Chapter 3
George frowned. "What do you mean, unlucky? I'm just talking about Tanya."
Spencer set his glass down, his face turning grim.
George either didn't notice or ignored him, letting out a long sigh.
He said, "Back when the SAT results came out, she disappeared. Then there was that big pileup on the north highway. Several cars went up in flames.
"They found a woman's body, but never figured out who she was. Not long ago, the police reached out to the school again, wanting to double-check the old student records.
"I've been thinking a lot lately. What if that girl were from our class?"
I froze on the spot.
The next second, someone in the private room blurted out. "Mr. Hooper, are you saying you think that body was Tanya?"
It was Edwin Higgins who spoke up.
He used to sit next to me back then, then moved away and only came back for this reunion.
Edwin said, "I heard before I came back that they're reopening the case. Tanya disappeared right after that car accident. It's been seven years. Not a single word from her, no one has been able to find her."
"Enough." Spencer cut him off, his voice low and heavy. "She took the money and ran. The security guard saw her get into another man's car."
"How do you know the security guard didn't mess up?" Edwin fired back, his temper flaring. "None of us actually saw her that day. We only saw a letter. Olivia handed it to you, and you took her word for it?"
Olivia was the one who gave Spencer that letter? I stared hard at Spencer, waiting to see how he'd react.
Vincent jumped in to break the tension. "Edwin, that's enough."
But Edwin kept pushing. "I went back to the school a few days ago, and the security guard's already been replaced. The old guy got drunk a few years back. He said someone paid him to say what he did.
"I don't know if it's true or not, but I feel like this whole thing isn't as simple as it looks."
Spencer shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Who told you that?" he demanded.
"I told you, the old security guard let it slip when he was drunk," Edwin replied.
George frowned. "Spencer, you really should look into this again. I taught Tanya for three years. She's straightforward, not the kind of girl who'd ever do something that cruel."
Spencer didn't say a word.
He grabbed his coat and walked out.
When he got home, Olivia was sitting in the living room, holding the baby.
She was caught off guard seeing him home so early.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked.
Spencer stared at her for a few seconds, saying nothing.
"Seven years ago, where did you get that letter Tanya left behind?" he finally asked.
Olivia's hand visibly trembled.
"It was on her bed. She was gone, so when I went to find you, I picked it up as I was leaving," she replied.
Spencer pressed, "Who got the security guard involved?"
Olivia's face went pale, and she forced a smile. "What do you mean? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Spencer didn't press her any further.
He turned and headed straight upstairs to his study, locking the door behind him.
Half an hour later, there was a loud crash from the study.
Spencer was staring at his computer screen, his hands shaking.
On the screen were the results from the telecom company.
The number that called him three days ago hadn't been updated in seven years.
The last activity was on the day the SAT results were released, seven years ago.
After that, there was no activity at all.
The next second, the TV on the wall in the study automatically switched to the local news.
The anchor's calm voice came through. "There's a new development in the case of the unidentified female victim from the seven-year-old multi-car accident on the north highway.
"After matching family DNA samples, the victim has been identified as Tanya Ward, a graduate of our city's Pioneer High School."