“They’re going to ruin our lives just so they can be on TV?” I shook my head, horrified that anyone would be so callous. So shallow.

“I’m sure they don’t think of it that way. In their minds, they’re fighting on behalf of the victim.”

“Hannah,” I said, mostly to myself. “It always comes back to Hannah. Even twenty-five years after her death, she’s still the center of attention.”

Natalie looked at me quizzically.

“I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have said that. It’s only ten in the morning, and it’s already been a long day.”

“I understand. Did you know Hannah well?”

“No, she disappeared long before James and I met. I’ve just . . . heard a lot about her.”

“From James?”

“From everyone. I actually called a couple of James’s old friends earlier this week—I was hoping someone who was on the trip would remember seeing someone around who was acting weird with her. Someone who might have meant her harm.”

Natalie nodded her approval. “That’s smart. The State clearly doesn’t have enough evidence. Any evidence, really. But it never hurts to have an alternate theory of the case to present to a jury. If it goes that far. Did you have any luck?”

“Unfortunately, no. No one remembers seeing anyone suspicious. Parker Reed, James’s oldest friend, saw Hannah leave the campsite alone that night, while everyone else, including James, was sleeping. That’s the last time anyone saw Hannah.”

“Is it possible Parker Reed could have followed her?”

I took a moment to consider it, and was immediately embarrassed that I had. “I’ve known Parker for over two decades. He has his flaws, but no, I don’t think he would have been any more capable of killing Hannah than James would be. These are great guys we’re talking about—they’re not violent.”

An expression I couldn’t read flickered over Natalie’s face. “I think everyone is capable of violence, if they’re pushed hard enough. Everyone has a breaking point. Anyway, I don’t have to prove that Parker Reed killed Hannah Nilsson. That said. . .” Natalie leaned in toward me and dropped her voice. “What I could do is try to convince a jury that he could have. Create reasonable doubt that James committed the crime.”

“James would never agree to that. He and Parker are like brothers.”

“Which is exactly our problem,” Natalie pointed out, leaning back again. “Parker is the only one who can testify that James was asleep when Hannah left the campsite. If the State does decide to prosecute James, they will obviously be going forward under the theory that Parker is lying to protect him. But you know them better than I do: would Parker really do that?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “Parker would do anything to protect James.”