It had been the cop’s idea that they meet someplace neutral after Jo had suggested that they simply come to the farm.
“If she doesn’t know where your farm is, she can never tell anybody where your farm is,” Bell had said of Rachel Jackson. “No matter how hard they push.”
Jo chose the schoolyard in Mooretown, twenty-four miles away. What had begun in a schoolyard in Laureltown could end in one, under circumstances that couldn’t be more different. After setting up the meet, she and Bell had a long conversation about Daniel’s involvement, although Bell still didn’t know the name. The detective reminded Jo that Daniel had stolen a limousine and kidnapped both the driver and the little girl. He would have to answer for that.
“Keep in mind, you don’t know his name and you never will,” Jo told Bell, ending the discussion.
In fact, Jo had talked to Daniel the night before. When he heard what was about to happen, he agreed that it was for the best. Jo suspected that he was actually relieved.
She and Vanessa were at the school a half-hour early. It was a sunny day, and cool. They sat on the swings and waited. The little girl put the carton of eggs in the shade of a shagbark hickory tree. Before leaving the farm, she had given Henry a hug and told him to take care of Buster and Grace’s pony. At that moment she could have asked Henry for the farm and he’d have given it to her.
The sedan pulled into the lot and Rachel Jackson was out of the car before it stopped, sprinting across the yard to lift her daughter into her arms, both mother and daughter crying and then laughing.
Jo hung back, watching. By the car, the cop Bell was doing the same thing. Jo didn’t know if the girl’s mother would speak to her or not. She had ample reason to despise her. Bell hadn’t told her Jo’s name, for the same reason that they hadn’t met at the farm.
After a minute or so, Rachel looked over to Jo and then started toward her. Behind her, Vanessa headed across the yard to retrieve the eggs.
“Thank you,” Rachel said as she neared.
“I should not be thanked for anything,” Jo said. “What I put you through. I’m so sorry. It was a stupid thing. A stupid idea.”
Rachel shook her head to refute this. She reached into her jeans pocket and produced a flash drive. She handed it to Jo, who looked at it, puzzled.
“What is this?”
“The best I can do,” Rachel said.
Vanessa was beside her mother now. “Look, Mom…eggs and I helped gather them.”
Rachel smiled, her eyes wet. “Let’s take them home.”