Evidence of Life - By Barbara Taylor Sissel Page 0,87
Adam Sandoval, used the flood to fake their own deaths.”
“Are you kidding?” Kate was in disbelief. “What about Lindsey? Did she fake her death, too?”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” George sounded as if he’d had enough. He went to the counter, retrieved a mug and poured himself a shot of brandy that he drank in one swallow.
He looked upset, Abby thought. He looked rattled, and George almost never showed emotion. Fear swelled against Abby’s ribs. It rang in her ears. She had the sensation that she was going to find out now, the terrible truth that everyone else had known all these months.
George was lecturing Hank about talking out of his head and giving Abby false hope. He was saying what utter crap Hank’s theory was. George leaned against the counter and said, “I’m not even going to address the ridiculous business about folks faking their own deaths. The bottom line is a man doesn’t take his daughter along when he’s involved in some escapade with another woman. Nick wouldn’t be that stupid.”
Abby was comforted by George’s defense and she might have pursued it, but just then she heard a car door slam.
“That’s Jake.” She shot up from her chair so fast it teetered. “Don’t say another word about this in front of him, not until we have the truth. I mean it.”
Footsteps came across the porch. Kate opened the door. Jake appeared, followed by Dennis, and Abby’s heart loosened; she hadn’t expected him, hadn’t expected the sight of him to bring her such relief.
Jake hugged Kate, then George. Then he walked into Abby’s embrace. “There’s nothing we can do until morning,” he told her.
“The car’s wedged up in some boulders next to a stream on the old Anderson place,” Dennis said. “The water from the Guadalupe must have carried it up there. The river runs pretty close to the highway along that stretch, and that area did see some of the worst flooding.” He took off his hat and rested his eyes on Abby. He was still in uniform, still on duty.
“That’s in Kerr County, right?” George said. “I heard Lon Anderson sold out not long ago.”
“His daughter made him,” Dennis said. “I guess he set the place on fire, nothing too serious, but she told him that was it. He had to sell and move in with her family or go into a retirement home. He chose his daughter’s place.”
Abby was swept with impatience at the folksy details. “What does any of this have to do with my car?”
“Lon’s old place is close enough to his daughter Marcy’s place that he and that old mule of his have been sneaking back there to fish. All this time Marcy thought he was camping on the Guadalupe.”
Kate said, “Last I talked to her, she was telling me he’s a worse trial to her than her kids.”
Jake straddled a chair. “You said he saw lights. That’s how he knew.”
“Yeah, but his daughter thinks he imagined it.” Dennis shifted his hat brim in an uneasy circle.
“What do you mean he saw lights? Like car headlights?” George asked before Abby could, and she thought she heard Dennis sigh. She thought when he answered he seemed reluctant, even chagrined. He wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“That’s what he said when I interviewed him, that he wouldn’t have seen the car at all if the headlights hadn’t been blinking. He said it went on all night and spooked him so bad, he left the next day.”
“How would it have kept battery power all this time?” Jake asked.
George said, “Were they on when you got there?”
“No, but I talked to the old man myself, and he seems convinced. It was real to him. But like I said, Marcy’s just as sure it was a figment of his imagination.”
No, Abby thought. It was no figment. Lon Anderson’s vision of blinking lights was an answer to her prayer.
“So what’s the plan?” Hank slurred, drawing everyone’s attention. He poured another shot of brandy.
Abby thought someone ought to move the bottle away from him. She gestured in his direction. “This is Hank Kilmer.”
“He brought Abby here,” George added.
Dennis set his hat on the counter.
Jake asked Kate if he could make a sandwich.
Kate said, “Where is my brain? Of course you’re hungry. Is ham okay? Anybody else?” She looked at Dennis.
“Thanks, but I should get going. I’m meeting the Kerr County guys in the morning at first light.” He found Abby’s gaze. “You’ll be all right here?”