Page 80 of The Other Side
“The problem is that there was no evidence. And not just no evidence for the kidnapping theory, but no evidence period. It was as if the girls disappeared into thin air. And we combed those woods more thoroughly than I’d seen before, or have seen since,” Wayne offered.
“What would you have expected to see if it was a botched kidnapping?” I asked, simply out of curiosity.
“Signs of a struggle, witnesses, any kind of trace evidence. But there was nothing.”
“So they went with someone they knew?” Chance speculated.
“Or ran away and met their fate somewhere far from Montgomery,” Wayne said, but it was clear he didn’t believe that.
“Do you think someone at Montgomery was capable of hurting those girls?” Chance asked point-blank.
Wayne took a deep breath, then said, “There were plenty of people who were capable of hurting two naive young girls, but only one that had a reputation for it.”
I blanched.
“Winston,” Chance said solemnly.
Wayne’s jaw clenched, all but confirming Chance’s accusation. “If someone like that were involved, I would have to advise you to keep your distance,” Wayne began, being very careful with what he said and precisely how he said it. “Someone like that might be slippery, dangerous, have friends in very high places, and would stop at nothing to keep their status. So they wouldn’t blink at ruining the lives of two young teachers who were snooping around.”
His warning was entirely sobering.
I felt Chance go rigid beside me.
“I’d warn you to stop digging, although I’m not sure it would do much good. It might already be too late, depending on how careful you’ve been so far.” Wayne grimaced.
Chance took a beat, then stood, again extending his hand to Wayne to shake his. “Thank you for your time, sir. I appreciate your insight, and we will take your recommendations under advisement.”
“I hope that you do,” he said solemnly.
Chance and I silently made our way back to the car. We sat in the stillness of the snow continuing to fall around us as the carwarmed up. Absently, Chance reached across the console again, seeking the comfort of my hand in his.
“What are we going to do?” I finally had the nerve to ask.
Chance shook his head, unsure. “Just get back to Montgomery. I need time to think.” He sighed, his eyes meeting mine. “I think some Christmas movies and mac and cheese would be a perfect distraction.”
I returned the smile. “Don’t forget the sparkling cider,” I added.
“The bottle has been chilling in my fridge for a week.” Chance grinned, turning on the radio to have something to dull the alarm bells that were likely raging in his mind, just as they were in mine, due to the stark warning we’d just received.
We were halfway back to Montgomery when the snow began to intensify, and traffic came to a standstill. As if on cue, a news announcement interrupted the music. The interstate had just been closed, due to a large accident and impending blizzard.
“A blizzard!?” I looked at Chance wide-eyed. “You couldn’t have checked the weather report before you abducted me from my bed?” I whined.
Chance slumped back in his seat. “Fuck.”
