Ghost River, Jon Coon [ebooks online reader TXT] 📗

Nick pulled himself up in bed and took a sip of water.

“First thing I remember is two guys coming out of the house with a roll of blueprints.”

“Okay, let’s assume they killed the captain for blueprints. Why?”

“The blueprints must have had something to tell us,” Gabe answered. “So did the captain. The way he talked in his office, it sounded like he suspected more was going on than just the missing girl. He might even have been part of it. Not good.”

“Bob, you said you think Zack is lying, but he didn’t kill the girl, right?”

“That’s my gut on it, yeah,” Bob nodded.

“Okay, on the surface there’s not a connection between the missing girl and the explosives on the bridge or the scoured-out piers. Two, maybe three separate incidents a decade apart. Or are we missing something?

“Was there a reason Zack picked that place to park? Plenty of other romantic, secluded lakes and beaches for kids to make out or go for a midnight swim. So why drive all the way out there?” Gabe said, scratching his head. “Why there?”

CHAPTER 6

0900

The Greenly Home

Clear and cool

Zack thinks he loves Mickey,” Zack’s mother, Helen, began. “He feels responsible, and he’s devastated at her loss.” She took a tissue from the box on the end table and blotted a tear.

“Mrs. Greenly,” Liz Johnson said, “do you think there are any circumstances under which Zack might have hurt Mickey? Say if she wanted to break up with him?” I could be playing a tape here. And I’ll bet I get the same answers we did from the Eberlys: The kids were cute, well mannered, always wore clean underwear, never inhaled, went to church, and for goodness’s sake never even thought about sex. And certainly never, ever touched each other, other than a strictly platonic kiss after a big night counting stars at their favorite place out on the bridge. Yeah, right.

Liz sat beside Mrs. Greenly on the living room couch while Gabe and Bob sat at the dining room table giving Mrs. Greenly enough space to not feel surrounded by cops. The house was a split-level ranch with too much white. It felt like an office. No family pictures, no books or magazines. A doctor’s office had more personality.

“Please, it’s Helen, and no I can’t imagine Zack ever hurting her. Like I said, he says he loves her.”

“You said he thinks he loves her,” Liz Johnson said. “Do you doubt his feelings?”

“They’re kids. What do they know about love?”

“Was it unusual that they would have been at the river that late?” Liz continued. Helen hesitated, debating her response. Then with a shrug, she opened up.

“I don’t keep track of his social life, but I know that’s a special place for Zack. That’s where his father died. From the time he could drive he’s gone there often. Maybe he wanted to share his feelings about losing his dad with her. Maybe it was just a good place to park. You remember parking don’t you, detective?” Her smile was a little too cute. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Zack.” Gabe glanced at Bob who nodded, then said, “Mrs. Greenly—Helen—how exactly did your husband die?”

She turned toward the table, “I thought you would have known. He was a diver for the state bridge inspection team. He was diving the river right after a big accident. I think a section of the old steel bridge had collapsed. They were going to take it down anyway, so I never understood what the big deal was. He and my father had been arguing about something, but I don’t think that was it.”

“And your father is?”

“Jewels Peterson. He’s retired now, but he was the senior engineer on all state bridge construction.”

Gabe looked up from his notepad, looking startled. “Your dad is Jewels Peterson? Your husband was killed diving on the bridge, and now your son’s girlfriend disappears from the same spot? That’s a load of coincidence all pointing to that bridge. You said your husband had an argument with your dad. Sure you don’t know what the argument was about?”

“No, but they didn’t get along very well.” She shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

“Was there a reason for that?” Gabe continued.

She looked at the coffee table between them and hesitated before saying softly, “I was pregnant, and we had to get married.” She blotted her eyes again, but her gaze was cold and dry. “My dad was pretty traditional. He blamed Richard.”

“And that was the reason for the argument?”

“I’m not sure. It could have been something about the bridge.”

“Like?”

“Richard thought there was something wrong with the new bridge. They had a terrible fight about it. I’m sure Richard was wrong, but he just wouldn’t give it up. My dad built lots of bridges. There was nothing wrong with any of them.”

Gabe studied her thinking her personality was a perfect match for the sterile decor. “Helen, I’ve got just one more question,” Gabe said. “Was your husband’s body recovered?”

She shifted again, uncomfortable. “No. The department had a memorial service, but without a body what was the point?”

“And what kind of relationship do you have with your father now?” Liz asked.

“Dad didn’t even come to Richard’s funeral. We haven’t spoken in years.”

Bob stood, and Liz and Gabe did also. “Mrs. Greenly, I think we’d better have another talk with Zack. Will you ask him to call me, please?

“I haven’t seen him for the last two days. I’ve called his cell phone several times, and he’s not answering. I imagine he’s gone somewhere on his own again. Now that he’s nineteen he pretty much runs his own life. Or he might be at that girl’s parents’. I think he spends more time with them than he does at home.”

Liz noted the edge in Helen’s voice and asked, “Could you give us his cell phone number? Perhaps we’ll have better luck. Do you want us to have him call you when we find him?”

Helen hesitated. “If he wants