Chapters (95)
- Front Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Video #1
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Video #2
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Video #3
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- The Final Video
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Back Cover
Then we’re next to each other on the couch. Her arm is around me, and we both wipe our faces with tissues that appeared out of nowhere. Another woman is in the room, lingering in the doorway to the kitchen. She smiles at me.
“This is my friend, Kelcey,” Elizabeth says. “She’s been my rock through all of this. We’ve grown really close over the past year. I was so scared to be here after what happened to Daniel, but she stayed with me. And I wanted to be with all the good memories. Kelcey, this is Daniel’s friend, Hunter. They grew up together.”
The woman nods and asks if I want anything. Elizabeth tells her to bring me a glass of water.
I say, “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. And I want you to know I would never hurt Daniel. Never. We had an argument, but that’s all.”
“I know, Hunter,” she says, pulling me closer. “Shhh. I don’t pay attention to all the things people say on social media or anywhere else. None of that matters. This has been a struggle for me, a lot of complicated feelings. But I decided I know who you are. I’ve known you a long time.”
“Well, I’m still sorry.”
“I know you are. And I’m glad you’re here.”
“They told me not to go to the funeral.”
“Someone told me that. I knew I’d see you sometime. I just knew. When someone knocked on the door, I thought to myself, ‘Maybe that’s our Hunter.’”
“I came over in case you wanted to talk about Daniel. In case you needed something.”
“Thank you, Hunter. I’ve been talking a lot about Daniel. With friends and family…” She looks away and nods her head at a private thought. “Yes, I have.”
Kelcey hands me a glass of water, which immediately makes me feel better. I ask Elizabeth if the police know anything more.
“They don’t,” she says. “Oh, they talk a big game about working every lead, but they don’t know. This life is a mystery to all of us. And it’s a mystery to them, too. I think they’re hoping they find out what happened to Chloe and that will tell them what happened to Daniel. It’s their best strategy so far, but it’s not much.” She rubs my arm. “More importantly, how are you doing, kiddo? You’ve been having a rough ride.”
“I’m okay.”
“Are you?”
“Not really.”
“I didn’t think so. None of us are.”
“No, we’re not.”
“How’s your head? You have a hellacious bump there. Concussions can be brutal.”
“It’s getting better.”
It feels good to be held the way she holds me. It’s the safest I’ve felt since homecoming. And it’s something only a mother can do.
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?” I ask.