Page 67 of Lost Lake
Talia shook her head. “He took off for his lake house and never mentioned it. The van guy never showed up again so I figured it wasn’t important anymore.”
“Have you talked to him since he went to the lake house?”
“He called me Tuesday morning to say he had more work to do there than he thought and would be staying for a couple more days.” She got her phone out and flipped through the screens. “He called at eight minutes after ten.”
“And you didn’t hear from him after that?”
She shook her head and set her phone on her lap. “There’s no cell service at the cabin. He has to climb a nearby hill to get a signal. Means he rarely called or texted. If I needed to get a hold of him, I would have to call or text and wait for him to check his phone.”
El added the time to her notebook. “Did he ever take a laptop or tablet with him to the cabin?”
“No. No way. The cabin was for fishing and only fishing. He has a tablet basically for checking email and playing games. He would never let email interrupt his life and wouldn’t take the tablet to his sanctuary.”
Her story fit with what Hayden had located.
El prepared herself for the bomb she was about to drop. “I’m sorry to have to tell you, but you mentioned Kenna James. Her body was found in Lost Lake. She’d been strangled.”
“Oh, oh…” Talia raised her hand to cover her mouth. “Do you think her death is connected to my father’s?”
“Uncertain at this time,” El said. “With his connection to the Little Pines Daycare, I’m beginning to.”
“When that man was threatening the director, do you think he might’ve meant to get Kenna to come through for them?” Talia asked. “But she didn’t, and they killed her?”
“It’s possible, but this is the first I’m hearing of her knowing you and your father, so I haven’t had a chance to even consider it.”
“Poor little Lucy.” Talia twisted the tissue in her hand. “How is she taking this?”
“We don’t know,” Gabe said. “She’s missing.”
“Missing?” Her mouth parted. “But what happened?”
“We believe she either wandered off from the lake or someone took her.”
“Oh my, that’s not good. Not good at all. The poor sweetie.” Talia ran a hand over her face. “I can’t believe this. It might be connected to my dad, all because I asked him to look into that van.”
“Don’t blame yourself for any of this,” El said. “The person who took your father’s life is the one responsible.”
“Can you tell us more about his lake house?” Gabe asked. “Have you ever been there?”
“Yes.” She shuddered. “I refused to go back until he got that place cleaned out, but now… I should’ve taken the opportunity to spend time with him.”
“But he was willing to stay there in the condition it was in?”
“No. He always brought his travel trailer with him when he planned to spend the night.”
“If he’s been staying there for some time, any idea why his trailer wasn’t there?”
“No, that’s odd. If it isn’t, I don’t know where it would be.” Talia nibbled on her lip. “All I know is I’m sure he wouldn’t stay in that house.”
“Did he have a dog?” Gabe asked.
“Yes, a little beagle called Spotty. Got him when he retired, and he went everywhere with Dad.” She gave a wavering smile. “They were so cute together.”
A beagle was a fitting description for the dog that had died in the house, and his death fitting for a more brutal killer. El’s gut churned with nausea.
Talia flashed her gaze to El. “Don’t tell me something happened to Spotty, too.”
“I’m sorry, but one of the stacks of televisions fell on him.” El hated to be the bearer of bad news again. “He didn’t make it.”
