The Reservoir by Rosemarie Naramore Page B

of his hand, his face was defiant.  “When I saw Cassie last summer, in the water—the first time—I really thought I was losing it.  I told Mom and Dad about seeing her, and that’s when they took me to another doctor.  They put me on medication, but it didn’t help, ‘cuz, I’m not crazy.”
    “We know you’re not,” Holly said soothingly.
    “Wait!” Daniel said suddenly, but leveled his tone. “Thomas, did the authorities look for Cassie’s body in the lake?”
    Thomas sniffled.  “They looked around where the jet ski was found, but it’s pretty shallow there.  They did have divers check out the channel, but as far as the rest of the reservoir, it’s just so big…”
    Zack sighed.  “I’m sorry for your loss, kid.”
    “She’s not lost!” he cried, and aimed a finger toward the lake.  “She’s out there!  She’s probably watching us right now, trying to tell us something.  But I’m too big a wimp to help her—my own sister.  I’m not like her.  I’m not brave.  I hate the water!”

Chapter Eleven
     
    “I want to give Thomas a minute to calm down,” Zack told Holly.  The couple had walked out of the kitchen and onto the back porch.  “The poor kid’s really upset.”
    Holly nodded.  “We never did ask him why he was breaking into the shed.”
    “He told us,” Zack said, “to count the chains.”
    “But why did he want to count those chains?  Wait a minute!” Holly said.  “You never did tell me what was under those tarps you were looking at.”
    “Chains,” Zack said succinctly, “and old boat anchors.”
    Holly shrugged.  “Well, we are on a reservoir.  I imagine a lot of people have spare chains and anchors.”
    “Fifty of them?” Zack said, his eyes boring into hers.  “Holly, the chains are thick and heavy.  I’m not talking your garden-variety chain.  I have to wonder, what possible reason does your stepdad have for keeping that many chains and anchors in that shed?”
    Holly gave Zack a speculative glance.  Was he trying to tell her something?  Suddenly, the air became thick with tension. 
    “Holly…”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, bracing to hear whatever he had to say next, and then nodded for him to continue.  “Go on.”
    “Like we said before, if the girl, Cassie, is in the lake, and she’s not there of her own accord, then someone helped put her there…”
    Holly’s eyes widened.  Was he suggesting what she thought he was suggesting?—that David had something to do with Cassie’s death?
    “Zack, exactly what are you trying to say?” she said in a clipped voice.
    The air was now charged with tension, which Zack promptly attempted to diffuse.  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.  “I’m not trying to say anything?  Not just yet.  We need more information—a lot more, before we can possibly even begin to understand what happened to Thomas’ sister.”
    Holly didn’t speak, and Zack pulled back to study her face.  “Are you angry?” he asked, wincing.  “I really didn’t mean to upset you.  You know I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you.”
    She sighed.  “I know that.  But, yeah, I’m upset.  And for a lot of reasons…”
    “Yeah, I hear you,” he told her, smiling into her eyes.  “But we’ll get this business sorted out.  We have to.  I think Cassie needs us.”
    Holly nodded.  “I think so too.”
    “Zack!” Daniel shouted from the kitchen.  “Thomas is ready to talk some more.”
    Zack draped an arm over Holly’s shoulders and together they walked into the kitchen and sat down.  Thomas was eating a bacon and egg sandwich.  “Good, you’re getting a little protein to go with your donut,” Zack observed with a smile.
    Thomas nodded.  “Niqui’s a good cook.”
    “Well, thank you, kind sir,” Niqui said, rising and tousling his hair before easing back into her chair.
    Zack took a shoring breath and said tentatively, “So Thomas, you’re sure