Lara was confused. While she knew never to drive on Wickelow Bend at night—no one did that—she’d never heard the name Peter Beaumont until now. Kids told wild tales of Wickelow Bend, but there were no names attached. It was an anonymous bogeyman… a missing man. The idea that someone real had actually disappeared hadn’t occurred to her or her friends, ever. It was just an old legend. And Peter Beaumont? She’d toured with her father’s band for a year. No one knew her father’s musical career like she did. “And yet none of you have ever mentioned his name?” It was a sharp comment and she could see that it stung, but she couldn’t exactly figure out why this revelation was bothering her so much.

“I have to go tell the Suttons,” said Ben, excusing himself.

“Of course,” said Audrey, taking his jacket from Lara’s shoulders and offering it back.

He touched the doorknob and then turned back. “I’m sorry, Lara. I wish I’d had better news for you.”

“You’re still looking for him?”

“Of course we are,” said Ben. “Doyle has a team searching the woods. But…”

“But what?”

“They never found Peter Beaumont.” Her mother finished Ben’s sentence for him.

“That’s correct. Technically, the Beaumont case is still open,” he said. Ben tapped the front door with his finger, nervously.

The weight of what they were hinting at hit her in waves. This wasn’t some simple misunderstanding over their wedding. They were saying that she might never see Todd again. Pressure built up behind her eyes, and she fixed on something on the wall so as not to cry.

“I’ll be in touch.” Ben nodded at Audrey. Lara noticed the thick mud on the pants of his uniform and the dark circles under his eyes. It would be a long day. For that, she was grateful to him. He looked as miserable as she felt.

When she turned, she saw that her father had been standing in the doorway, listening to the entire exchange. It would make sense that he wanted to be here for Lara after what happened at the wedding, but she hadn’t known he was in the house.

“I guess you heard.” Audrey ran her hands through her hair, like she was trying to compose herself.

Anger rose up in her, but Lara wasn’t sure why. “Why didn’t either of you ever mention Peter Beaumont to me?” A name she had never heard until today had suddenly become significant. Now Peter and Todd seemed to be entwined by the same fate.

“I couldn’t talk about him.” Jason focused on Audrey.