Page 103 of Trust No One

“Where are you, Gabe?”

“Molly and I are going camping.” His happy tone had an ugly vibe. “We’ll be gone a few days. Maybe weeks.”

“Gabe, I have custody of Molly now. And you’re charged with murdering your child’s mother. This isn’t good for either of you.”

“I didn’t do it. And she’s excited about the trip.”

My voice was tight, sharp. “That doesn’t change the charges you’re facing.”

“I’m not sticking around, Raine. I don’t trust the system to give me a fair deal.”

“You have an ankle monitor.”

“Not anymore.”

“The police will find you, Gabe.” Strain rippled through my body. I’d dealt with other people like Gabe. When they couldn’t see the story’s ending, I couldn’t, either. “Where are you?”

“Doesn’t matter. We’re fine.” Molly said something, and Gabe laughed. “We sure can get ice cream.”

“Gabe, come home before anyone knows you’re gone.” The ankle monitor would be pinging warnings by now.

“Thanks for all you tried to do,” Gabe said.

The call ended as I shouted his name into the phone. My voice carried, and a few mothers glared at me. My heart pounded.

In the silence, I sat still. The school bell rang, and the children rushed out the double doors toward yellow buses or parents waiting by vans and cars.

I didn’t believe Gabe would intentionally hurt Molly. He loved his only child. But I’d seen a bad choice like this end in tragedy.

I dialed Judson’s number. I’d rather he heard it from me. The call went to voicemail. I’d wanted to tell him this directly, but a recorded message would document my warning.

I started my car, then dropped my phone on my lap and drove toward Edith’s house. If anyone had a clue about where Gabe might be going, it was her.

I pulled into her driveway a half hour later. Her car wasn’t there, but lights burned inside the house. I rushed to the front door and rang the bell. When she didn’t respond immediately, I banged my fist against the wood.

When I heard footsteps, I breathed a sigh. The door opened, and Edith appeared, curious. “What are you doing here?”

“Where’s Gabe?”

“He went to school to get Molly.”

“Did you tell him I have custody of her now?”

The lines in her face deepened. “It’s natural he’d want to be with their child.” She folded her arms. “You can’t blame Gabe. He’s heartbroken.”

“And now he has Molly, and they’re going ‘camping’—whatever the hell that means.”

“He’ll be back. He always comes back.”

“I don’t trust his judgment. He’s made a lot of bad decisions. If the cops find him, he could panic and do something stupid. Molly could get hurt.”

A muscle twitched in her jaw. “He’d never let that happen. He’ll be back.”

“He never intends for bad things to happen, Edith. But trouble always finds him.”

My fingers clenched with frustration. I added, “I’ve called Judson and told him Gabe is running. The cops will be looking for him soon. If he calls, beg him to come home.”

Turning, I stalked toward my car. Inside, my heart pumped anger through my veins. Edith stood on her porch and then turned and closed her front door.