Chapter 4 - THE MAN HER FATHER SAID WAS DEAD
Silas Bell had been sheriff for thirty-two years.
He had retired with medals, newspaper articles and a banquet attended by half the county.
Helena remembered him at family barbecues.
Calling her “kiddo.”
Bringing her father expensive bourbon.
Standing beside her mother at Evelyn’s missing-person press conferences.
Helena wanted to throw up.
The next morning, she drove to the address Anna had found online.
Daniel Hart’s Auto Repair.
The garage sat twenty miles outside town.
A man in greasy jeans was bent beneath the hood of a Ford when Helena walked in.
“Daniel Hart?”
The man straightened.
He was in his mid-forties.
Scar over one eyebrow.
Hard face.
Tired eyes.
He stared at Helena for several seconds.
Then dropped the wrench.
“Jesus Christ.”
“You know me?”
“You’re Helena.”
She stopped.
“My father told me you were dead.”
Daniel laughed without humor.
“Your father told people a lot of things.”
Anna entered behind Helena.
Daniel looked at her.
His face changed.
He went completely still.
Anna noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No. What?”
Daniel looked away.
Helena pulled out the old police report.
“Caleb Hart.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“My brother.”
“You were driving?”
“Yes.”
“Drunk?”
“No.”
“But Evelyn said—”
“I know what Evelyn said.”
His voice cracked like a whip.
“She put me in prison.”
Anna stared at him.
Helena said, “What happened that night?”
Daniel wiped his hands slowly.
“Evelyn and I were leaving town.”
“Why?”
He looked at Anna again.
“Because she was pregnant.”
Anna took a small step forward.
Daniel’s face went pale.
“How old are you?”
“Thirty.”
He closed his eyes.
“Oh, God.”
Anna frowned.
“What?”
Daniel walked backward until he hit the workbench.
“Your mother told me the baby died.”
Anna stared at him.
“What baby?”
Daniel looked directly at her.
“My baby.”
Silence filled the garage.
Helena felt something inside her drop.
Anna whispered, “You’re saying…”
“I don’t know what I’m saying.”
Daniel’s voice shook.
“I was nineteen years old. Evelyn was twenty-two. We were supposed to leave that night. Caleb agreed to drive us.”
Helena interrupted.
“The report says you were driving.”
“I wasn’t.”
Daniel’s eyes hardened.
“Caleb was.”
“Then why did Evelyn say you were?”
“Ask your father.”
“He’s dead.”
“Good.”
Helena stepped toward him.
“Careful.”
Daniel laughed.
“You still protecting him?”
“No.”
“Then stop pretending Richard Crawford was some strict old dad who made mistakes.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“That man destroyed my family.”
Anna’s eyes were wet.
“What happened to Caleb?”
Daniel stared at the floor.
“A sheriff’s cruiser chased us down County Eight.”
“Bell?”
Daniel looked up.
“Bell was drunk.”
Helena felt cold.
Daniel continued.
“He rammed us.”
Anna covered her mouth.
“Our truck rolled twice. Caleb died right there.”
“And you?”
“Woke up in the hospital handcuffed to the bed.”
Daniel’s mouth twisted.
“Your father offered Evelyn a deal.”
Helena whispered, “What deal?”
Daniel stared at Anna.
“She disappeared.”
He stared at Helena.
“And I took the blame.”
Suddenly a cell phone rang.
Not Helena’s.
Not Anna’s.
Daniel pulled an old phone from his desk drawer.
“I keep this number private.”
He answered.
“Hello?”
A distorted voice came through the speaker.
“Tell the Crawford women to stop digging.”
Daniel’s eyes went to Helena.
Then Anna.
May you like
The voice continued.
“Unless they want Evelyn Crawford to disappear for good.”
