Deputy Stanhope, it was a pleasure working with you, she said, getting to her feet. But if its all the same to you, Id really like to get home to my daughter before she goes to sleep.

Oh, I have two of my own. I know how important the bedtime routine is, so dont let me stop you. Ill just email over any paperwork that pops up.

He gave them a pleasant wave and shook their hands before heading off elsewhere into the building. Jack looked to Rachel, as if considering something. How are you feeling?

Surprisingly fine. I dreaded telling you everything but now that its out…yeah. It feels better.

When do you think youll tell Paige?

Im still not quite sure, she said, cleaning up the papers theyd accumulated during their time at the station. She thought of Brandon Holcomb, so badly wanting his mothers attention and approval that hed resorted to murder. All hed wanted was to be heard and respected. Catching a little tear at the corner of her eye, she added: Sooner rather than later, though.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Rachel looked to the couch where shed slept the night before, wondering if it was obvious that it had been used as a bed for the past two nights. Shed straightened it up as well as she could and thought shed hidden it well. It was likely not anything Paige would notice, but she thought Grandma Tate would. And seeing as how Grandma Tate was due to call at any moment, Rachel was on high alert. She straightened up the blanket shed folded and tossed strategically on the corner of the armrest.

Paige sat beside her, looking through several pieces of artwork shed done at school. She was excited to show each one of them to Grandma Tate and was sorting them out in order from her favorite to least favorite.

When the iPad on the coffee table started ringing, Paige leaned forward to answer it so fast that she nearly dropped every piece of art to the floor. She managed to snag them at the last minute while also answering the FaceTime call.

Hey, Gramma!

Grandma Tate smiled widely into the camera. The woman never had to fake a smile for Paige, that was for sure. Her face always lit up when she saw her great-granddaughter. Sometimes, like today, it was the kind of smile that made her look nearly a decade younger.

Hey yourself, Ms. Paige! How are you?

Im good!

And your mom?

Rachel leaned over, trying to get into the screen the slightest little bit while Paige continued to insist her face should be front and centerwhich was usually the way these calls went. Yea, Im here, too. And Im good.

Hey, you wanna see an art show? Paige asked.

What sort of art show?