TWENTY-TWO
Jake pulled his truck up to a two-story redbrick house on a well-kept street in an upper-middle-class neighborhood called Circle C. Sarah’s lifelong best friend, Jill Boetcher, lived here with her two little boys. Sarah and Jill had gone to high school together and had remained close throughout life. A divorced single mom, Jill unfortunately had been married to a real loser who eventually walked out on them. Jake had never liked the husband, but he had always enjoyed being around Jill, who worked with kids as a vice principal at a local middle school. Most of Sarah’s other friends came from high society, but Jill was much more grounded and levelheaded. She’d tried her best to offer him help and comfort after Sarah’s death last year. Jill even testified on his behalf during the custody battle, which had meant the world to him.
From his truck, Jake studied the front windows of the house. He thought he saw some movement going on inside. It was nearing eight in the morning. Jake knew Jill usually took her boys to church every Sunday—she had always been faithful. If they were going today, he figured they might be leaving the house soon. He did not have her phone number memorized and could find nothing listed online. And he knew he couldn’t just walk up to her front door and knock. A neighbor might recognize him, even in his disguise. Several of them were out and about on the sidewalks this morning.
Plus, Jill might freak out if she pulled open the front door and saw him standing there. He had to presume she’d seen the news—his face and name had been everywhere. Considering that, Jake had no idea how receptive Jill would be to a conversation. She might immediately try to call the police. He needed to put himself in a position to test the waters with her with a quick escape route also in mind. Scooting down lower in his seat, he decided the patient route was the wisest. He would wait to see if she appeared with her boys at some point this morning and then look for an opportunity to intercept her in a nonthreatening way.
Jake again thought about the unexpected discovery of Sarah’s photo inside Eddie Cowens’s trailer. Did Eddie somehow know Sarah? Or had he been hired by someone else? What was the connection? And how had it led down a path of murder and kidnapping? All these questions had been on repeat in his head ever since he’d left Eddie’s trailer earlier. He had to find some answers soon. The truth would likely lead him straight to Piper.
Jake waited for an hour before he finally popped up in his seat when the garage door sprang to life at Jill’s house. As he’d expected, it looked like they were headed to church. Her eight-and nine-year-old boys were dressed in nice slacks, long-sleeve button-down shirts, and sweater vests. A slightly overweight blonde, Jill wore a red sweater with a long black skirt. The family of three piled into her blue minivan. Then Jill slowly pulled out of the garage, backed into the street, and drove away from the house.
Putting his truck into drive, Jake followed, looking for any opportunity to connect with her sooner rather than later. He didn’t figure it would be too wise to approach her in a busy church parking lot surrounded by others. Would she take her boys out to lunch afterward? Would they be running errands? Jake’s prayers were answered when Jill pulled her minivan into a gas station right outside her neighborhood. She got out, circled her vehicle, and began working the gas pump. The pump station right behind her minivan was open. Jake eased his truck next to it. His adrenaline was flowing. It was now or never, and he just hoped Jill wouldn’t lose her mind at the sight of him.
Getting out of the truck, Jake moved around toward the gas pumps. He was about fifteen feet away from Jill, who was staring at her phone while she waited for her tank to fill up. Jake took a few steps closer, and then quietly but very clearly said her name.
“Jill.”
She looked up at him. At first, she didn’t recognize him. But then she saw through his glasses, ski cap, and fake goatee, and her eyes went wide.
“Jake?” She gasped.
“Please don’t freak out,” he begged her. “I need to talk to you.”
Her eyes remained wide. “Jake, the news. What is going on? The police are searching for you. Piper is missing. It was all over TV this morning.”
“I know. But I swear I’m innocent. Someone else shot and killed my niece last night. And they took Piper. I’m trying to find her, Jill.”
“What? Who took her?”
“I’m trying to figure that out. I need help.”
“But why are the police saying you did this?”
“It’s complicated. I think all of this has something to do with Sarah’s death last year.”