And just like that the conversation was over.
“Thank you,” Dahlia said. “I really do want to write the article in a way that...that you’re happy with. Would you like to see it before I hand it in?”
Dana sniffed. “If you like.”
Dana didn’t look at her when she said that, and it was as if she’d closed an invisible door between them. And Dahlia respected Dana enough to let it be closed.
She went up the stairs, opening two doors before she finally found the one that Ruby was behind.
She was sitting on the floor surrounded by mannequins and stacks of catalogs.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey, yourself.”
“I brought you some newspapers.”
Ruby’s entire countenance brightened, and Dahlia had to concede that while she and her sister might be very different people, it was a rare person who would get that excited about old newspapers, and that she had someone in her life who cared as much about that sort of obscure history was definitely a gift.
“Which newspapers?”
“More about Caitlin. And her disappearance. I also got some from the forties, which I think you’ll love because the ads in them are gold.”
“Thank you,” Ruby said, absolutely enthusiastically.
“I talked to Dale today and he mentioned... He mentioned the toll that Caitlin’s case took on Tom Swenson. On the town. And how... When they found you, Tom held you for a long time. That it seemed like it brought hope back.”
Ruby looked uncomfortable. “I’ve heard versions of that. I mean... I’m not complaining. It’s better than having people dislike me and having it nothing to do with who I am, but it’s just...uncomfortable to be a symbol.”
This was the first time Ruby had seemed remotely open to the conversation, though. And Dahlia had to wonder if she felt the shift the same as she did. Dana talking about Caitlin. Nathan being back. It felt like the past was pressing in, whether Dahlia was the one digging it up or not.
It felt inevitable.
“I bet,” Dahlia said. “I just talked to Dana downstairs and I’m suddenly very aware that real people are impacted by these stories. And maybe I won’t find anything new. It might all just be more of the same story. What if I just stir up pain and don’t bring anything new to the table at all? It feels irresponsible.”
“You believe in what journalism brings to the world,” Ruby said. “You believe in stories. And how they can change people and shape people. I thought a lot about what I said to you, about how I’m not sure what this does for me. There’s so much I don’t know, and yes, it’s...easier to just believe the good things. But that isn’t...history.”
“No.” She looked at her sister and her heart squeezed. “It’s not.”
“It’s just scary. I held myself back from wanting information and now I’m moving toward something else and I’m not sure if I want to find something, or if... I’d rather not.”
“You’re allowed to have complicated feelings, Rubes.”
Ruby’s expression turned enigmatic. “Am I?” She picked her purse up from the table and made a clear move toward the door.
“Before we go, I wanted to see if the police report for Caitlin’s disappearance was here. I don’t know that I’m going to be able to get a lot of useful information out of the police reports, but they’re interesting. It was... Instructive to read yours.”
“Let me check.” She got up and went to the archives, going easily to the spot where it would be. She opened up the folders and scanned them. “I don’t see it. I can see if it’s digitized.”
“I’ll stop by the station tomorrow,” Dahlia said. “It’s public record. I can ask for it down there—it’s faster than requesting electronic records.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to that then, investigative reporter.”
“I’m not an investigative reporter.”
“What if you find something that matters?” Ruby asked. “You’re worried about being irresponsible but...but maybe it’s time, Dahlia. To stir things up and see what comes out?”
That landed hard, square in the center of Dahlia’s chest. “Dana said justice was never served. And she said... She said Nathan is back in town.”