“I don’t think I’ve ever had fresh eggs before,” Eva said, peering over Maggie’s shoulder as she cracked a shell against the side of the pan and let the viscous insides slip out. The yolk was so dark it was more golden than yellow.
“Prepare to have your life changed,” Maggie said. Even though Eva couldn’t see her face, she knew Maggie was smiling. She thought of the terrified woman she had met the first day she’d shown up here, and marveled that that was less than a week ago. It was amazing how people could change.
But it wasn’t just people who changed. This story was changing by the day, slipping through her fingers like the yolks from the cracked eggshells. When she’d arrived in Goody Point, she hadn’t expected to find herself in the middle of an actual missing persons case. She hadn’t expected to be threatened, to come face-to-face with actual suspects. Although her aim had always been the truth, she’d expected to tell a story that had no answers. She’d imagined a series of episodes unfolding the way her own discovery of the story had — a slow connection of disparate pieces, profiles, facts, dates. She’d expected to end the series proving nothing other than that there was indeed a serial killer operating in the region. She’d imagined the authorities taking over from there. She had never expected to have the weight of anyone’s life and safety on her shoulders. But that’s how it felt.
“Can you grab a couple of plates?” Maggie asked, gesturing to the cabinet to Eva’s right.
Eva did as she was asked, placing two plates on the counter. Maggie slid the golden-yellow fried eggs onto them just as the toaster popped. They took their food to the table.
“So, you said you had an idea of what you wanted to do next,” Maggie said, spreading butter on a warm piece of toast.
“I have a few ideas,” Eva said. She sliced off a forkful of egg and chewed. “Okay, you were right — life-changing.”
“I told you.”
Eva swallowed, then took a sip of tea. It was too hot to be drinking tea — even though it was just past seven in the morning, the small kitchen was already heating up. She could tell that it was going to be a scorching hot day. “The first thing I want to do is put together an email for Detective Laurence.”
Maggie raised her eyebrows. “Why?”
“I have to try. I keep thinking that maybe if we’d done a better job of explaining everything, he might have seen what we were talking about. So, I’m going to lay out everything in an email — all my research, notes, every bit of proof I’ve dug up. Then, at least I’ll know I tried my best. I might even copy the sheriff and as many deputies as I can find. Surely someone will take us seriously.”
Maggie didn’t answer. Eva knew she was probably thinking about her own experience with the sheriff’s office. But regardless of what had happened to Maggie, she knew she owed it to Natalie and every other girl out there to try to get some action taken.
“Besides that, there are a few other things.” Eva took a deep breath, knowing that the woman across from her wasn’t going to like what she had to say next. “I’m still waiting on the background on Dylan Durst, but I was thinking that in the meantime, if you’re up for it, we could try to find Tyson.”
Maggie choked on her tea. As she coughed, she pounded her chest. “Tyson? My Tyson?”
“Your Tyson. It’s possible he remembers details from that night that you don’t. Bethany, too. I think it would be worth talking to them.”
Maggie swallowed. “Any other options?”
“Well, I also want to talk to Joss again. I’d like to find out more about her interactions with Dylan that night and specifically whether he left the bar for any amount of time.”
“That’s a good idea.” Maggie seemed to settle more at this suggestion. Eva knew it wouldn’t feel as threatening. Which is why she hesitated again on what she had to say next.
She took another sip of her tea and then a bite of toast. “I also think we should finish your interview,” she said. “You may remember more details now. Details that could help us. We could even try heading out to Greenhollow and doing it there — it might trigger even more memories.”
Maggie paled. She held her fork in midair, an uneaten bite of egg threatening to slide off. But she didn’t protest. Eventually, she sighed and popped the egg into her mouth. “Okay.” She didn’t sound happy about it, but Eva didn’t expect her to. Her agreement was enough.
Maggie stood and dumped the remains of her breakfast into the trashcan, then let the plate fall into the sink with a clatter. Eva shoved the last of her toast in her mouth and then did the same.
“I’ve got to take the pies into McReady’s this morning,” Maggie said, without turning around. “Will you be okay here alone?”
“Of course. I’m going to put together that email to the sheriff’s department.”
Maggie nodded. Eva could sense she didn’t want to talk anymore, so she took her laptop and slunk back upstairs to the bedroom.
* * *
Later, after she’d put together every bit of convincing evidence she could think of and fired off an email to every member of the sheriff’s department that she could find contact information for, Eva paced the hallway outside her bedroom. Maggie still wasn’t home, so Fischer was hanging out upstairs with her. He watched her with wary eyes as her footsteps wore a groove in the old pine floorboards.
Both she and Fischer were startled when her cell phone rang. Thinking it was most likely Maggie, she dove to grab it off the bed and answered without looking at the display.
“Long time no talk.”
“Lars.” Shit.
“I hadn’t heard from you in a few days. I just wanted to make sure you’re still planning to come back tomorrow.”
Double shit. “Actually, about that…”
“Eva.” He swore, which was disconcerting because Lars very rarely swore. Just another way he was unlike anything she’d expected from an editor.
“I’m really onto something here, Lars. You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly well, Eva. I want you back here tomorrow, as we discussed. I’m not paying for another night in a motel.”
“You don’t have to,” she said hastily. “I found another place to stay.”
“What? Where?”
“I’m staying with Maggie.”
“Maggie?”
“Rosalie Decatur. The first victim.”
Lars swore again. Now she was really concerned. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”
“It’s fine. We’re friendly. I helped her find her chicken this morning.”
“You what?”
“Her chicken. It went missing. It — never mind. Just don’t worry about me, okay? I’m going to stay here for a few more days. I have more leads I want to pursue and I have to do it in person.” She hoped to preempt his suggestion that she could do all of this work over the phone.
“I don’t like this, Eva. I think you’re getting in too deep. You’re too invested.”
“What’s wrong with that? This story is worth getting invested in. You’ve always told me the most important thing is to care. And I really, really care about this. I could make a difference here. I might even be able to save a life.”
Lars sighed. “I told you this last time — it’s not your job to save lives. You need to hand this off to the police.”
“I just sent them everything I have,” she said, glad that she could finally point to something she was doing right. “You should have been there when we went to talk to the detective, Lars. This guy — he couldn’t find his ass with both hands. It was pathetic.”
“So come home, put the story together, and let the world know what you know. Then they’ll have no choice but to listen to you. The public pressure will drive change — it always does.”
Eva sighed. She knew Lars wasn’t wrong, but his way took time. Natalie probably didn’t have that kind of time.
But she also knew there was no convincing him. Not when he was being like this. “Fine,” she said, with another longer sigh. “I’ll come home.”
“Good.” She could hear the satisfaction in his voice. Not just because he’d won either, because that wasn’t Lars’s style. He was genuinely worried about her, she realized.
They said their goodbyes, and she hung up the phone. At some point, she had sat down on the bed and now Fischer was at her feet. He set his droopy hound head into her lap and she stroked the velvety skin of his ears.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered, looking into his soulful brown eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. Not until this is over.”