“In twenty years, no one has used that symbol for any other criminal activity,” she says. “You should know this. The case records were sealed by the county court, remember? Everybody thought it was for the best. Do you remember what the DA said when he made the motion, Carl? To avoid inspiring copycats. Nobody would use that as graffiti. Nobody knows it outside of this town.” You moron, she doesn’t add.

“So what are you trying to say, Carrie?” he says, crossing his arms. He doesn’t appreciate the lecture.

She has to spell it out for him. She didn’t enjoy this when she was a teenager, and it’s even less fun now.

“The only people who would be involved in this would have a connection to the Followers. Maybe through someone in prison. Or maybe some members were never caught last time.”

Carl smirks at her. Carrie knows she’s made a mistake. She’s angry, and he knows how to deal with that. Just like old times, he dismisses her completely.

“Carrie. I’d like to help you. I would,” he lies. “But nothing is happening in Middleton. Honest. We’re a dull little town these days.”

“Where’s Hailey? Where’s her daughter?”

He shrugs. “Maybe she took a couple days off. Went to Disneyland. Who knows?”

“Right before the reunion she helped organize?”

Carl shows one of those uncharacteristic moments of sharpness she used to notice, like a glimmer of another version of himself. “Maybe she didn’t want to see some of the people coming back. Bad memories. I’m sure you can relate.”

Cute. “Thanks, Carl. I never thought of that.”

He smiles again. “Always happy to help. Now, I better call that locksmith. I’m sure that Hailey will want all of her stuff to be here when she gets home.”

Carrie goes to the Geo and gets in. Carl waves as she drives away.

She rummages in her bag, finds a wet wipe, and cleans her hand.

Carl is wrong, of course.

She didn’t see anything in the closet. But she smelled it. Someone was very, very scared. Someone pissed themselves on that rug.

That’s the only trace that’s left of them.

She didn’t bother to tell Carl. She also didn’t tell him about the scratches on the window, which looked like claw marks.

He wasn’t there on New Year’s Eve. He would never believe her. Even if he did, it wouldn’t change anything.

Carrie knows what left those marks. And she knows no one will ever see Hailey or her daughter again.

10

The Flawless Performance of Innumerable Lines of Code

Danny is the last to make it to Middleton.