"Not far from the cabin, through the woods, there's an old farmhouse. Do you know it, too?"

A shadow pa.s.sed across Emma's face, but she smiled. "We call it flat rock. Because out back behind the barn there's a pond with a, you know, a big flat rock." Both women laughed. "Seriously, though, that was always the party place. Kids from school here, and even from other counties, would go out there and party. Innocent stuff, you know. Just drinking, dancing, making out."

"I know about those places. I was young once, too," Taryn grinned. "Although I was never popular enough to get invited."

"Yeah, neither was I," Emma admitted. "But I went anyway. Some friends of mine thought it might be fun to kind of crash it. Once we got there we figured out n.o.body cared who you were as long as you brought booze."

"Well, so here's my question..." Taryn bit her lip in nervousness. "Did anything bad ever happen out there? Like an accident?"

"Are you talking about Cheyenne Willoughby?" Emma asked her in uneasiness.

"I don't know. Am I?"

Emma nodded her shiny hair bouncing on her shoulders. "Probably. She died last year. Well, a little over a year ago to be exact."

Taryn shuddered but felt vindicated. "What happened? And what does the farm have to do with it?"

Pursing her lips, Emma looked down and studied her shoes. Great, Taryn thought. I've made her completely uncomfortable and put her on the spot. Terrific teacher I am.

"Well, the thing is, n.o.body knows. I guess to say she died is a little premature. To be honest, her body was never found. Everyone just a.s.sumes she's dead," Emma finally said.

"Disappeared?"

"Yeah, more or less. She was there for a party not long after graduation. She didn't come home that night or the next day. n.o.body's heard from her since," Emma explained. "Because of what happened that night, we mostly just a.s.sume she's dead."

"What happened?"

"She was at the farm and then left with another guy. He claims she never went home with him, that he left by himself. n.o.body believes him," Emma whispered confidentially.

"And everything was searched? The farm, the pond, the house?"

"Well, the pond was dredged and the woods were searched more than once. The house was searched from top to bottom but there weren't any signs of her. It's like she vanished right out of thin air."

This being a small town, Taryn was sure everyone had their own theory as to what might have happened. She didn't say it out loud, of course, and instead thanked Emma for her time.

"No problem," Emma shrugged as she slipped on her backpack and started out the door. She was almost all the way out when she stopped and turned around and glanced back at Taryn. "I'm kind of surprised you didn't know the story, though. I mean, with Thelma being Cheyenne's mother and that farm belonging to Thelma's brother, it seems it would've been mentioned at some point."

With that, she sauntered off down the hallway, leaving Taryn alone and stunned.

Chapter 7.

I can understand why she wouldn't mention it," Matt confessed as they drove back to the cabin. "It's not usually something that would come up in conversation: 'Here's your keys, thanks for coming, and by the waymy daughter disappeared right here on this farm about a year ago. Enjoy your stay!'"

Taryn laughed in spite of herself. "True. And I haven't seen her since we had lunch and she showed me the college, so it's not like we've had a lot of heart-to-hearts and been given an opportunity where it could be mentioned."

Matt grew silent as the melodious harmonies of The Secret Sisters and their song "Tennesseeme" filled the car. Taryn laid her head up against the window and had a sudden pang for her small apartment back in Nashville. It wasn't a fabulous placebefore she'd left this time around she'd noticed the linoleum in the kitchen was starting to peel around the refrigerator but it was hers. She loved staying with Matt in Florida and having this time in Georgia for a little while, but she was beginning to wish she could be by herself again sometimes. She missed being able to walk around naked if she pleased (although Matt certainly wouldn't argue with her or complain if she did it now), not having to say "excuse me" every time she burped, and having suppers that consisted of slices of cheese and chocolate chip cookies when she was caught up in work.

"I think she's dead," Taryn whispered when the song ended. "Cheyenne, that is. As far as I know The Secret Sisters are still alive."

"Because you saw her in the picture?" Matt asked turning onto the long gravel drive. "And because that girl in your cla.s.s said so?"

