Chapter 6 - Someone Went Down First
There was one access trail to the ravine.
It started half a mile north behind an abandoned ranger station.
Detective Rourke found tire tracks there.
Wide tread. Heavy vehicle.
Not Daniel's pickup.
Not Celeste's SUV.
"A third person," Nora said.
Rourke nodded.
They were in the NICU family room. Sophie slept behind glass under soft blue light.
Nora hated being away from her even for ten minutes.
"Who knew about the case?"
"My father's attorney. Alma. Me."
"Daniel?"
"Apparently."
Alma sat across from them, palms wrapped in fresh gauze.
She looked guilty before anyone accused her.
Nora noticed.
"What?"
Alma shook her head.
"What?"
"I told someone."
Rourke leaned forward.
"Who?"
"Mr. Kessler."
Nora's father's attorney.
"Why?"
Alma's eyes watered.
"Because after Peter died, Kessler told me if Nora was ever in danger, I should call him. So this morning, when I saw Celeste following Nora's car, I called."
Nora stared at her.
"Before the crash?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't call me?"
"I thought I was helping."
"You called a lawyer instead of the woman being followed?"
Alma's jaw tightened.
"Yes. It was stupid."
No excuse.
That made Nora angrier and less angry at the same time.
Rourke asked for Kessler's number.
It went straight to voicemail.
His office said he had left at noon and never returned.
By evening, police found his car at the marina.
Empty.
His phone sat on the driver's seat.
Blood was smeared across the center console.
Nora stared at the photograph Rourke showed her.
"Is he dead?"
"We don't know."
Another phrase Nora was beginning to hate.
Rourke added, "We did find this in his glove box."
A receipt.
Grayhaven Locksmith.
Two duplicate keys cut three days earlier.
One key labeled P.B.
One labeled N.B.
Peter Bennett.
Nora Bennett.
May you like
Alma whispered, "Your father had another box.
