Page 58 of Forever Dead

“I’m not discussing details,” Connor said.

Curtis nodded.

Then it made sense.

Of course.

The old teacher died, and somebody went digging through old school files.

Eventually they got to him.

Curtis rubbed his lower lip with one thumb. “This is about what happened between me and her.”

Connor did not deny it.

“It’s funny,” the sheriff said. “You came back to the county a few weeks ago. Then this happens.”

Curtis gave a short breath through his nose. “Funny for who?”

“For me, right now.”

“I feel bad for the woman.”

“Did you stay in contact with her?” Connor asked.

“No.”

“Ever go see her after school?”

“Not since I was a kid.”

The sheriff shifted his weight. “Did you ever want to?”

Curtis hesitated.

“My therapist said I should.”

“What did he say?” Connor asked.

Curtis rubbed his palms against his jeans again. “That if I was coming back here, maybe I should make amends with people. Things I’d done in the past. People I’d hurt.”

“And Miss Marsh was one of them?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you contact her?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Connor asked.

Curtis stared toward the dark television screen. “Didn’t get around to it.”

The sheriff waited.

Curtis hated silence in conversations with police. Silence always felt like something being written down.

“I guess that’s not possible now,” he said.