Keller caught the faint whiff of weed as the guy set a laptop in front of her. He tapped on a few keys, then went back to his seat.

The screen showed a woman, mid-twenties, her hair a dull shade of purple.

“Charlotte wasn’t just my cousin, she was my best friend,” the woman said.

“You were a close family?” Judy Adler asked from off camera.

The woman made a noise that said fat chance. “My mom and Charlotte’s dad had major issues. They haven’t talked in years.”

“Why’s that?”

“Uncle John abused my mom when they was kids. Sexually, I mean.”

A chill crawled up Keller’s back. The woman said it so matter-of-fact. And from what Keller knew about sexual abusers, they didn’t tend to stop as they got older. The victims just changed. She continued to watch the video.

“But you and Charlotte were close?”

“Oh yeah. My mom was worried, you know. She told Charlotte she could come to Kansas, stay with us, anytime.”

“Did you think Charlotte was being abused by your uncle?”

The woman nodded.

“Did she tell you that?”

“Not in so many words.”

“But you thought so?”

She nodded again. “Long as I can remember, she was always talking about getting out of Adair, moving to a big city, changing her name, starting over.”

“Did you ever talk to her about it—what was happening at home, I mean?”

“We didn’t need to. It was just understood.”

“Did you know her boyfriend?”

“Who, Danny? I talked to him a few times when me and Charlotte were Skyping.”

“Were you surprised when you heard he’d been arrested?”

“Oh yeah. I mean, we was in shock. It was funny, ’cause that show made a big thing about Danny and Charlotte, like they were high school sweethearts on their way to the altar or somethin’. But he saw other people, and so did she.”

“You’re saying they weren’t serious?”

“Not from what Charlotte told me. She always said Danny Pine was a sweet dumb jock. They had a good time, but it wasn’t like they was getting married.”

“She saw other boys?”

“I think. Though she thought all the kids at school were immature.”

“Did she mention anyone in particular?”

“She said there was someone, an older boy, but wouldn’t tell me who.”

“Why not?”

The woman shrugged.

“Did you know she was pregnant?”

“I don’t think she was.”

“But they ran tests and—”

“If that was her.” She said this with a roll of her neck, almost like a challenge.

“I don’t understand.”

“About a week before it happened, she said she couldn’t take it anymore. She was gonna take off.”

“Couldn’t take what anymore?”

The woman looked off camera like it was a stupid question. “She didn’t say. But it was obvious. Her dad…”