Then he leaned forward, staring into her face like a bulldog. But if, on the other hand, it makes you want to do something… He leaned back and shrugged, nonchalant again. Well, I would love to hear your thoughts. I hope you know we appreciate real talent around here.

Harley took the folder, already thinking how she would give the file a cursory look, send Newbury a few observations, and wash her hands of the matter. There was far too much going on in her life to take on another case right now.

You have a gift, Newbury said. Dont let a few small-minded bureaucrats waste it.

Harley thanked him for the water and left. She tossed the file in the passenger seat of her car and drove off, thinking it was time to finally go back to the old house and say her goodbyesfor good this time.

But what if Newbury was right, and there was a connection between this case and Kellys disappearance? What if and the very thought sent a chill through her body Kellys picture was in that file on the seat right next to her, waiting to be discovered?

CHAPTER FIVE

Harley let her car idle as she sat in the hospital parking lot, looking up at the ominous building that held her dying father. She tapped her steering wheel, wondering what to do. She knew she should see him again, be the bigger person, take the first step to get to the bottom of their broken relationship. But she just wasn't sure she could.

Instead, she pulled out her phone and called her brother, who answered on the second ring.

"Hey, sis," Greg said. "What are you up to?"

"Oh, just sitting in my car in the parking lot outside Dads room."

Greg grunted. "Why?"

Harley let out a long, exasperated sigh. "I don't know. I was going to go see Dad and talk to him, try to smooth things out, but I just don't know if I can handle a conversation with him right now."

There was a pause. "Are you sure you want to talk to him?"

Harley considered. Part of her wanted to never see her father again, but she only had one father. Besides, pretty soon he'd never be able to hurt her again.

"Yeah, I do," she answered. "I just don't know if I trust myself to be able to control my emotions around him. He just makes me so angry."

"He has that effect on people," Greg agreed. "How would you like that conversation with him to go?"

Harley shrugged. "I guess I just want to stand up to him and tell him he was wrong for treating me the way he did all those years, and he needs to apologize if he wants to keep having a relationship with me. But I don't know if I can do that."

"Why not?"