Sin hung up the phone and stared into the eyes of Fletcher and Garcia. “What are you two smiling about?”
“The question you asked in the diner,” Fletcher said, “I think you just answered it for all of us.”
Sin opened her mouth to respond when she heard Ashley’s voice booming in the hall.
“I don’t understand why we were dragged back here. We answered all the FBI’s questions and more. Unless they have a reason to hold us, I’m heading back to Delray.”
Sin met the three of them in the hall. “Good morning, Counselor.” She eyed the Stoklers. “Ashley, George, thank you for indulging me one more time.” She stepped aside. “Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee or glass of water?”
“No need,” Ashley said, “I don’t plan on being here that long.” She stood, arms crossed, tapping her foot while staring at Sin with laser-like intensity. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“If that’s the way you want to play it, fine,” Sin responded. “First let me introduce you to Agents Fletcher and Garcia.”
Everyone nodded.
“Before I begin, everything I tell you is confidential. If the media gets hold of any of this information, I will know where it came from. Is that understood?”
“You have my assurance that we will hold all information in confidence,” Anthony Freitas answered.
“We assisted in a mission last night to take down drug traffickers. The mission took place at Water’s Edge Academy.”
The words Water’s Edge seemed to spark Ashley’s attention, causing her to take a seat. Until this point, George had sat quietly.
“The Academy?” he said.
Sin stared at him. “Why do you sound so surprised. That was what the other agents went to ask you about, wasn’t it?”
He nodded. “They asked if I had any information about the school since its closure. I told them I hadn’t been back since I graduated. I didn’t know anything.”
“While we were there,” Sin continued, “I checked out the building that held the mortuary school. I found plenty of evidence of Joel’s recent presence.” She flashed a weak smile at George. “Thanks to your information we are one step closer to finding him.”
Ashley was quick with a retort. “Good for you. Again, what does this have to do with us?”
“Someone left me a note,” Sin said. “I want to know if the handwriting looks familiar.”
She slid the envelope over to Ashley. Her expression told Sin that the answer to her question was yes. Ashley didn’t reach for it, she just stared.
“Is that the same stationery that was found with the victims?” Her attitude was gone.
“It is. Why?”
“May I?” Ashley said. Her eyes moved from the envelope to George and back to the envelope.
“Please,” Sin said, pushing it a bit closer.
Ashley’s hand shook as she reached for it. She ran her hands over the raised parchment, remaining silent. Finally, taking a deep breath, she pulled the letter from the envelope and read.
Immediately she dropped it back on the table as if it was burning her fingers. “If you’re asking if this is Joel’s handwriting, it’s not.” Her voice cracked with every word.
“What does it say?” George asked.
“Nothing you need to see,” Ashley responded, staring at the letter.
George quickly grabbed the letter before Ashley could stop him. “George, no!”
The color drained from George’s face. “It can’t be,” he mumbled. “If you’ll please excuse me. I need to leave.”
Sin was about to say something when he darted from the room.
“Let him go,” Ashley said. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. “I can answer any questions you have.”
“I’ll go check on George and make sure he’s all right,” their attorney stated.
Sin stared at Ashley, waiting for her to explain what just happened.
“I was telling you the truth when I said that the writing isn’t Joel’s.” She looked up at Sin with a tear-streaked face. “That’s Miranda’s stationery…and her handwriting.”
Sin leaned forward, placing a gentle hand on top of Ashley’s trembling one. “How can you be so sure?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life,” Ashley responded. “That’s how she corresponded with us when we were in trouble—when she requested we attend one of her art classes.”
“Holy shit,” Fletcher said. “Are you telling us that she’s still alive?”
“Now hold on, everyone,” Sin said. She stood and paced. Turning back to Ashley, she said, “You and your brother both said that Joel was very close to Miranda. Couldn’t he have the same paper? Couldn’t he have even copied her handwriting? Doesn’t that make more sense than Miranda’s resurrection?”
“Anything is possible. I’m only telling you what I see.”
Sin sat back down and changed her thought process. “How did Miranda die?”
“She had been drinking, like she did most nights,” Ashley said, “and when she ran out of booze, she grabbed her keys and left. The next thing we knew a police officer was at our door telling us that she had died in a car accident.
“Later, the officer told me that she was driving erratically and when he went to pull her over, instead of slowing down to stop, she sped up. He said she was driving north over the causeway, and lost control. Her car crashed through the guard rails and into the water.”
“What about her body?” Sin asked. “Was it recovered?” Sin already knew the answers to her questions from having read Miranda Stokler’s file, but she wanted to hear it from Ashley.
Ashley stared blankly at the letter and shook her head. “It was a sixty foot drop to the water. They searched, but…” Her hand shook as she reached for a cigarette. “They said that it was impossible for anyone to
