“Because your dad told us not to trust the man who told us they were dead.”

Chapter 3 — The Route

Detective Bennett arrived with two unmarked cars and a forensic technician. The black pickup was gone by then. She watched Daniel’s video in my kitchen without interrupting, and when it ended her face looked carved from stone.

“I knew the accident theory was weak,” she said quietly.

I stared at her. “You told me the department agreed it was a drowning.”

“The department did. I didn’t.”

“Then why did everyone stop searching?”