We stay silent for a moment longer before she breaks it.“I hate to bring up something horrible for you, but what happened to Lindsay?Was she sick?”
“No,” I say.“She… Well, I think she may have been murdered.”
I hear a clunk on the other line.Sounds like Rebecca dropped her phone.
In a second she’s back.“You can’t be serious.”
I draw in a breath, steel myself for what I have to say.“It’s a long story.She and I… We lost our daughter three years ago in an accident.She couldn’t cope, and she… She took her own life.At least that’s what we all initially thought.But recently I’ve come to suspect that foul play may have been involved.”
Another gasp.
Fuck.
I’ve said more than I should have.
“Do you know anyone who might have wanted to harm Lindsay?”I ask.
“God, no.Everyone loved her.Especially Ronny.”
I scratch the side of my head.“Yet he disappeared.”
“Yeah.Everyone just assumed he followed Lindsay wherever she went.”
“He didn’t,” I say.“When Lindsay and I met, he was nowhere around.”
“What did she say about him?”
“Just that she thought he was her first love, but he turned into a creepy stalker.”
“Yeah, sounds like Ronny.”She sighs.
“Who told you he may have gone to San Francisco?”
“God, I don’t remember.That was years ago.”She sighs.“Maybe Ralph Parker?”
The name Ralph gives me a nudge.“Who’s Ralph Parker?”
“He was the student body president.He kept tabs on everyone after graduation.He still puts together all our reunions.Dude needs to get a life.”
“Ralph Parker…”
“Yeah.You want his number?”
“Sure.Thanks.”
She rattles off the digits as I program them into my phone.
“Thanks again, Rebecca.I’ll let you know if I find anything else.I’m truly grateful, and I’m sorry for the bad news.”
“Good luck, Jason,” she says softly, her voice filled with sympathy.
With that, we end the call, and I stare blankly at the phone.My mind is turning over this new information, but it provides no immediate solution—just more questions.
Ralph Parker.San Francisco.Ronny Burgundy.They’re all pieces of a puzzle that don’t quite fit together.
I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to this than meets the eye.The idea that Lindsay was killed—murdered—turns my stomach.Plus…why didn’t she ever reach out to Rebecca or anyone else from her past?Was Ronny Burgundy truly that much of a threat?
I dial Ralph Parker’s number, my thoughts whirling as the phone rings and rings.His voicemail comes on the line.
