“I . . . I . . .” No. Lane swallowed, but the odor still clung to her—the eyes still staring. “I’m going to be sick.”

The man released her arms just in time for her to turn and expel the contents of her stomach.

“Ma’am, what’s wrong?” A warm hand covered the skin on her bare shoulder in a gesture he probably thought was comforting but only made her feel worse as she continued to retch. “How can I help?”

“9-1-1,” she gasped, wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand. “There’s . . . a . . . g-girl.”

“A girl? Where? Is she hurt?”

“D-dead.” Nothing was left in Lane’s stomach, but it didn’t stop her body from purging again. She couldn’t shake the glassy stare of the girl. Young. Too young.

“A dead girl?” Disbelief colored his words as his hand slipped from her back.

Lane fought through the retching long enough to peek up. The man rocked back on his heels and was scanning the area as his gaze darkened. Where was his bike? How did he get here? Why was he here? Pulse pounding in her ears, Lane took a step back. “Were you following me?”

The man’s eyes rounded. His hands flew up in surrender like he knew what she was thinking. “No. I mean, yes, but only to be sure you were okay. I heard you scream. My name’s Charlie Lynch. I’m a deputy for Walton—”

“Walton’s not that big and I’ve never seen you before.”

“I’m new. Start on Monday.” His gaze held hers. Keeping one hand up, he reached into the pocket of his shorts and withdrew a cell phone. “I need to call Sheriff Huggins now and report this.”

He knew the sheriff’s name. That was reassuring, right? Lane eyed the wet shirt clinging to a physique that, at the very least, proved he was physically fit enough to be a cop.

“Here,” the man said as he held the phone out to Lane. “The sheriff wants to talk to you.”

“H-hello?”

A second of silence filled the phone. “Lane, is that you?”

The sound of Sheriff Huggins’s voice eased Lane’s worry almost as quickly as it caused her knees to feel like they were going to buckle. “Y-yes,” she answered, her voice cracking.

“I’m on my way, honey.” Sheriff Huggins’s voice was tight. “You stay with Charlie, but I’m on my way.”

Lane couldn’t reply because of the lump in her throat. Sheriff Huggins was Ms. Byrdie’s husband, and together they were the main reason Lane had had the courage to return to Walton. Lane passed the phone back to the deputy while her mind drifted back to the girl’s body. Lifeless blue eyes staring.