Secrets We Keep (Thistle Cove 1)

I glance at my dad, feeling a little uncomfortable. “It’s called SugarBabies—for girls looking for a sugar daddy. Rose had an account and it’s really likely she was involved with a man, if not several men.”

The two men share a look, one of surprise. “Well,” Dad says, “I guess you really never know what someone is going through.”

“We weren’t sure if the police were taking it seriously, so we’d done a little digging into it ourselves,” I admit. “It seems real.”

“Well, if you’ve learned anything today, it should be to be honest with the police and stay out of their way,” Mr. Baxter says. “Don’t get involved.”

“Yeah, I agree,” I say. “If only I can get Kenley to stop playing detective.”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“She feels a lot of guilt over her last conversation with Rose. She’s the one she apologized to, and she rejected her. No one knew she was depressed or upset—at least not to this extent. But don’t worry,” I add, quickly, looking at Mr. Baxter. “Kenley did tell the police all about that.”

Mr. Baxter spins the ring on his finger. “I’m glad to hear she did the right thing.” He looks at my dad. “Get this boy home and fed. We’ve got a game to win Friday night.”

He walks off to his shiny black BMW, and I follow my dad to the car. Inside, I say, “I still can’t believe she did it.”

My dad gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry this happened, son. For everyone. Her family is going to be devastated all over again.”

They are, and the thought of facing the Wallers makes my heart hurt. The thought of seeing Juliette, who held out so much hope, and then trying to explain all of this to Kenley…

I look out the window, staring at the bay as we go over the fateful bridge. I’d finally won her back, and then I’d only walked away from her. There’s no way she won’t see this as another betrayal.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few weeks, it's that I may be as dangerous to the girls in Thistle Cove as anyone.

36

Kenley

The news breaks that night.

I’m still sitting at my desk, waiting for Finn, when my phone skitters across the surface at the exact moment my mother shouts to me from downstairs.

“Ken! Come see this!”

I rush down the stairs, heart pounding. Finn had gone to the police station that afternoon, and now there’s breaking news. This can’t be good.

The TV is on when I get to the living room, both my mom and dad watching intently. I don’t sit. I just stand in the doorway, blood rushing to my ears. If I lose Finn again. If he really hurt her…

Janice Hill stands in front of the police station, the bright light from the camera highlighting her face.

“We’ve been told by the Thistle Cove Chief of police that there’s been a break in the Rose Waller case. What we do know is that, moments ago, Finn Holloway walked out of the police station with his father and lawyer, Ezra Baxter.” She looks over her shoulder. “Here comes the chief now.”

It’s not just Chief McMichael that walks out the front door of the police station. It’s Mr. and Mrs. Waller. They don’t look good.

“As of tonight,” the Chief says, “We’ve officially ruled the disappearance of Rose Waller a suicide. Over the past few weeks, evidence has proved that Rose was a very lost, sad, and desperate girl. We believe that on the night in question, she parked her car on the bridge and took her life, falling over the edge. Her body has still not been found.”

“Chief,” Janice says, “Can you tell us what happened with Finn Holloway?”

“Finn is a good young man caught in the middle of a bad situation. He provided us with the final pieces of evidence that confirmed our suspicions all along.”

The chief steps back and the Wallers move forward, Regina dabbing her red-ringed eyes. Mr. Waller approaches the microphone. “We’d like to thank the police and community for their efforts in searching for the truth about what happened to our daughter Rose. It’s a heartbreaking shock to find out that she was struggling and didn’t feel like she could come to us, or anyone else for help.”

I still, knowing the truth. She had come to me for help, and I turned her away. They may know the truth, but it hasn’t absolved my guilt. If anything, it’s intensified it.

“As of today, I am adding to my Mayoral campaign promises; a suicide awareness, prevention, and support center here in town. Rose didn’t feel like she had anyone to help her and now, in the aftermath, we struggle to make sense of what happened. This is something our community needs and deserves.”

The camera cuts away and I’m still frozen in the same spot.