“I won’t say a word to her,” Adele promised, looking serious and stressed as they turned away.

  Climbing back in the car, May felt tired and frustrated.

  “How can there be no sign of her?” she asked Owen as he headed back to the police department. “How can she just have disappeared?”

  “She’s probably hidden herself away in a remote location, or holed up with one of her friends,” Owen suggested. “If she was driving out on the road, we would have found her by now. With the APB and the roadblocks and our own search, we did everything we could.”

  “I’m worried that she’s left the state,” May said. “If she’s done a runner, she could be anywhere by now. That’s very bad news.”

  With tiredness and discouragement warring inside her, May was forced to face her limitations as a small-town cop again.

  The FBI would have more resources at their disposal, she knew. They would be able to pour far more into the hunt, access more personnel and equipment, and even track Emily’s phone.

  May tried to console herself by thinking that if Emily was in hiding, and had turned off her phone, then not even the FBI would be able to find her. But even so, she couldn’t help feeling a sense of helplessness. They had pinned down their prime suspect and she was out of reach.

  Owen gave her a sympathetic glance.

  “We did our best,” he said. “You can’t beat yourself up. There’s nothing more we could have done.”

  “I know. I know you’re right.” But she felt defeated as they pulled up outside the Fairshore police department.

  “Come on, we’ll tell Jack the latest,” Owen said. “Maybe he’ll have some good news.”

  “I’m sure he would have called us if there was any news,” May said, not wanting to get her hopes up.

  She headed into the police department wondering what else they could possibly do to track Emily down.

  Inside the back office, Sheriff Jack was busy on the radio. Her boss gave them a warm, if tired, smile.

  “Evening, May and Owen. I’ve just been in touch with everyone again and there’s still no sign of her or her vehicle anywhere.”

  He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.

  “If only we could find her,” May said, feeling weary. She slumped into a chair.

  “I can’t see how she could have driven across the state line without anyone picking her up,” Jack said reassuringly.

  May nodded, but couldn’t help feeling a sense of frustration. She was tired and worried. They had a murderer on the loose, and it was her job to catch her.

  “It’s still good work on your part, May,” Jack said. “This is a very solid lead. You’ve done a great job getting this far in such a short time.”

  He looked at her and she sensed that he was trying to reassure her. She appreciated it, but it didn’t make her feel much better.

  The stress and activity of the evening was reminding her of that awful day ten years ago when Lauren had disappeared. There had been the same searches, the same activity, the same peaks of hope as leads were followed, which had ended in crashes of disappointment as they didn’t pan out.

  May thought again of that evidence box, stashed away in the back office. If only she’d looked inside. If only she had more of a clue about Lauren.

  Thinking about Lauren gave her a sudden idea about Emily.

  “The airports, Jack. Have they all been told to watch out for her? She could easily have dumped the car somewhere and then taken a cab. She could be planning to fly out of here, to another state or even another country.”

  “Yes, they have. All security teams at all the airports are aware she’s a person of interest and they must seize her if they find her. And I’ve stationed an officer outside her house for the night, so we’ll know immediately if she comes back or sends anyone else to her home.”

  “Is there anything else we can do? Anything?” May asked.

  Jack shook his head. “I’m about to wrap up operations here for the night. We’ve done what we can. We all need to keep our phones on so we can react immediately if we do get a notification, but for now, we need to get some rest and start again in the morning.”

  May and Owen headed outside. The evening was warm, with a pleasant breeze. The town was quiet and peaceful.

  It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago they’d been accelerating along these same streets, on their way to the home of the person they suspected to be the killer. If only they could have gotten there earlier, they might have been in time to stop her.

  She felt a sense of disappointment and frustration. They had come so close to catching Emily, only to have her slip through their fingers.

  “Come on, May. Let’s get home. I’m sure she’s hiding away for the night, and will make a move tomorrow morning,” Owen said, in an encouraging voice. “It’s better we’re rested for her then. We won’t get anywhere sitting here overnight, with nothing to do except worry.”

  They really couldn’t do more. They’d exhausted every avenue. Finally, with a sigh, May capitulated and accepted this.

  She climbed into Owen’s car and he headed out into the dark, quiet streets. At this time of night, May’s house was only a four-minute drive away.

  She lived on the far side of town, away from the lake. Knowing her sister had disappeared on those shores, May hadn’t wanted to stare out at those waters every day.

  She lived in a cottage next to a farmhouse. It was quiet and peaceful, and her view was of fields and trees.

  “Thank you so much for the ride,” she told Owen as he approached the small, homely cottage.

  For a weird moment, May suddenly wondered if she should ask her deputy to come in for a cup of coffee.

  It seemed like a friendly thing to do. After all, they’d worked together the whole day. They’d chased and strategized and planned together. She suddenly realized how much she appreciated Owen’s company. He was a tower of strength.

  But then at the last minute she decided against the coffee. It was very late, after all. And what if Owen got the wrong idea and it all became awkward?

