Even though Jason dreaded hearing the substance of what the detective was coming to say, he welcomed the chance to know something. Anything. He and Nora and Sierra had fallen into a glum silence, their conversation consisting mostly of small talk and mundane observations. It felt as though none of them dared bring up anything real—a memory, a theory about the crime—for fear of the flood of emotion it might unleash. They talked about anything but Hayden. Olsen stepped into the living room, his face somber. He looked tired as well, and he hadn’t shaved. He wore khaki pants and work boots, the better to trudge around in the woods and the dirt. “I’m sorry it took me longer to get here than I said it would,” he said. “That’s okay,” Jason said. “I just wanted to give you an update on where we stand in regards to the search for Hayden. Right now, we’re suspending the search. Things haven’t really changed as they relate to Hayden since last night, and—”
