Chapter 55: Kent believes he's solved the case

And gives Koa a much-needed embrace

Aloha dear readers, thanks so much for hanging in… we’re almost there with the end of this story…and I’m feeling SO SAD! I have loved writing WIlD GIRL so much, and being in the world of the Valley has been magic. For those of you on the fence, choose the annual subscription and I’ll send you a confidential copy of this novel, currently at 100k words…plenty deep to take you away from anything going on “topside.” Once again, mahalo for being with me on this journey and don’t forget to hit the ❤️!

Kent opened his eyes slowly. He was curled in a cramped shape, staring at the gray fabric of a sofa back.

For a long moment, he had no idea where he was or how he got there.

A rustle from the dining area prompted him to turn over.

Koa sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, gazing out the window. Early morning light touched her face, tangled in her sleep-mussed hair, brightening individual strands. How would it feel to touch it?

The phone rang, and he jumped—so did she. Koa lunged over to grab the phone out of its cradle. “Hello?”

“It’s me.” Kent could hear Ella’s voice, amplified through some trick of acoustics between the bare counter and linoleum floor. “He’s gone. Dad’s gone.”