"She's not the kind of person that would willingly walk away," Marcy says, looking dazed, on another planet. Maybe, somewhere in the spirit world.
I lean forward in my seat. "What does that mean?"
Although I had an idea, I wanted her to say it herself. I wanted her to convince me that she was legit.
"I think Joseline Madeline was kidnapped."
I stare at Art incredulously, perturbed. There was no way she could tell that simply from touching a picture of Joseline. No way. But, she did, and I wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. It all seemed to be too good to be true.
"Kidnapped?" Art asks, clearly trying to get more out of her. She scribbles down what Marcy said.
"I'm getting the impression of three people, two men and maybe a woman. It's not Joseline..." She stares off into space like she's getting all of this out of the clouds. "I can see a car, silver-ish maybe... She gets into it. No, someone else, a man, ushers her inside. She's uncertain whether she should take a ride from them."
"A man?"
"I'm getting the impression that he was someone familiar to her someone she didn't know personally but has seen once or twice before," Marcy says.
"Like someone that lives in this area?" I ask.
"Yes."
Art and I stare. Even she's perturbed by the quality of the information Marcy's providing. This could be the lead that we needed to solve this case once and for all.
"Can you make out a face?" I ask.
She shakes her head, scribbling compulsively on her sketch pad. Links. Links. Leads. But, I can't tell if she's saying no or whether she's communicating with a spirit. A spirit like Joseline. Then she pauses. "Are we going to the actual site of the murder today?"
"Yes," I say, getting up from my seat. I collect our cups, rinse them, and place them in the sink. I stared at the cup I gave Marcy, thinking about what she said about Art.
If she was able to relay such detail from our case, then, maybe, she wasn't too far off with what she said about her. I wanted Marcy to be, though. I wanted to feel like I wasn't neglecting my best friend. Like she'd share things with me if it bothered her. I'm sure she would.
"Are you coming?" Art asks, standing in the doorway.
•••
The site of the accident is a ways away from the cabin, a little outside of Bluebell. There are wet soil and fallen leaves and it's frigid outside.
When we get out of the car, Marcy walks around touching trees, pinching tree bark between her fingers as if she could feel Joseline, seeping into the wood, growing into the fallen leaves on the ground.
"What's the matter?" I ask, leaning against the car. Art stands beside me, staring wordlessly.
Marcy tucks her hair behind her ear with a gloved hand. "I'm getting a strong impression that her body, or evidence of what happened that night, can be found just outside of the search zone. I can see a bridge, a place where kids party maybe."
"What do you mean by evidence?"
"I think you'll find her body."
"Do you think Joseline is dead?"