"Yeah. I've never seen a live person in one of my shots. Well, not unless they were actually there, standing in front of me. You know what I mean."

"What do you think happened?" he asked, keeping his eyes glued to the road in case a deer or other wild animal decided to try to play suicide games and jump out in front of the car.

"I don't know," she mumbled, staring off into the deep thicket of trees that surrounded the small road. "But I guess that's what I am going to have to find out."

A letter from her Aunt Sarah's attorney was waiting for her at the cabin. Everything was out of probate now, and she could take control of the house if she so desired. He'd sent the keys. They were surprisingly light in her hand, considering the weight of her aunt's personality.

Taryn wasn't sure when she'd be able to get up there, or if she even wanted to go. Losing her aunt had been a huge blow, and had come at a terrible time when Andrew was always on her mind. The amount of guilt she felt over not spending more time with Sarah, or at least keeping in touch more regularly, couldn't be measured.

Still, she couldn't just ignore the house. She'd have to do something about the rambling structure, tucked away in the New Hampshire mountains. She hated the idea of selling it but was certain the amount of renovations it would need (Sarah had never been good about keeping stuff like that up) was more than Taryn was capable of doingor affording. Of course, Matt had offered on more than one occasion to go with her and help her out, but this was really something she felt like she needed to do alone. She already let him do too much for her, from cooking dinner to taking time off work to stay with her in Georgia. She couldn't expect more out of him, especially since they hadn't defined their relationship yet.

She wasn't real sure where she was supposed to start now. Should she talk to Thelma about her daughter? Nah, that would be crossing a line. She couldn't just call her up and say, "Hey, so I heard your daughter disappeared on the property next to me. Want to fill me in?"

She didn't want to bring it up in her cla.s.s and have word get back to Thelma or other college administrators. That would come across as unprofessional and gossipy.

So what then?

Taryn sat bolt right up in her recliner and slapped herself on the forehead. Well, duh! Ye Olde Google was what she usually turned to first.

Turning the television off she sprinted back up the stairs and into the bedroom where Matt was going back over her pictures on her laptop. "Hey, you're gonna get stiff sitting like that for too long," she admonished.

"Well that sounds like fun," he teased her but he did hold his arms up over his head and stretched. His neck cracked a couple of times from the effort. "I am in a little bit of pain, though. I should stop while I'm ahead."

"Did you see anything we missed?"

"I don't think so. I zoomed in on the house, thinking I might catch something, but I didn't. Nothing in the woods, either. Just the girl."

"Cheyenne," Taryn supplied because, after all, the victim had a name.

"Right, Cheyenne. So did you need anything?"

"The computer, actually," she answered. "I want to do some searching on the case. See what I can find out."

"Good idea," Matt agreed. "I'm going to go down and fix myself some cocoa. You want any?"

"Yes, please, and doctor mine with a little bit of Baileys if you could," she smiled sweetly.

"One semi hot toddy coming up," Matt sang as he sailed out of the room, leaving Taryn to the bed and computer.

It didn't take her long to find answers. Simply typing in her name brought up at least a dozen news articles. Leaning back into the throw pillows and propping the laptop on her lap she began reading. The first article was written two days after she disappeared.

Local Girl's Whereabouts Unknown Cheyenne Willoughby, 18, is missing. Upon attending a summer party at the farm of Chris Hinkle on Dark Hollow Road, Willoughby was expected to return home the next morning. When she didn't arrive by noon, her worried parents began calling her friends, a.s.suming she'd gone home with one of them. Although many of the other party-goers, mostly local high school kids, remember seeing Willoughby at the party none of her friends reported anything suspicious.

The pretty, active brunette was on the honor roll all four years in high school. Her parents, Jeff and Thelma Willoughby of Telford Avenue are asking anyone with any information to please come forward and alert them or the police. Willoughby is 5'1", weighs approximately 100 lbs. and was last seen wearing a red jacket, red cowboy boots, and a white sleeveless top. Locating her is of the utmost importance considering the fact that Willoughby has severe asthma and has suffered complications in the past.

