Page 27 of Now and Then

“Just a second,” I tell Chris as I jog back across the street.

It looks to be a torn piece of a legal pad with something written on it. A name.

Daley.

I pocket the paper. Chris drives while I keep my eyes peeled, wracking my brain for anything about the name. The name sits heavy in my head. I know it. I just don’t know how.

Sunlight peaks through the clouds, warming the cab of the truck. I roll down my window, the breeze providing a reprieve to my racing thoughts.

The shrill sound of my phone breaks the silence. I shake my head and refocus.

“This is Detective Michaels,” I say.

“Michaels, where are you at? I thought I said to come see me.” Chief’s deep voice fills the cab.

“Chris and I went to check out the Magnolia house again. See if we missed anything.”

“Alright, well, let’s talk when you get back,” Chief says and hangs up.

The only sounds on the drive back are the hum of the engine and Chris yapping. But my mind can’t focus, bouncing between Sutton and the name Daley.

When we pull into the station, Chief Rhodes is waiting. His eyes narrow as we step out. “Well?”

“Saw a guy at the blue house across the street,” I say.

Chief folds his arms over his broad chest. “And this should be interesting to me for what reason?”

I pull the slip of paper from my pocket. “Maybe nothing, but this fell out of his vehicle when he left.” I hand Chief the slip of paper.

He nods, rubbing his jaw. “Why do I recognize this name?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

“Why don’t you reach out to the Eagle Falls station, see if they know anything,” Chief calls over his shoulder as he heads inside the station.

I nod, swallowing my frustration.

Chris comes up beside me. “Chief can be intense.”

“Yeah, but it’s for good reason.”

I glance down at the slip of paper again.

Daley.

Recognition prickles at the edge of my thoughts, frustratingly out of reach.

6

Sutton

Istep out of my car in front of the Ground Up café, and ominous clouds catch my attention. Normally, I’m a big fan of rainy, overcast days, but today is not one of those days.

“Are you serious?” I yell at the clouds, pulling out my yellow raincoat and sliding it over my black pantsuit. “You know I’ve got to show that property by the lake today. How am I supposed to do that if it’s raining?”

“Mommy, why is she talking to herself?” Navy’s son, Rowan tugs on Navy’s arm.

“Maybe Sutton’s lost her marbles today?” Navy says.