Page 33 of Once Hidden
A grave.A new one.
His heart rate accelerated as he stood at the edge of the mound.This wasn’t part of the cemetery proper; it was just beyond, where the trees began to thicken again.No marker, no flowers, nothing to indicate a proper burial.Just disturbed earth that couldn’t be more than a day or two old.
Bob’s mind raced to the news he’d heard at the store yesterday.Cable Morris had gone missing two days ago.A delivery driver for FleetRush Logistics, his truck had been found abandoned on a rural road not five miles from here, keys still in the ignition and his phone left behind.Cable was young—27, if Bob remembered correctly—and well-liked in the community.His disappearance had sent ripples of concern through Bundydale, where such things simply didn’t happen.
“My God,” Bob whispered, taking an involuntary step back from the grave.“No, no, no.”
Could Cable be buried here?The timing matched up.The location was isolated enough.Who would think to look in an abandoned church graveyard for a fresh body?
Bob’s first instinct was to leave, to pretend he’d never seen the disturbed earth.This wasn’t his business, wasn’t his problem.But even as the thought formed, he knew he couldn’t walk away.If Cable was buried here—if someone had murdered him and hidden his body—Bob couldn’t ignore it.
For a brief, irrational moment, he considered digging into the loose soil with his hands to confirm his suspicions.The impulse passed quickly, replaced by clearer thinking.This was evidence of a potential crime—a murder in fact.He needed to call the authorities immediately.
Bob Montgomery reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone to make a call that would forever change the peaceful town of Bundydale.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
April wiped down the espresso machine one final time, her mind elsewhere as she moved through the familiar routine.The Brick House Beanery hummed with the quiet energy of late afternoon—a few customers lingered at corner tables while others hurried in for last-minute caffeine fixes before heading home.She glanced at the clock above the register.Five o’clock.Her shift was over, and the question that had been nagging at her all day resurfaced: would she go to Ethan’s apartment today, as she’d impulsively decided earlier?
She’d been so certain about that when Molly had talked her into it.But as the day wore on, doubt had crept in.
“Earth to April.”Molly’s voice cut through her thoughts.“You’ve been wiping that same spot for like two minutes.”
April blinked, realizing her colleague was right.“Sorry.Just making sure it ‘s clean.”
Molly snorted, leaning against the counter.Her auburn ponytail bobbed as she tilted her head.“Yeah, sure.Nothing to do with a certain dark-haired artist who’s been sketching you every chance he gets.”
Heat crawled up April’s neck.She didn’t reply.
“So, are you going?”Molly rolled her eyes, but her smile was kind.“To his place, I mean.You were pretty set on it earlier.”
April busied herself folding her apron, avoiding Molly’s gaze.“I think maybe not right now.I’ve got some studying to do before my class tonight.”
“Oh my god.”Molly leaned closer, lowering her voice even though no customers were near enough to hear.“You’re chickening out.”
“I’m not,” April protested, but the words lacked conviction.She shoved her apron into her bag with more force than necessary.“I just have priorities.”
Molly laughed.“You’ve already been to his apartment once and that went just fine.What more do you need?”
That was the question, wasn’t it?What more did she need?April had replayed their conversations countless times in her head, examining them from every angle like her mother would a crime scene.But this wasn’t about logic or evidence.It was about the strange flutter in her chest when Ethan smiled at her, the way her thoughts scattered when he was near.
“I don’t know,” April admitted.“It’s just...complicated.”
“It’s now or never, April.”Molly’s tone softened.“If you keep finding excuses, you’ll never go at all.”
April zipped her backpack closed with a decisive tug.Now or never.The words echoed in her mind, taking on weight and significance.Maybe Molly was right.Or maybe...
Maybe it’s never,she thought, surprising herself with how much the idea hurt.
“Thanks for the pep talk, but I really do need to study,” she said aloud, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
Molly sighed, shaking her head.“Fine.Be boring.But don’t come crying to me when someone else snaps him up.”
April forced a smile.“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She pushed the Brick House Beanery door open, stepping into the warm June evening.The sidewalk was busy with people enjoying the start of summer, couples walking hand in hand, families heading to early dinners.April felt strangely alone among them.
Now or never.
