I stand, walk over to the window, and peer between the slats of the blinds. “Fresh snow. Why don’t you let me talk to Mrs. Bradley so you can get on your way? Looks like a great day to go sledding. Didn’t you tell me that Santa brought Charlie a new sled? Why don’t you and Sarah take him to try it out?” I turn toward him. “You’ve been spending too much time on the job, Chase. It’ll burn you out. I’ll take care of Mrs. Bradley.”

Chase hesitates for just a moment. Then hands me the folder. “Yeah. Right. Good idea.” He stops in the doorway. “See you tomorrow, Rita.”

When he’s gone, I open the folder. The little Arndt girl’s autopsy results. I say her name aloud, as I do all victims that I come across.

“India Marie Arndt.”

Four years and ten months old forever. But she existed. She was here.

I sigh and head down the hall.

CHAPTER 76 - Molly

CHAPTER 76

Molly

I SQUIRM IN MY CHAIR AND TELL MYSEL I’M READY. MY LAST SECRET fear, so far hidden in my brain, I never told anyone, not any of my therapists, not even Jay. But I’m strong enough now.

If Indie was smothered, as Keith said, I need to know. That doesn’t mean that he didn’t do it himself. Certainly, no one believed at the time that I was responsible. And I pray with my whole being that I wasn’t. But I feel like I owe it to Indie to know the truth, as much as possible, of what happened to her. I have no recollection of it, and that hurts as well. I don’t remember what happened to my little friend.

I hope Detective Fuller gets here soon before I lose my nerve. The door opens, and Detective Myers walks in.

“Hi, Mrs. Bradley. Sorry to keep you waiting. Detective Fuller needed to get home. Hope you don’t mind.”

“No. That’s fine,” I say, although I’d rather have had him here now. She intimidates me.

Detective Myers lays the file folder on the table in front of me, and I reach for it with a shaking hand.

“Mrs. Bradley,” she says. “It’s okay.”

I find strength in her icy blue eyes, nod, and open the folder.

The page blurs in front of me, and I blink to clear my tears. I skim the notes, searching for the answer I need. Pain rises in my chest, like a heart attack, as I see it in the conclusion section. Keith was lying.

Indie died from an overdose of the sleeping pills he put in our soda.

I choke out a sob and lean my head in my hands. The room is quiet, and I clear my throat and peep up at Detective Myers. There are tears in her eyes too.

CHAPTER 77 - Rita

CHAPTER 77

Rita