Chapter 9 - The Person Behind Travis
That night, the house became strangely quiet.
The fireworks outside had started.
Red and gold flashes appeared through the windows.
But nobody celebrated.
Caroline sat at the dining table with several folders in front of her.
Travis sat opposite her.
Laura stood near the doorway.
Margaret remained silent.
Caroline opened the first folder.
"You received a call this morning."
Travis frowned.
"From dispatch."
"No."
She slid a photograph across the table.
"From this number."
Travis looked at it.
His face changed.
"I don't remember."
"You do."
Caroline opened another file.
"This number contacted you three times this week."
Travis shook his head.
"I thought it was internal."
"It wasn't."
"How do you know?"
Caroline looked at him.
"Because we traced it."
Travis stared at her.
"Who is it?"
Caroline pushed another photograph across the table.
A man.
Older.
Gray hair.
Travis stared.
"I've seen him."
"Where?"
"At the sheriff's office."
Caroline went still.
"When?"
"Two weeks ago."
"What did he say?"
Travis swallowed.
"He asked about you."
Laura stepped closer.
"What did you tell him?"
Travis closed his eyes.
"That Caroline was coming to the cookout."
Silence.
Caroline leaned back.
"That's why."
Travis looked at her.
"What?"
"They didn't need to know where I was."
She looked toward the dark window.
"They needed to know when I would be surrounded by people I cared about."
May you like
The room went silent.
Then the lights went out.