  Wondering what the right idea was, and what that coffee might have meant to her, May got out of the car and headed inside.

  She was looking forward to getting some sleep, but as she climbed into bed, her phone beeped. It was Kerry.

  Her heart accelerated when she saw the message. Was this about the case? Was her sister still pushing to be involved?

  Feeling extremely nervous, May opened the message.

  “Hi, sis! Brandon’s getting here very early tomorrow. We’ve organized an early breakfast at the folks’, and you’re invited! I’ll pick you up on the way back from the airport at around seven a.m. See you then!”

  May’s heart plummeted.

  She didn’t know if she would be able to attend this breakfast. It all depended on what happened with the case.

  But if she was able to, May had no doubt that it would be a trying experience in every way, one to be endured rather than enjoyed, because it would target all her own insecurities.

  She hoped to goodness that Emily made her move by tomorrow morning. Not only would it progress the case, but it would allow her to skip an event she was already dreading.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  As soon as May woke up after a restless sleep, she grabbed her phone, hoping for an update on the case. But her phone was stubbornly silent. It was six-thirty a.m. and she had half an hour before Kerry and Brandon arrived.

  With a sigh, May got out of bed and jumped in the shower. She interrupted her shower twice to check her phone, feeling nervous and jumpy and anxious that at any moment, the call might come through that she needed.

  But there was no call.

  She dried her hair and put on some make-up and got dressed and checked her phone again. And then she stood outside, waiting for Kerry to arrive and hoping that her pickup had survived the ride.

  As she looked up and down the street, she felt a little pang of disappointment. It was such a beautiful morning. The air was fresh and the sun was just peeking over the horizon, brightening a cloudless summer sky. And here she was, about to step into what was certain to be a challenging family event.

  “What a way to start my day,” she said out loud, but nobody heard, because she was completely alone.

  The street was silent and empty, but then, from the main road, she heard the sound of a fast-revving engine. She saw her pickup—thankfully undamaged—swerve into the street and brake sharply in front of her house.

  Kerry was at the wheel. Riding next to her was a handsome, dark-haired man wearing a business suit.

  “Morning,” Kerry said, grinning at her. “Meet Brandon. Brandon, this is my little sister May.”

  “Great to meet you.” Turning as she climbed into the car, Brandon gave her a flashing, hundred-watt smile. He looked successful and strong, but as he maintained eye contact, she got the impression he was kind and caring. What else could she have expected from Kerry’s beau? Of course he would be without flaws!

  “Pleased to meet you,” May said, trying to sound as enthusiastic as she could.

  Taking a deep breath, she sat back and held on for dear life.

  Kerry revved the engine and then let out the clutch. Spinning the wheel, she pulled away from the curb. The pickup accelerated down the street and then onto the main road.

  She was used to her sister’s love of speed. Kerry raced through the streets of Fairshore with her foot hard against the pedal. The pickup screeched around a corner, and then suddenly the brakes were on and they came to a shuddering halt outside their folks’ place.

  May had wondered if Kerry would mention the case, or ask if May had made progress, but she had been too focused on her driving. At least that was a small benefit, May thought, with a sense of irony.

  The front door of the house was open and her parents were standing there. Getting out of the car, May could already smell the aromas of cooking food.

  She knew the breakfast spread would be perfect, and the table immaculately prepared. That was how her mother did things.

  “Oh, Kerry!” Her mother was wearing her best red suit, the one she wore to weddings and big events. “This is such an exciting day for us. I can’t believe that we’re meeting your fiancé. Your fiancé! What an incredible moment this is.”

  “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Moore,” Brandon said, striding across the sidewalk and shaking hands with May’s mother. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you!”

  “Welcome to our family!” May’s mother enthused. “I’m excited to hear your wedding plans.”

  “It’s going to be a very special day,” he said. “I’ll be making a promise to the woman of my dreams. I feel very privileged to be marrying into your family.”

  May’s dad shook his hand.

  “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, sir,” Brandon said, giving her dad a firm grip. Then Brandon put his arms around Kerry and kissed her gently on the lips.

  May waited for someone, anyone, to greet her. She knew all the focus was on Kerry and that this was a very special and important day. But why, oh why, did her parents not see her the same way? In fact, with their attention on Kerry, why did they not see her at all?

  Briefly, she wished Lauren was still here. Imagine if she and Lauren could smile at each other at this moment, both sharing the same thoughts and emotions, both pleased for Kerry but resigned over the level of fuss that this event triggered.

  May missed her other sister intensely right at that moment.

  They went inside. The house was every inch as clean and neat as May had expected it to be. There were fresh flowers in the hallway and the living room was immaculate, with every cushion perfectly plumped.

  “Make yourself at home,” her father said, leading them into the dining room. “Lovely to see both of you here.”

  “It’s wonderful to have both my daughters at our table again,” her mother agreed.

  The table was set with a white tablecloth and her mother’s good china, and the food was laid out, ready to be served. It was an impressive spread.

