CHAPTER TWENTY-ONEDeath
I stare at the silent phone in horror. They found her. They found Celeste.
I stow the phone in my pants pocket, and search for the road. Highway 169 comes into view within a few seconds, the concrete snaking out of sight in both directions. Car and truck headlights are practically nonexistent at this time of night.
The highway patrol car is visible five hundred feet to the north, its dome lights flashing. I zoom over, and am able to spot the still figure of the police officer on the ground next to a ditch. She's hidden by the front wheel of her cruiser and the tall grass, which explains why no one has stopped to help.
I itch to check on the patrolwoman to see if I can help, but I don’t have time. Celeste is probably still alive, and the officer is most likely de
