Chapter 4: Nine O'Clock

At nine o'clock I walked into the Redrock County Sheriff's Office with a taped needle port in my arm and a hospital pass in my pocket.

Brice held the door.

Rhonda came behind us carrying my grandmother's recipe tin, because she said I might need something to hold.

The lobby was full.

Two ranchers were waiting on permits, a clerk was typing, and a deputy leaned on the front desk.

Lance stood in the middle of them all in a clean white shirt, with one hand flat on Callie's back.

He had a printed photo of me in his other hand.

Callie wore a sundress and a gauze pad on her heel, and her eyes were already wet.

Brody stood by the wall with the four other hikers.

Nobody looked at him.

Lance saw me and his whole face changed.

"Lorena," he said, loudly. "Oh, thank God."

He crossed the floor with his arms open.

I stepped back.

"Don't."

His arms stayed in the air for a second.

Then he let them fall and lowered his voice so only the front row could hear.

"You've made your point," he said. "Say sorry to Callie and we'll go home. I'll even skip the part where you scared everyone."

"Lorena, please," Callie said. "I'm not mad."

I looked at her bandaged heel.

"You walked into the building just fine," I said.

A woman in a gray blazer came out of the back hallway with a file folder.

"Ms. Hartwell? I'm the detective. Thank you for coming."

Lance turned to her with a smile.

"Detective, I'm the one who called about her. She's obviously fine, so we can close this and go."

"Mr. Lyle, you reported a missing woman," the detective said. "She's standing in my lobby, so that report is closed."

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