Page 149 of Running to You

“Was he arrested?” Grant asked. “Prosecuted? He’d have been a juvenile, but I can call—”

“Don’t bother.” Michael stood, pacing a minute before leaning his hands on the back of his chair. “That was the part that seemed to spook Cushing the most—the fact that Keller did it, and everybody knew he did it, but they couldn’t prove it. He thought there were probably witnesses, but none of the kids spoke up. Cushing thinks they were all afraid of him. The camp closed that summer and never reopened.”

“He’s a psychopath.” Sam’s words, spoken under his breath, seemed to echo in the room. Or maybe just in her mind.

Her friend, her mother, and her son were in the hands of a psychopath.

A murderer.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Sam woke to find Michael’s bed rumpled but empty. He had a vague memory of his brother returning sometime in the middle of the night. Sam had slept almost as late this morning as Eliza had the previous day. It was nearly nine o’clock. Considering he’d gone to bed at eleven… He couldn’t remember the last time he’d conked out for so many hours.

The afternoon before, while Michael, Grant, and Jon headed to Maine to check out the campground where they believed Keller and his people were staying, Sam and Eliza drove to Concord. She’d needed to reach out to Keller, and they all decided it was better if she used a payphone far from their hotel, just in case.

She’d played her part perfectly, starting the conversation by asking to speak to her mother and her son. Sam’s heart had nearly exploded at the little boy’s voice as he’d listened in.

“I’m disappointed that you think I might hurt them,” Keller said when he came back on the line. “Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

Eliza’s words pitched high and squeaky. “He left me. Sam left me.”

“Well, now.” Keller used a syrupy, manipulative tone. “We all knew that was going to end badly. That man never cared about you. That’s why I tried to protect you from him.”

“I know, you’re right.” Sam was leaning close to the handset to listen, his jaw clenched so tight that he was giving himself a headache.

“Let me know where you are,” Keller said, “and I’ll send someone to get you.”

“I don’t have your money yet, but soon—”

“We can wait for it together.”

They’d anticipated that, and Eliza delivered her lines perfectly. “I don’t want to come back until I’ve fixed the mess I made.”

A long silence was followed by, “I’d prefer to have you safely back with your family.”

By family, he didn’t mean Levi and her mom. He meant himself and his sycophant wife. This guy was nuts.

Eliza’s voice shook. “I know, but I’m just…I’m so embarrassed about all the trouble I’ve caused.”

“You’ll be forgiven as soon as you return everything you took.”

“I have the paperwork with me.”

“And where are you?”

“I’m at the bus station in Concord.” Which was true. Better to stick as close to truth as possible, according to Michael. “We flew into Burlington last night, and Sam drove me as far as Lincoln and then dumped me. I sat in a gas station and waited for a bus. I wasn’t sure where to go. Where are you? I can start heading your way. I’d rent a car, but I don’t have my ID or my wallet. I’m just lucky Sam gave me some cash.”

“Just sit tight. I’ll send someone for you.”

“No, Jed. I’m not staying here. It’s creepy. Just tell me where to go.”

“All right, then.” He wasn’t happy, but maybe he realized arguing wouldn’t change her mind. “Get on the first bus to Augusta.”

Augusta was the closest city to the campground. A good sign.

“I will. I’ll reach out again as soon as I have your money.” When Eliza hung up, she shuddered, then faced Sam. “I feel like I need a shower.”

He guided her away from the strong diesel scent coming from idling buses. “That was perfect. I didn’t realize what a good actor you are.”