Lane bit down on the inside of her cheek, unable to speak. Not that it mattered even if she could. Her mother’s outburst was a clear reminder that there were some things the Sullivans did not discuss. And Lane had no answers to satisfy their questions. Why would she do what she did? Didn’t she think about what it would do to her family? She had nothing to say. No way to explain why death had seemed like an answer that day. Or how the effects of that single decision had tormented her every single day since.

Her father remained seated and continued to eat. Wes sipped his tea. Meagan kept quiet and their mother stood motionless as she stared at her own plate. No one was going to stop her.

And no one did. They were content to let her go. A lump of emotion filled her throat. As much as her dad claimed hero status for coming to her rescue, Lane knew the only person who had ever fought for her—who had truly tried to rescue her—was buried in the ground.

The mood inside the sheriff’s station was as stifling as the late-afternoon heat and the heavy revelation of Sheriff Huggins’s words still echoing in Charlie’s ear: “Jane Doe has been identified.” Amanda and Trevor had confirmed the victim as their seventeen-year-old daughter, Sydney.

The buzz of the air conditioner on full blast did little to deflect from the shared despair of the deputies around him. How many of them knew the young lady? Were they friends with her family? Did she babysit their children? Maybe living in a small town was as much a blessing as it was a curse? If they were this close to the victim, could they be close to the killer too?

Sheriff Huggins entered the station and drew the gaze of every deputy, including Charlie. He paused for a moment and looked ready to say something but stopped. He pulled out a white handkerchief and wiped his face. To remove the afternoon’s kiss of sweat or to wipe away any evidence of moisture in his gray eyes, Charlie wasn’t sure.

“The Donovans”—Sheriff Huggins cleared his throat and tucked the handkerchief into his pocket—“are expecting our best. I’m expecting your best. As the community learns the truth, I want us to be prepared. I know some of you knew Sydney and her family, so if you need some time to . . .” His voice caught. “Grief counselors will be available, but I’m hoping that once you’ve had your moment—your time—you will focus that grief into finding the person or persons responsible. That’s our job. To bring justice and some sort of peace back not only to Sydney’s family but to our town as well.”