Page 359 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“Elizabeth is asking for you.”

Elizabeth sat upright in the hospital bed.

A bandage covered her arm.

Her dark hair had been washed and pulled away from her face.

She looked younger without the blood.

More like the little girl in Emily’s photograph.

Rylie sat beside her.

Their hands were joined.

Neither woman spoke when I entered.

They didn’t need to.

They had shared a single terrible summer.

Then spent eighteen years believing they were alone.

Elizabeth looked toward me.

“Is Evan alive?”

“Yes.”

“And Robert?”

“In custody.”

Her shoulders lowered.

“What about Walter?”

“Still at the nursing home.”

“He knows what happened to my mother.”

“I think so.”

Rylie squeezed her hand.

Elizabeth stared at the blanket.

“I need to know.”

“You deserve to.”

Mace appeared in the doorway.

He held my phone.

“Sheriff Tate.”

I accepted it.