The Truth About Rachel by Deanna Sletten (recommended reading .TXT) 📕

do anything. I don’t know what to do now. Somewhere out there is a mother or father who never knew what happened to their little girl. But Jeremy doesn’t care. All he cares about is that Keith stays in prison—forever.”

Avery placed his hands on her arms and looked into her eyes. “What can I do to help?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure anyone can help.”

Avery’s eyes lit up, and he slipped his arm through hers and led her next door to City Hall. “Well, I know someone who knows everything about this town, and I’ll bet she’ll figure out what we can do.”

“Gladys?” Rachel asked, looking up at him.

“Yep. Gladys.”

***

“I’m not sure what I can do to help,” Glady said after Avery had explained about the roadblock they’d hit. “I can’t make Jeremy show you the evidence.”

They were sitting in the cramped coffee room at the courthouse. Gladys had told the other office worker that she was taking a break and made coffee for the three of them.

“You must have some connections in high places after all these years,” Avery said.

Gladys wrinkled her nose at her nephew. “How old do you think I am?”

Avery was about to answer, but Rachel shushed him. “What he meant to say is that you probably know people throughout the court system because of all your experience.”

Gladys smiled. “That’s better. Actually, I have a few connections, but none that will get you in the evidence room. However,” she stopped a moment and eyed Rachel, “I have a cousin who works at the Central Valley testing facility. That’s where Jeremy would have sent your DNA. I can call her and see if they can rush it.”

Rachel’s face lit up. “Oh, Gladys, that would be amazing. Thank you so much. If I can prove who I am, maybe Jeremy will let me look at the evidence after all.”

“I’ll see what I can do. But don’t expect much. Those labs are always so swamped, and everyone wants things rushed,” Gladys said.

Rachel nodded. She’d figured it was that way, but maybe they could get hers done a little quicker.

Gladys looked thoughtful. “Rachel. I’ve been doing some more digging into your birth certificate. Your mother and aunt’s maiden name was Arden, right?”

“Yes. Have you found anything new?”

“No, no. But I’m still digging. I’ll let you know if I find anything interesting.”

Rachel and Avery said goodbye to Gladys and headed out into the morning sunshine. The weather was working up to be another scorcher of a day.

“Were there any strange cars outside your room last night?” Avery asked, shoving his hands into his pants pockets.

“No, thank goodness. Hopefully, I was mistaken. But I was chased in the cemetery, and it doesn’t make any sense.”

Avery was about to speak when a portly, middle-aged man interrupted him. “Well, Avery. Who do we have here?”

Rachel watched as Avery’s smile turned into a sneer. “Hello, Archie,” he said without enthusiasm. “Shouldn’t you be in your office looking for ways to spend the town’s tax dollars?”

Archie laughed. “And shouldn’t you be working on putting out that rag of a newspaper you own?”

“My newspaper is fine,” Avery said. “And I’m busy right now.”

Archie turned to Rachel, giving her the once-over with his beady eyes. His dark hair, what was left of it, was slicked back, and his jowls shook when he spoke. Rachel cringed as she looked at him.

“I see that you’ve been busy,” Archie said. “And who might you be?”

Rachel stood up straight and looked him in the eye. She had nothing to fear from this overweight politician. “I’m Rachel Parnell. Perhaps you’ve heard the name before?”

“I know who you claim to be,” Archie said, narrowing his eyes. “But who are you really? Rachel Parnell is dead and buried.”

The venom in his voice nearly made Rachel step back. But she was learning to be as tough as she needed in this town of angry people. “Someone is dead all right, but it’s not Rachel Parnell. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we were busy.” She turned her back on Archie and saw the corner of Avery’s mouth twitch into a grin.

Archie wasn’t through with her, though. “You can be as haughty as you want, but as soon as we find out who you really are, you’re out of here.” He brushed past them and into the door of the police station.

“Looks like you’ve made another enemy,” Avery said, now with a full-blown smile. “I like your style.”

“Ugh! People like him make me so mad. And now he’s running to Jeremy to tell on me. I’m through caring. I’m going to find out the truth of what went on here with or without their help.”

“That’s the spirit,” Avery said. “Welcome to the club.”

She laughed, but her smile faded when she looked up into Avery’s eyes. “You believe I’m Rachel Parnell, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.” He slid his arm through hers and guided her toward his SUV. “And we’re going to prove it. I promise.”

“Where are we going?”

“I want to show you something if you don’t mind,” Avery said. “It won’t take long.”

She nodded and stepped into his vehicle. Rachel wasn’t sure why she trusted Avery, but she did. She needed to trust someone in this town.

They drove away from downtown toward the older neighborhoods. Passing the park, Rachel shuddered involuntarily. It looked almost the same as when she’d left that day, years ago, and all she could do was imagine the little girl lying dead in the wooded area. The park had once been her refuge as a child. Now, it frightened her.

“What are you thinking?” Avery asked as he turned right a block away from the park.

“About the dead girl and how scared she must have been, fighting her attacker before she died.”

Avery glanced at her. “What makes you think she fought?”

His question surprised Rachel. “You read the trial transcripts, didn’t you? There was skin and blood under her fingernails. That’s why they thought the scratches on Keith’s face were from her.”

He frowned. “How did