Rebecca heard stories.
Her father had been funny.
Impulsive.
Protective.
Terrible at remembering appointments.
Good with engines.
Could not fold laundry.
Loved lemon pie.
Hated country music despite riding with men who played it constantly.
But every story stopped at the same point.
The disappearance.
Rebecca began reading Evan’s notebook repeatedly.
The last entry bothered her.
Meeting R. tonight. If he agrees, we start over Monday.
Who was R?
Cole searched old membership rosters.
Three men had first names beginning with R.
Randy Pike.
Robert Ellis.
Raymond Voss.
Randy died nine years earlier.
Robert lived in Oregon.
Raymond had been club treasurer during Evan’s disappearance.
Cole’s expression changed when he saw the name.
Rebecca noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop.”
Cole looked at her.
“Raymond left Iron Valley.”
“Why?”
“Money disappeared.”
“When?”
“About six months after Evan vanished.”
Rebecca stared.
“How much?”
“Thirty-eight thousand.”
“From what?”
“Charity account.”
“Did police investigate?”
“Yes.”
“Convicted?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Records were messy.”
“Cash events.”
“Not enough proof.”
Rebecca looked at Evan’s notebook.
“Could R be Raymond?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask him?”
“Back then?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“We didn't know about this entry.”
Rebecca stood.
“Call him.”
Cole laughed without humor.
“You think I have his number?”
“Find it.”
“Rebecca.”
“You said Dad disappeared after meeting someone.”
“We don't know that.”
“The notebook literally says meeting R.”
“It doesn't say that caused anything.”
Rebecca stared.
Cole sighed.
“I’ll make calls.”
Three days later, he found Raymond Voss in Nevada.
He refused to speak.
That made Rebecca more certain.
Police were contacted.
An investigator reviewed the old file.
The original evidence around Evan’s truck was troubling.
The fire had destroyed much.
Dental fragments used for identification were incomplete.
Modern DNA testing had never been performed.
Rebecca listened while the investigator explained.
“So you're saying the identification could be wrong?”
“I'm saying standards sixteen years ago were different.”
“That's not an answer.”
The investigator smiled faintly.
“You sound like your father.”
Rebecca’s heart stopped.
“You knew him?”
“Briefly.”
The investigator had been a rookie deputy when Evan vanished.
“He reported threats two weeks before he disappeared.”
Cole turned.
“What?”
Nobody at the club knew.
“Threats from who?”
“He wouldn't name anyone.”
“He said money was missing and somebody wanted him quiet.”
Rebecca looked at Cole.
“Raymond.”
“Maybe.”
The detective continued.
“Evan declined protection.”
“Then disappeared.”
“Then eleven months later, burned truck.”
Rebecca asked:
“What if he wasn't in it?”
Nobody answered.
Hope entered the room.
Dangerous hope.
Rebecca hated it immediately.