Summary

In Chapter 18, Heather thinks about the wrist she saw moving Maureen's head in the basement. That wrist was thinner than Sheriff Nillson's, and was wearing “that familiar copper ID bracelet” (110). Heather had not seen Sheriff Nillson face, but she knows Brenda is right – that he was one of the men. Brenda cannot identify any of the other men. Brenda wonders if Maureen was getting paid. They discuss the possibility that Sheriff Nillson has Maureen tied up somewhere to keep her quiet. Brenda did not see Maureen after the fair. Heather rides her bike around, trying to decide which house belonged to the basement where she had seen Maureen. She narrows it down to a few houses, but she cannot be sure. She sees a man who looks familiar.

The next chapter is titled “Beth.” Beth fights against hopelessness. She discovers something mostly buried...