The next article contained more information the police had uncovered.

Willoughby Last Seen with Male Friend Cheyenne Willoughby, the missing 18-year-old high school graduate from Apple Valley, Georgia was last seen with a male friend, witnesses say. Willoughby, who had attended a party on Dark Hollow Road on May 31, has been missing for one week.

After a series of interviews it was determined Willoughby was last seen with 23-year-old Travis Marc.u.m. Party goers reportedly saw Willoughby climb into Marc.u.m's truck at approximately 3 am. Marc.u.m submitted to interviews with detectives and denies having taken Willoughby with him. He has told reporters that he is "not friends with Willoughby but knows her as an acquaintance" and that the last time he saw her was before he left, on his own.

More searches throughout the community are expected to take place within the next few days. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Cheyenne Willoughby, please contact the Evarts' County sheriff's department.

Taryn had all kinds of questions about that article, but figured she'd wait until she read the others before jumping to any conclusions.

Case of Missing Girl Could Be Runaway The search continues for 18-year-old Cheyenne Willoughby of Apple Valley. Willoughby went missing two months ago, but so far has turned up no leads have. There has been some speculation that Willoughby could have left on her own accord. "We've interviewed dozens and dozens of people who saw her that night, including the two fellows who were the last to see her," Detective Anderson of the Evarts' County sheriff's department said. "But we don't have any solid leads yet. We can't rule this out as a runaway case just yet, but we are exploring every angle."

The lines on Taryn's forehead grew deeper as she read Detective Anderson's statement. Of course, running away would make sense. But then again, she was eighteen years old. Why would she have had to run away when she could've just gone ahead and moved somewhere else?

Willoughby Family Holds Ma.s.sive Search The parents of the missing Cheyenne Willoughby gathered more than five hundred volunteers last Sat.u.r.day morning to search several different parts of the county, including the forest around Dark Hollow Road and the rock quarry on HWY 67. Searchers walked a grid and looked for clothing, accessories, and other belongings Willoughby might have had with her, including her purse and cell phone. Dogs, including cadaver dogs, were used in the search which did not yield any results.

"We don't understand what happened to her," Thelma Willoughby told our reporter. "Cheyenne was a happy, friendly girl. She never hurt a soul. She was excited about the party and said she'd be home in the morning. We talked to her twice that evening, and she sounded fine."

Investigators have recovered Willoughby's cell phone records but have not yet released a statement concerning Willoughby's last calls.

Willoughby Family Holds Fundraisers The family of missing teen, Cheyenne Willoughby, is holding a fundraiser on Friday, September 15, at the Evarts County Fairgrounds. The fundraiser, which features music by country music band Freedom Express and includes vendors, crafts demonstrations, and bounce houses for children will run from 6-10 pm. The cost is $5 per person and all proceeds go to the Bring Cheyenne Home fund. Monies are expected to be spent on a billboard to be placed along I-75 and further searches in an expanded area.

Willoughby, who has been missing since early last summer, soon after graduating from high school, is 18 years old. Although several area searches have taken place and countless witnesses interviewed since her disappearance, investigators are at a standstill.

Phone records reveal that her last text message was sent at 11:30 pm. The text, to her mother, stated that she had a ride home and would return early. However, Thelma Willoughby was in bed at the time and didn't get the message until that afternoon. "I heard the phone go off, but it was so late I figured I'd check it later," Ms. Willoughby has been quoted as saying. "Of course, in hindsight, I wish I'd looked at it. It was the last time anyone heard from her, and I would've known something was wrong sooner."

The phone continued to receive calls and voicemails from Willoughby's concerned parents throughout the morning and afternoon. Her last known whereabouts were at a friend's house in the Dupont Subdivision. However, the phone has not yet been recovered.

Investigators Believe Fire Not Linked to Missing Teen Investigators have ruled that the fire of the one story house on Poplar Road on the same night as Cheyenne Willoughby's disappearance is "most likely" not linked the case of missing. Instead, they believe it was a coincidental act of arson that unfortunately just happened to occur on the same night.

