“What does any of that got to do with where Rowan is now?”

“Well. Mrs. Janes. Howard Gill says they fought, that the blood on his shirt is your son’s. He told us he believed Rowan wasn’t who he said he was. That Rowan was sent to put a tracker in him. Rowan was dangerous, and Howard Gill was afraid. He’s a deeply paranoid man.”

“Why are you telling me? A grown man, scared of a boy.”

“You’ll read it in the news coverage, ma’am. I think it’s better if you hear it from us first. We’ve laid charges against Howard Gill.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“Ma’am. We’ve charged him with the death of your son.”

The words made my ears sting. Stars zoomed around all over.

Gloria let go of my dress and I crouched down. Her hand went on her nose and she squished it in. “What? What? That’s not true. I don’t want to hear any more. That’s nonsense. Rowan is just fine. Telly’s going to come here, and we’ll get this straightened. He’s got to come around.” She stood up and I knew she was looking out at the circle for Telly’s truck. “He’s just got to fix this.”

“We have divers out there as we speak, Mrs. Janes. Searching the lake. We’ll do everything we can to bring him home to you.”

“Bring him home? Bring him home?” Gloria started walking back and forth over the porch. The wood creaked under her feet. “I won’t believe it,” she said. “I won’t believe one word. It’s not true. This is just a waste of time.”

“He’s been very specific in his account, ma’am. Provided a lot of details. We have a witness who confirms he interacted with Rowan. Spoke to him on the dock. Your boy was fishing.”

“I mean. Well, that could’ve been anyone.”

“He identified him from his picture, ma’am.”

“That still don’t mean nothing, Detective. Lots of people look like Rowan.”

“Mrs. Janes. We feel confident his memory is accurate. The man, Mr. Jim Russell, said he was immediately suspicious about Rowan. Had a feeling something was off. When he asked him about his father, Rowan told Mr. Russell his dad was a friend of Mrs. Baxter’s.”

“His dad?”

“We assume he was referring to Howard Gill.”

Gloria’s head was shaking fast. “That’s the lowest thing I ever heard. Of course that’s not his father. Of course it’s not. I never even met the man.”

“It goes to show,” Susan said, “that Howard Gill had a considerable controlling influence over Rowan.”

“It’s going to break Telly’s heart to hear that. Just break it.”