Because I dont want people thinking bad of Mercy. Shes…shes my best friend. Shes kind and nice and…this guy is scum. I dont understand why she liked him.

Whats his name? Kate asked.

Jeremy Branch.

You say hes a dropout. Do you know what he does for a job?

Nothing, I dont think. Tree work here and there, like cutting limbs and helping logging crews. But according to Mercy, he sort of just sits around his older brothers house and drinks most of the day. And I dont know for sure, but I think he sells drugs.

Kate almost felt sorry for Anne. The looks on the faces of her parents made it clear that she would be getting a stern talking to when Kate and DeMarco were gone. Knowing this, Kate walked over to Anne and sat in the place her father had been sitting only a minute before.

I know this was hard for you, Kate said. But you did the right thing. Youve given us a lead and now maybe we can get to the bottom of things. Thank you, Anne.

With that, she gave a polite nod to Annes parents and showed herself out. On the way to the car, DeMarco pulled out her phone. You know where Deerfield is? she asked.

About twenty minutes deeper into the woods, Kate said. If you thought Deton was small, you havent seen anything yet.

Ill call Sheriff Barnes and see if we can get an address.

She was doing exactly that as they got back into the car. Kate felt a sudden feeling of energy wash over her. They had a lead, the involvement of the local PD, and most of the day still ahead of them. As she pulled out of the Pettuses driveway, she couldnt help but feel just a little hopeful.

CHAPTER FOUR

Although DeMarco had gotten a very clear address from Barnes, Kate couldnt help but wonder if Barnes had been wrong or if something had been lost in the transfer of communication. She saw the address five minutes after passing into the Deerfield town limits, plastered on the side of a dingy mailbox in black letters. But, like most everything else in Deerfield, Virginia, everything beyond the mailbox was open field and forest.

Roughly two feet from the mailbox, she saw the sketch-like lines of what she assumed was a driveway. Weeds had sprouted up along the side, hiding most of the entrance. She turned into the driveway and found herself on a narrow dirt road that led to a wider open space several yards ahead. She guessed she was looking into a large front yard that had simply not seen a mower in a very long time. There were three cars, two of which looked like total losses, parked in the yard. They were positioned along a dirt strip that served as the end of the driveway.