be questioning someone buying that stuff.”
“Right? So, her husband bought almost the same stuff two months before she did. The woman at the hardware store gave me receipts.”
“Huh. Maybe Allison knew he was planning something and decided to get him first? Maybe it backfired?”
“Maybe. That list of stuff definitely has me wondering. It’s weird. She also had her own bank account in town that her husband wasn’t on. It was full of cash, but that might have been because she was working as a cam girl. Not that I’m judging her for making money—because we all gotta earn, right?”
“For sure, that’s the truth. I love my job, but some days I know I’m just out here just to pay my rent. Now tell meabout the place you’re staying. I want to live vicariously through you.”
“Let me show you.” I turned the camera around and did a walk-through while she oohed and aahed about the cabin.
“Break’s over. Now, girl, don’t get sucked into your work and forget to go out and enjoy yourself. It looks like a nice place.”
Feeling centered now that I’d had a girl chat, I’d started pasting up my information, trying to organize it, but some of the details contradicted each other.
By the time afternoon rolled around, my brain felt fried, and my eyes were burning. I’d recorded a few voice notes, and then I’d sat outside on the porch, but given up. Finally, I’d admitted to myself I needed a break.
CHAPTER 19
Group Chat
Dysfunction Junction
Sage
You need to come help with the festival setup.
I didn’t sign up for festival setup.
Lo Lo
We ALL signed up. You’re a Holt. It’s automatic.
You all suck.
East
Don’t be late.
CHAPTER 20
Kipp
I should’ve known better than to walk into the Wildwood Meadows community center on a Saturday morning. Of course, I hadn’t been given a choice in the matter. The text chat had been popping off all morning, and my siblings wouldn’t have let me rest until I dragged my ass down here to help.
Because we got so much rain, the town made sure to build places like this that were indoors. The building was somewhat campus-like, with large meeting rooms, event areas, and even space perfect for specialty classes like pottery or woodworking. The moment I stepped through the doors, the smell of cinnamon rolls and hot glue hit me like a wave, along with the sound of chaos. Someone’s kid was crying. Someone else was arguing about how many string lights counted as a “tasteful amount.” I cringed. Chaos brought back bad memories.It was one of the reasons I enjoyed the peace of the woods.
