“The thing is, Dad was with him, he could have told him. But he didn’t.”
“Nathan, why are you talking to me about this, really?”
Because it started with her stepfather, and more than that, Nathan didn’t know. “You have some insights into cold cases. And this is a cold case. Will you hear me out? Just keep it between us?” Can I trust you?
“Why not talk to Jack about it? He’s your friend.”
“I’m talking to you because you’re not associated with the county sheriff’s office. Okay?”
Erin shrugged. “Go on.”
“I came here fishing with Dad just like old times. He told me about a cold case he was working. It was why he’d come to Big Rapids.” Nathan cleared his throat, then continued. “It would seem that your stepfather, Dwayne, found some old newspaper articles he’d wanted Dad to check into. Well, Dad and Mom divorced, then Dad moved to Boston and took his detective job and forgot all about the articles. That is, until the last few weeks. He has been working a case that reminded him of those articles, so he looked into them. He thinks there’s a connection between the articles—the cold case—and the case he’s working now. He also said his boss shut him down. Didn’t want him pulling on that thread. So Dad took time off and came here.”
“Wait. Are you saying he came here for a vacation or to pull on the thread? And if the thread, then why come here?”
“Before I tell you the rest, I need to know if you’ll help me.”
“And I’ll need to know more before I can agree. Like what brought him to Big Rapids?”
“Looks like we’re at a standoff. I honestly can’t tell you more. Dad was about to tell me when he was shot.”
Erin tossed a pebble into the river, and Nathan waited for her to process all he’d told her.
“What exactly are you asking me?” she finally asked.
Nathan stared at her. “What do you think I should do?”
“Hmm. Well, I know you trust the people you work with. You have each other’s back. Your father knows that too, so his words and actions lead me to think you need to know more before you can make a decision. If you can find a solid reason to go along with your dad’s request, that would make a difference.”
“A solid reason beyond the simple fact Dad asked me to tell no one and that he only trusted me.”
The ground shuddered again, coupled with a deep, thunderous rumble this time. A sharp crack he felt to his bones reverberated through the trees and echoed in the canyon.
His lifted his head and looked upriver. Disbelief twisted with dread in his gut. “The dam! It’s breaking.”