“Just after dark. Around seven.”

My heart sinks at the detail, not because Lydia has just given Drew a strong and verifiable alibi, but because she seems believable. Neither of these things lines up with what I want right now, which is one solid lead.

—

Eventually we hear a commotion in the hall, and Drew comes into the library. He takes off a dusty straw cowboy hat and drops it on an end table before shaking hands with both of us. The hat has dampened his sparse mousy hair in a silly-looking ring, pressing it flat. His face is reddened and there are flecks of silt across the bridge of his nose. He’s been working hard, not playing farmer as I supposed, and I feel resentful more than relieved. I want his guilt to be glaring. For this whole scenario to be an obvious sham.

Will stands. “Mr. Hague. I’m Sheriff Flood from Mendocino County, and this is Special Agent Anna Hart. We’re here about Cameron.”

Drew sits without flourish. Janice has brought in iced tea on a scrolled silver tray, and he reaches for a glass, draining it in one go. “Horrible business,” he says as he finishes, the cubes clattering like crystal. “And now the other girl, too. In Petaluma.” He frowns.

“Your wife tells us you were harvesting the night Cameron disappeared,” I step in. “Is that right?”

“Yes. This is our busiest time of year. Otherwise we’d be doing more to help.”

“Have you had much contact with Emily or Troy since that night?”

“No, actually. I…” He flexes one of his hands over the other. “I haven’t known what to say.”

“We feel a little embarrassed, actually,” Lydia adds. “Tension and disagreements shouldn’t matter at a time like this. A family should stick together.”

As Drew nods uncomfortably, I find myself looking at him, his damp hair and sweat-lined collar. At his hands, too, which are large and strong. Does he seem like a man who could hurt a fifteen-year-old girl? Or one much younger? My gut is saying he might, regardless of his alibi. It’s just a feeling, completely unfounded maybe. But it’s there.

“I’d like to polygraph you both,” Will says. “Just standard procedure.”

“Oh?” Drew looks surprised. “If that’s the way you do things.” He glances at Lydia. “It might be a little difficult to schedule right now. We still have a few weeks left in this harvest.”

“We don’t have weeks here, Mr. Hague.” I glare at him. “You must have staff who can pitch in if you need to be away for a few hours.”

I expect him to back down right away, but he doesn’t. His eyes are blue and unwavering. Emily has gotten all the beauty in the family, but Drew has something else. Even in his farm clothes, I can see he’s used to wielding power. Authority. And that he’s rarely challenged.