True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) by A.J. Carella Page B

go to the police with everything we know, do you not think they’ll find out? This is clearly a highly organised outfit, if they know the police is onto them what’s to say they won’t get rid of the evidence?”
    “You mean kill her?”
    “Why not? It’s possible.” She let out a long breath. “I’m not prepared to take that chance, are you?”
    Michael knew she was right. “So what do you suggest?”
    Sarah put her head in her hands and started to cry. “I don’t know, I just don’t know.”
    Michael turned back to the laptop and clicked off Jennifer’s picture, he just couldn’t bear it. As he did, a picture caught his eye.
    “Hang on, I recognize that woman.”
    “What?” Sarah sniffed, dropping her hands.
    “Her.” he said, turning the laptop towards her and pointing at an image on the screen. “I recognize her.”
    Sarah wiped her eyes with her hands and looked at the picture Michael had pointed out. “Odd, I do too. I never noticed before.” she leaned forward and looked at the picture closely. “I don’t know where I recognize her from though.”
    Michael frowned. “It can’t be.” He stood up and pushed his chair back, going to the kitchen counter where he’d left the yearbook the night before. Opening it on the table he started flicking through until he got to the page he wanted.
    “There.” He pointed to the page.
    Sarah looked from the page to the picture on the screen. “Oh my God, you’re right. How on earth did you know?”
    Michael shrugged. “I was flicking through it last night. I would never have recognized her otherwise.”
    Sarah looked at the book. “Samantha Hathaway. Wasn’t she in your class in high school?”
    “No, she was in the year below. I remember her, she was a bit of a weird one, always changing the color of her hair and wearing odd clothes.”
    “Now I remember.” Sarah nodded. “But she’s not one of the women involved in the accidents I found online, I don’t recognize the name.”
    “So there’s a chance she’s got family out there still looking for her. Sarah, this could help us.” It wasn’t much but it was the only thing they had so far. “We need to find out what we can about Samantha Hathaway.”
    “I don’t see how it can help, her family will be in the same position we are won’t they?”
    “Don’t you see?” he said excitedly. “No one is looking for Jennifer because they think she’s dead. What if the Samantha’s family think she’s alive, just missing? Who knows how long she’s been gone, they might have information that can help us.” He shrugged. “If not, and they do think she’s dead, at the very least we need to let them know about this website.”
    “You’re right, of course we have to let them know.”
    His stomach picked that moment to remind him that he needed to eat. “Look, it’s late and we both need to eat. How about we have something and then get back on it when we’re all fueled up?”
    “Okay but I’ll cook, Jennifer told me about your … er… lack of skills in the kitchen.” She gave him a small smile.
    “I’ll have you know I’m getting a lot better.” He chuckled. “But it’s a deal.”
    He left her to find her way around the kitchen and went upstairs to wash up. He hated to admit it, but he was glad Sarah had come. He should have listened to her right from the start, and he felt that he’d somehow let Jennifer down by accepting her death so quickly. Without Sarah’s stubbornness they would never have known that she could still be alive out there somewhere. But now I do know, I won’t stop looking until I find her he promised himself as he stepped in the shower.
    ***
    He had no idea how she managed it but Sarah whipped up a delicious omelette from the few available ingredients in the kitchen.
    “Thanks, that was great.” he sighed as he pushed his plate away. “I needed that.”
    “I hate to admit it, but you were right. I needed that too.” She laughed. “God, if Jennifer