Page 119 of Trust No One

“Why are you here?”

“I came to check on you. And ask a question.”

“Okay.”

His thumb traced the rim of his hat with a calloused thumb. “When is the last time you saw Amy Stocker?”

“High school. Right before I left.”

“How did she take it when she had to leave Hale House?”

“She wanted to stay on as the caretaker. But I couldn’t let her.”

“You never heard from her again?”

“No.”

“But she never forgot the place.”

“She didn’t end up there by coincidence.”

“I don’t think so.” He sighed. “The medical examiner estimates she’s been dead about a week.”

“How was she found?”

“I traced her phone to the location.”

“Why?”

“She was having an affair with Gabe. I wanted to interview her.”

I ticked back through the calendar. “She died before Maria?”

“Yes,” he said. “Do you still keep hunting cameras on Hale land?”

“Yes.” Large tracts of land had trouble with poachers, even though the land was posted with “No Trespassing” signs. “Gabe mounted them. Just out of prison, he needed cash work. I don’t know if they’re still operational.”

“Where are they?”

On my phone I opened the app that marked each approximate location. “There are six.”

He studied the dots blinking on the map. “Text me your log-in information.”

“Sure.” I shared the details with him. “I told him to mount a few near the creek so he could watch for poachers. A few cameras are near the main house, but I’m not sure about the precise lens angles.”

“I can ask Edith what she knows.”

“Better you than me. She’s not thrilled with me right now. I think she’s going to fight me for Molly.”

“I’ll talk to her,” he said. “If she doesn’t know, I’ll walk the land and look for the cameras. They might have recorded any trespassers.”

“The data cards are good for a month. They won’t reset for another week.”

“Good.”

Silence pressed between us.

Once, I could read Judson’s thoughts. Since Mom’s death, his face had become a locked vault. I hadn’t seen past it since.