Page 129 of The River We Remember

“Are you saying someone killed him to keep Colleen safe?”

“Marta’s stronger than I ever was. If I were that strong, it’s what I’d do.”

“But the sheriff found a tarp at Noah Bluestone’s place. It was covered with blood that matched your father’s type.”

She blew her nose again. Her eyes were red from crying. She said, “Have you ever been in love, Charlie, and lost that love? Because when that happens, I think love sets a hook in your heart that will always be there. Marta was a very pretty girl. Easy to fall for. Just ask Noah Bluestone.”

“There was something between Noah and Marta?”

“A very long time ago. They tried to hide it, but I could see. We all could. Everyone except my father. He was blind to everything but his own selfish needs.”

A little yellow bus wove its way up to the top of the knob, pulled into the parking area of the observation tower, and disgorged a number of children and several adults. Fiona put her sunglasses back on, signaling, Charlie knew, that their time together had come to an end.

“I understand that Noah Bluestone refuses to say anything about what happened the night my father died. If you want the truth, Charlie, maybe you should ask Marta.”

As she turned to leave, Charlie said, “Who else?”

Fiona’s face was eyeless behind those dark lenses. “Who else what?”

“You said there was only one other person you’d told all this to.”

Charlie could hear the children coming up the stairs, eager and noisy.

“I’ve been seeing a therapist forever,” she said.

“And so you know that what happened when you were a girl wasn’t your fault.”

“You’re not my therapist, Charlie.”

The children burst onto the tower platform and raced to the wall.

Fiona turned and waited until the stairs became clear, then she left. From the top of the tower, Charlie watched her get into her car and drive away.

The lawyer thought again about truth, something she’d never believed was an absolute. What Fiona had told her was a terrible story and took courage. Knowing Jimmy Quinn, Charlie could believe there might be truth to it. But she also considered Fiona’s motive in arranging this meeting and couldn’t help but wonder if the direction in which the woman had pointed her might, after all these years, be a form of revenge against Marta, who’d stolen her father’s affections. Charlie had listened to people on a witness stand swear to a lie that they believed in their hearts was necessary in order for justice to be done.

There was, however, a detail in Fiona’s story that made Charlie lean powerfully toward believing her. Charlie thought about the sapphire ring Brody had found in Jimmy Quinn’s pants pocket, a ring he believed was meant for a small woman, someone like Kyoko Bluestone. But now Charlie had a different idea about that ring.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

BRODY SPENT AN hour at the jailhouse talking by phone with the state patrol and law enforcement in adjacent counties, enlisting their help in locating Tyler Creasy. He phoned the Quinns and talked to J.P., cautioning him and urging him to call immediately if Creasy showed up. He phoned the Bluestone farm and spoke with Graff. When he’d finished his calls, he headed back to the Madison home. As he rolled his cruiser up to the curb, Angie came running to meet him.

“They’re gone,” she said.

“Who?”

“Scott and Del. They went for a walk, just around the block. That was a couple of hours ago. They haven’t come back.”

“Have you looked for them?”

“I’ve been all over the neighborhood, Brody. Nothing.”

“They’re boys, Angie. They’ve lost track and gone farther than they intended. It’s how boys are.”

“Not Scott. He promised me.”

“Did you see which way they went?”

“I didn’t. Oh, Brody, I wouldn’t worry, but so much has happened. And with Tyler Creasy gone crazy out there—”