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Back The Hallows Save as PDF
Chapters (89)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. 82
  87. 83
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“My investigator found out that Anderson was lying about the rape when he was a juvenile. He killed Patty, and he and Russell put on a little show for me to get me to buy his alibi at the jail. So he’s probably the brains behind the outfit. Will, draft up an agreement for Steven. He’s getting attempted homicide, one to fifteen, in exchange for his testimony at trial against Anderson. Then set an appointment and run down to the jail and have him and his attorney sign it. They have notaries at the jail.”

“On it.”

“Jia, we need to keep digging as much as we can and find out what Russell’s going to spring on us. Talk to everyone, and I mean everyone, that’s interacted with him since he got into town. Maybe they saw something or overheard something.”

I scanned the board again and said, “I haven’t gotten my ass kicked yet, and I do not want to start here of all places and against a weasel like Russell. Don’t let me down, kids.” I went to leave and Will said, “Where you going?”

“Just someone I need to see.”

54

54

The cemetery was crowded with flowers. It was small and built on a hill overlooking River Falls. When I got out, I could see past the town to the red-rock mountains to the south and the Nevada border beyond that. I always forgot how small the town was until I looked at it from up high.

I climbed up farther on the hill and then stopped, unsure which way to go. I wandered around until I recognized a tree. A few paces behind that was the grave I was looking for.

The headstone said, “Marilyn Rose Graham. Beloved mother and wife.”

I sat down in front of the headstone and picked some grass. I played with it, twirling it and feeling the texture. A breeze started blowing.

“You know what I remember most?” I said out loud. “You used to tell me I could always come to you. That mothers had special bonds to their sons and could always give them the best advice when they needed it.” I tossed the grass on the ground. “I could sure use some of that advice right now, Mom. Because I feel like I’m lost at sea.”

I inhaled deeply and rose, staring down at the grave a long time. I kissed my hand and then lightly touched the headstone before leaving.

When I drove to Adam’s house, he was sitting on his porch. He was looking worse and worse. Pale with eyes rimmed red, his nose pink, burst capillaries from the intense coughing fits. More than that, he looked tired. A man who just wanted to lie down and not get back up.