  The smell of bacon and eggs, sausages, and grilled tomatoes filled the air. There was homemade bread and croissants, mushrooms and cornbread, Danish pastries, and a huge pot of coffee.

  “Mom, you didn’t have to go to all this effort,” Kerry said. “This is an absolute feast!”

  “I wanted to. It’s so exciting to have a new member of the family,” she said, a proud smile on her face.

  “So, Brandon, have you decided on a destination for the honeymoon?” May’s father asked.

  “We’re going to the Maldives. We’ll be spending a week at a top resort, adventuring around the area.”

  “Oh, how wonderful!” May’s mother exclaimed.

  “I’ve always wanted to go there,” May’s father said. “I hear it’s gorgeous.”

  “I’ve dreamed of going to the Maldives for as long as I can remember,” Kerry said. “I can’t wait to get there. I have always thought it’s the most romantic destination.”

  “But what about your wedding? First things first,” her mother said. “Let’s get the food on the plates and you can tell me what you have planned. What can I dish up for you, Brandon? Mushrooms? Cornbread? You’ll have bacon, of course?”

  “Everything looks delicious,” Brandon said.

  “And for you, dear?” her mother said, turning to Kerry.

  “I’ll have the eggs, and give me plenty of bacon.”

  “And for you, May?”

  Those were the first words her mother had spoken to her directly, and what was worse, she didn’t even seem to notice.

  “A bit of everything, please.” She smiled, determined to contribute positive energy to this important breakfast.

  “There you go, honey. It means so much to me that you’re here for such an important event,” her mother enthused, passing the plate to her.

  May couldn’t help thinking of Lauren again. One day they had been three, and then two. She felt suddenly sad. If only Lauren could have been here too. Wasn’t anyone else missing her?

  “We’re planning on a spring wedding, but that actually doesn’t give us long to get everything figured out,” Brandon said. “What we visualize is to have the ceremony outdoors, in a little glade.”

  “Oh, that sounds wonderful. It’s going to be so unique,” her mother said.

  “It will be lovely,” Kerry said.

  “I can’t wait to see your wedding dress. Have you decided on a theme?”

  “We thought we’d go with a classic look,” Kerry said. “Nothing too fussy. I want silver and white as the décor theme.”

  “Oh, my dear, I’m sure you’ll look just beautiful,” her mother said.

  “Brandon, do you want more bacon?” May’s father asked. “It’s the best in town.”

  “I’ve never been a part of a family like this,” Brandon said. “You’ve been so welcoming. It’s amazing.”

  At that moment, May’s phone rang. She jumped, grabbing it from her pocket. It was Jack on the line.

  “I’m sorry. I have to take this. I may have to rush away. Thank you so much for a wonderful meal,” she said. Grabbing her purse, she hurried out of the dining room, feeling relieved to have a reason for leaving the table.

  “May. We have some news.” Jack sounded excited.

  “What’s happened?” she asked.

  “Emily’s been found. She arrived at a small local airport about an hour ago. Airport security picked her up and arrested her, and she’s on the way to the police department. You need to come in as soon as possible so that we can question her.”

  Suddenly, May felt as if this day, which had started so awkwardly, was full of hope and promise.

  Their strong suspect was on the way in. Soon, this case might be closed.

  “I’ll be there in five minutes,” she said.

  The keys to the pickup were on the hall table. Her pickup. Kerry didn’t need it anymore. She could use her folks’ car for getting around town.

  Grabbing the keys, May called out a quick goodbye to the family. She wasn’t sure if anyone heard her.

  She rushed out to the car, climbed inside, and sped off to the police department, her mind filled with the make or break interview ahead.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  May pulled up outside the police department feeling hopeful, as if the investigation was finally starting to turn her way.

  And she had her wheels back, undamaged and her own again.

  Owen arrived a moment after she did. They exchanged a quick, excited glance before rushing in. Despite the early hour, the police department was a hive of activity. Two of the security staff from the airport were still on site. So Emily Oxman must have just arrived.

  May felt nervous at the thought of questioning her. This was going to be a huge opportunity, questioning a strong suspect in a murder case. She hoped she’d be able to get the right answers from this woman. She guessed Jack would take the lead, but she hoped she’d be able to give some input.

  Jack bustled out of the room a moment later.

  “Right,” he said. “Good morning, team. Everything is set up and ready. May, you can handle this interview, together with Owen. I’ll step in if you need me, or if you want a different person asking questions.”

  “Me?” May asked.

  She felt astonished by this display of trust and confidence from her boss.

  “You worked out the link between the victim and the suspect, and then you did the research we needed. You’ve handled this case superbly every step of the way, and you need to manage this next step.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “You’ll be fine. You’re good at this. Just follow your instincts and your gut feeling.”

  Feeling cheered by her boss’s praise, May rushed to the back office to get her notebook.

  “Shall we go in?” she asked Owen.

  “I’m ready,” he agreed.

  Taking a deep breath, May stepped into the interview room and came face to face for the first time with her prime suspect.

 

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