What Silence Cost

At her hotel, Emma read her notes. Reid had admitted one important thing: he had left information out of the police report. But he had not told her what the information was.

She phoned Sarah and explained the meeting. Sarah asked if Emma could use Reid's name in an article. Emma said Reid had agreed that she could report what he admitted, but he wanted to check that she had written his words correctly.

Emma sent Reid a short summary. She also asked the police records office for more information.

Then she received an email from Calum, a student who had received a scholarship from the foundation. His college had found an old payment record. The money arrived later than promised, and the amount was smaller than the amount in his award letter. The college was still checking its other records. Emma asked Calum for permission to get an official copy.

She thought about the two discoveries. There was a problem with a scholarship payment. There was also a problem with an old police report. The police record came from 2011; Calum's scholarship correspondence began in 2010. But Emma did not know if they were connected to each other.

That evening she walked beside the river. She remembered the Morrison family and the stories she had written when Claire disappeared. She wanted to find the truth this time without hurting people again.

Her phone made a sound. Reid had sent a message.

Your summary is correct. I am ready to explain my actions to the right people. I do not know where Claire Morrison is now.

Emma read the last sentence twice. Reid did not know where Claire was now. But did he know where she had been in 2011? She still needed to ask him.

She saved the message and returned to her hotel. Her next plan was to speak to James Morrison, Claire's brother. She knew he might not want to talk to her.