Frank ran his hands up and down Lacy’s silky arms. With her face buried in his chest, his T-shirt muffled her soft cries. He got the impression she didn’t cry much, or let people in often, something Frank understood. Frank wasn’t sure he’d ever cried, except for that fateful afternoon when he’d pulled Hannah’s body from the cold waters of Lake George.
Lacy’s body pressed into his and he could feel her heart hammer against his chest. She wrapped her arms tight around his waist. He wanted to tell her what he knew, what he suspected. “I want to help,” he whispered against her temple, feeling the slight tremble in her body. He liked holding her.
She stepped back from him and wiped her face. Her soft hair flowed in the breeze as the first few drops of rain began to fall. “Why?” She stared at him, adjusting her hair and acting as if she hadn’t just fallen apart in his arms. “Why would you want to do that?”
“Hannah.”
“You didn’t even know her,” she said suspiciously.
The wind swirled. Tree branches flapped and snapped in the gusting wind. “We should go inside.” It wasn’t just the weather he wanted cover from. How long could he continue to lie to her?
Lacy pushed her hand hard against his chest. “Did you know my sister?”
Yeah, I knew her. She’s dead because I couldn’t do anything to help her. “No.” He tried to rid his mind of the memories of the dark water surrounding him. Being a part of the Scuba Squad had been a dream come true. His dream when he’d joined the New York State Police Department and now he couldn’t even go under without panicking.
He’d seen his share of dead bodies over the years. It was all a part of the training. But no one could prepare you for the first time you found a young woman’s body tangled in seaweed at the bottom of the lake. Her eyes open, still full of fear. Her skin pale, almost ghostly. Her mouth gaping open, as if to scream. The vision still haunted his dreams.
“I…I—”
“Hey, Lacy?” Andy called. “I’m hungry, when are we going to eat.”
The sound of Andy’s voice snapped him out of the darkness that had begun to take over. Thunder rolled at the same time the lightning lit up the sky and the rain fell like a watering hose, drenching them in seconds. Frank took her hand and yanked her under the tarp. “Wow.” His feet already squished in his shoes. “I think we just got an inch in a matter of seconds.”
“Doesn’t help my stomach,” Andy said. “I’m starved. Can I have two burgers?”
“Sure,” she said glancing at Frank. “You’re welcome to stay. It’s not much, but I can guarantee it will be good.”
“I’d love to. Besides, I still have one more thing for Andy.” Frank smiled, looking at the rain coming down. “I think you’ll have to wait, kid. Not going to my truck in this.”
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