‘I’ve already picked out my course of study. And I know you’re both probably very disappointed, especially you, Dad, because I know how proud of me you are. But I hope you can understand this is where I belong. Not New York.’ An impish grin tilted up one corner of her mouth. ‘Besides, you should be happy I chose a school where I don’t have to buy a whole new wardrobe to match the school colors. UNM and Cornell both wear red.’

‘Cherry,’ her dad automatically corrected. ‘Lobos wear cherry.’

Though he hadn’t said it in as many words, Holly knew her father had accepted her decision. Her shoulders sagged down, the tension releasing as the weight of telling her parents lifted.

Even though he couldn’t completely hide his disappointment, her dad said, ‘It’s hard to argue against my baby girl staying close to home where I can see her far more easily and often.’ Then he cocked his head and narrowed his gaze. ‘You are planning on coming around more than just holidays, right?’

Holly laughed, the sound light. ‘Of course, Dad. I’ll be around so much you’ll wonder if I even left for college at all.’ It was a lie, and they all knew it, but it did the trick as her dad wrapped her in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

Her mom, however, wasn’t quite finished. ‘I may not like it, but I’ll honor your choice. I can tell you’ve already considered what a huge commitment this will be, and your decision to stay here and attend UNM will have lifelong consequences, whether negative, positive, or a combination of both. So, if you’ve truly considered all the options and come to this conclusion as your path in life for now, Dad and I will support that choice and do what we can to help.’

Holly practically flew into her mom’s arms. ‘Thanks, Mom.’

‘You’re welcome. Besides, it’s kind of nice knowing that my very bright, courageous, beautiful, strong-willed daughter is going to follow in her mother’s footsteps.’

As Holly stepped back, she saw there was no hint of worry in her mom’s face. Instead, it was filled with a glow she hadn’t seen in a long time – or at least not since April when Isaac had been kidnapped.

Seeing that, Holly was suffused with warmth, like she’d been out in a sub-zero freeze and was now standing in front of a toasty, blazing fire.

‘But you tell Grandma,’ her mom and dad said at the same time, laughing when they realized they’d been holding onto the same thought.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Saturday, May 25

At two-thirty in the morning, Alyssa’s phone woke her. Groggy, she fumbled blindly for it until she groped it with her hand, pulling it to her head which still rested on her pillow. ‘Hello?’ Raspiness made her sound like she was catching a cold.

‘Detective Wyatt?’

All Alyssa could tell from the tremulous voice on the other end of the line was that it was female, and she jerked up, fully awake as she crawled out of bed. ‘Yes, this is she. Who is this?’