The Stranger Vanishes by Staub Wendy Corsi

Author:Staub, Wendy Corsi [Staub, Wendy Corsi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Paranormal, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780727850171
Amazon: 0727850172
Goodreads: 60881029
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2022-10-04T07:00:00+00:00

NINE

For the second time since Calla ran into Jacy, the entrance to the Dale comes into view, with a billboard advertising David Slayton’s appearance dwarfing the familiar blue sign.

The first time, they’d gone right on past the gate, engaged in conversation about Jacy’s new job, her novel in progress, mutual acquaintances. There was so much ground to cover after all their time apart that they agreed to keep walking and talking for a little while longer.

Checking her watch, Calla says, ‘I’m sure you need to get back, if you’re working at the café.’

‘I am, and you should get back to your book.’

‘I should. Thank you for helping me figure out the last chapter. I felt like I needed to leave it more open-ended, but I couldn’t figure out how to do that and make the story complete.’

‘I think our idea will do the trick.’

‘More like your idea. But don’t worry, I’ll give you credit in the acknowledgments.’

‘No need. It was nice to figure out a problem that has nothing to do with life and death.’

‘It must be really hard, Jacy, doing what you do.’

‘It is. But it’s always been my path, just as writing has always been yours.’

‘Right. Well … I’m glad our paths happened to cross today.’

‘Me, too. Who says there’s no such thing as coincidences?’

As they pass a large maple tree, Calla wonders whether Jacy remembers that they’d shared their first kiss on this very spot. Today, the arcing green boughs sway in the balmy summer breeze, but they’d been ablaze with red leaves on that chilly late September night a dozen years ago.

She’d been walking toward the high school down the road to watch Blue play soccer. Jacy had been out for a run, dressed exactly as he is now, in a tank top, shorts, sneakers, and a sweatband. They’d bumped into each other that evening just as they had this afternoon.

Seeing him glance at the tree, she knows that he, too, is thinking of that kiss. It had been magical, such a long time in coming, and now a memory that lives on as a sweet, perfect souvenir.

With a twinge of guilt, she looks up at the Slayton house, set back from the road on a hill above the lake and mostly hidden by a tall privet hedge. If someone – Blue – happened to be in an upper floor window facing this direction, he’d easily see her out here with Jacy.

A car approaches from behind, and she and Jacy move to the side of the road. When it passes, she sees that it’s a satellite van from a Buffalo television station. It slows, then pulls onto the shoulder at the foot of the Slaytons’ gated driveway.

‘What’s up with that?’ Jacy asks.

‘Haven’t you heard? David’s announcing his congressional run tonight in the auditorium.’

‘No, I hadn’t heard, but you know me. When it comes to the media, I live under a rock.’

At those words, an inexplicable shiver rolls over Calla like a seismic tremor.

‘Hey, are you OK?’

‘Yes,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.