The house, which had been recently unoccupied, did not have electricity. Arson investigators claim it's unusual for house fires to start where electricity isn't present. An unnamed accelerant was found, however, and it's been concluded that the fire was intentionally set "for reasons not yet known," according to Police Chief Randy Mason.

There is not yet a suspect or person of interest at this time. At the time of the fire Cheyenne was allegedly at a friend's house twelve miles away.

Willoughby's whereabouts are still unknown. Although she had a purse with personal belongings with her, according to witnesses, these have not been recovered.

Mason says he hopes she left on her own freewill and "wants to be missing" rather than "the alternative." "I know it's hard on the parents," he told WTVX, "but I hope she left because she wanted to because that at least means she's out there safe somewhere. That's the best case scenario at the moment."

Cheyenne Willoughby, 18, Still Missing It's been one year since 18-year-old Cheyenne Willoughby went missing. On her nineteenth birthday, her parents are sending out another plea for anyone who might have information to contact authorities. "You can be anonymous," her mother, Thelma Willoughby says. "We just want information and to know she's okay."

Despite the efforts of local law enforcement and concerned citizens, there is still no sign of Cheyenne or clues as to what may have happened to her.

"When your daughter is gone and you don't even know where to start looking, it's heartbreaking," her step-father, Jeff Willoughby said. "It feels like if someone would come forward and say something so we could at least look in the right direction. But n.o.body's talking."

Although it has been a year of sadness and frustrations for the family, they remain hopeful that Willoughby will be found and brought home safe. There is currently a $15,000 reward for anyone offering information leading to Cheyenne's whereabouts.

Chapter 8.

By the time she'd read through all the articles and even checked out Cheyenne's Facebook and Instagram sites, Taryn felt drained. She'd started making a list of questions as she went along, and now her notes were two pages long. There were more than twenty articles she'd recovered in all, although most of them just repeated the same information. It all came down to this: Cheyenne had attended a party, left with a male friend, and then disappeared. n.o.body had seen or heard from her since she left the party. And the fire at the other location apparently wasn't connected to her disappearance. Supposedly.

"Hey," Matt stood in the bedroom door, a gla.s.s of c.o.ke in his hand. "How's it going?"

Setting her laptop on the bed, Taryn stretched her legs out and reached for the drink. "It's going. I found a bunch of articles and stuff about the missing girl."

"Yeah? What'd you find?"

Matt perched at the foot of the bed and began stroking Taryn's foot, something that made her purr like a kitten. She was a sucker for getting her feet rubbed.

"A lot of things. But basically she was at this party, left with a dude, and then disappeared."

Matt c.o.c.ked his head to one side and studied Taryn. "So what's the mystery? Sounds like the guy Travis did something to her."

"Yeah, you'd think," Taryn agreed. "Only the police don't seem to think he's a suspect. He claims she never left with him at all, that he barely knew her and left before she did."

"That should be easy enough to prove, shouldn't it?"

"You'd think so."

"Still, to me, it sounds like the guy did something," Matt pointed out. "I mean, if witnesses saw him..."

"Oh, and another thing. There was a house that burned down. Same night, and arson at that. But the police don't think it's connected."

Matt laughed, his face lighting up in delight. "Are you kidding me? Well that's a big coincidence then."

"Maybe," Taryn answered. "It's all so confusing really. Too easy to think of this guy as the one who did it."

"So give me a rundown on the list of our suspects," Matt prodded. "I know you; you have some ideas."

"Okay," Taryn agreed, rubbing her hands together. She tried not to think about the fact that this was a real person they were talking about, a real missing girl. She would think about that later, and it would sadden and depress her, but for the moment she needed to be a.n.a.lytical about it. "First we have the guy she went home with."

"Alright, we have a guy. The last one to supposedly see her. a.s.suming he was the mystery ride."

"Right!" Taryn exclaimed. "She texted her parents and said she had a ride home and would be there early. We are a.s.suming it's the guy witnesses claim to have seen her left with."

"Okay, what about a random stranger?"