Page 23 of Is Anyone Listening?
I smiled. "I'm sure that won't happen again."
"I'm not sure at all, but I can only hope."
As Sophie left, I turned to Tessa. "That wasn't particularly helpful."
"She definitely wasn't as open as I thought she'd be."
"She obviously has some loyalty to Ellen and doesn't want to lose her job because she's talking to two troublemakers."
Tessa smiled. "Women who make history are usually troublemakers."
"We're trying to make history now?" I said with a laugh.
"No, just a good podcast, but just saying…" Tessa's gaze moved around the bar. "This town likes to close ranks against outsiders. We need someone who isn't as entrenched in this town as Sophie."
"I can't imagine who that would be."
"Maybe Finn?"
I was surprised by her answer. "Why? He runs this bar, which seems to be the center of town drama. And he grew up here."
"But he was gone for a long time, and he's only been back a short while. Maybe he has a different perspective."
"I doubt it, but even if he was willing to talk, he's not going to do it here."
"Agreed. But I feel like we had a vibe. Maybe I could invite him to get a drink or a meal somewhere else. Maybe somewhere down the road, a little away from Stonecross."
"You want to ask him on a date?" I didn't know why I was surprised, because Tessa was very good at the charm offensive.
"Why not?"
"He could be…dangerous."
"I don't think he had anything to do with the missing women." Tessa gave me a determined smile. "We're going to get more information if we split up."
"Splitting up is not a good idea," I protested.
"It won't be for long. Why don't you go get the car? It's only about four blocks away, and I'll see if I can get a date with Finn for tomorrow night."
I liked her idea even less when I thought about walking to the car alone. But that was ridiculous. I walked all over Manhattan at two o'clock in the morning by myself. I could make it four blocks in a small town at seven o'clock in the evening.
"Okay. I'll get the car, and I'll wait for you in the parking lot. Just don't take forever."
"Getting a date rarely takes me long," she said with a confident smile.
I followed her out of the booth, then made my way to the door as she headed for the bar.
Once outside, I was surprised by the drop in the temperature, and I zipped up my jacket as I started walking down the block. The streets were quieter now, with most shops closed for the evening.
The farther I got from the pub, the more isolated I felt. The streetlights cast long shadows, and I found myself thinking about Natalie Warren walking these same blocks ten months ago, and about Jessica Trent, who'd disappeared three months ago.
Being alone on dark streets in a town where women kept vanishing felt reckless, and I couldn't believe I'd agreed to it. I picked up my pace, my keys already in my hand, when a figure rounded the corner ahead of me, and I gasped, stopping short before we barreled into each other.
I was more surprised when I realized it was the man from the beach, Tyler Pierce.
"Sorry," he said, holding up his hands in apology. "Didn't mean to scare you."
My heart was hammering. "It's fine. You just startled me."
