Jaxon’s chair scraped across the floor as he stood and squeezed my shoulder consolingly. “Coffee?”
“Sure, thanks.” I was thankful for the moment he granted me to gather myself. But unfortunately, the moment was short-lived as my phone lit up with an unknown caller.
“Hello.”
“Hi, is this Officer Miller, Boden Miller?” a woman’s voice asked.
“Who is this?” I snapped.
“I’m a friend of Lakelyn’s. My name is Jenna Rijker.”
Skepticism had my guard up. “Listen, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Lakelyn I know has told me she doesn’t have anyone.” For all I knew, this was someone’s sick version of a joke.
“Yes, I’m aware, and while that was true, circumstances changed recently.”
“How recent? When was the last time that you two spoke?”
“We reconnected just before she moved to Sutton River. I was roommates with her sister Annabelle at the University of Texas.”
Dots started to connect. “You said your name is Jenna?” As in, the designer Lakelyn offered to put me in contact with when I mentioned my desire to build a home at the lake one day.
“Yes, and the reason I tracked your number down is that—”
“She’s missing.” My voice croaked. “Lakelyn’s missing.”
“I know; that’s why I’m calling.” Her tone was a mixture of panic and helplessness, mirroring my own as I shot up to my feet.
“Have you heard from her? Please, God, tell me you’ve heard from her.” It wasn’t beneath me to admit I was desperate.
“I have, but not in the way you’re likely thinking.”
“What . . . what does that mean?” I began pacing.
“The last time I spoke with Lakelyn was two days ago, and . . . I ah—”
“Jenna, you are likely the last person to have spoken with Lakelyn. I need to know everything about that conversation. No detail is too small.”
“That’s why I tracked you down at the station, because I’ll do absolutely anything I can to help find her. But Boden, I need you to hear me when I say this isn’t my story to share, but I believe it’s the key to finding her.”
“We’re on the same page here. Just tell me, Jenna, please.”
“There’s news circulating—”
“If you’re referring to the magazines sold at grocery stores, then yes, I’ve seen them and the claims they’ve printed.”
“Believe me when I tell you the articles aren’t true, but that’s not why I’m calling.”
“I’m not following.”
“How much has she told you about her sister?”
“Just that she died in a car accident over a year ago.”
“Well, there’s a video circulating of Lakelyn—”
“Are you sure it was her?” I cut her off.
“Yes,” her voice cracked. “My husband, Cameron, owns and operates a cyber-security firm and his team was alerted this morning to something they found in a chat room on the dark web.”
