Chapter 2: An Unlikely Source
The next morning, Ada found herself back in the heart of Cliffton, trying to piece together the scattered fragments of her investigation. The town’s small-town charm, with its cobblestone streets and rustic storefronts, belied the tension that simmered just below the surface. As she walked down Main Street, the few people out and about seemed to glance at her with cautious curiosity. Ada couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone knew more than they were willing to share.
Her visit to Mrs. Cooper had left her with more questions than answers. The mention of Jacob Hayes lingered in her mind. She had seen his name in the police report, listed as one of the last people to see Sarah before her disappearance, but the report offered little else. The fact that Mrs. Cooper had singled him out only added to her suspicions. Ada was beginning to sense that Sarah’s disappearance was no ordinary case. Something wasn’t right, and the more she tried to uncover the truth, the more she realized she was treading on dangerous ground.
As she passed the local diner, a small bell jingled above the door. She stepped inside, greeted by the warm smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon. A few locals sat at the counter, murmuring in low voices, but they fell silent as Ada entered. She ignored their stares and walked toward the back, where a woman with bright red hair and an apron was wiping down a table. Her name was Jenna, and Ada had heard she was close to Jacob Hayes.
"Morning," Ada said, offering a smile. "I’m looking for Jacob Hayes. Do you know where I might find him?"
Jenna didn’t meet her eyes immediately. She continued wiping the table, her hands moving with practiced precision, but Ada could feel the tension in the air. After a long pause, Jenna looked up, her expression unreadable.
"Jacob's not around much these days," she said, her voice low. "He keeps to himself mostly, especially since Sarah disappeared. Doesn’t like talking about it."
“I’m not here to cause trouble," Ada said gently. "I just need to ask him a few questions about Sarah. I believe he might know something that could help the investigation."
Jenna’s gaze flickered to the window, as if checking for someone watching. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Listen, I don’t know what you think you’re gonna find, but Jacob’s not the type of guy you want to get tangled up with. He’s been involved in things... things you wouldn’t want to know. Some people say he knows more than he lets on about what happened to Sarah, but... I wouldn’t trust him."
Ada felt a shiver run down her spine. “What kind of things? What’s going on in this town that people don’t want to talk about?”
Jenna hesitated, glancing nervously around the diner. "You should talk to him yourself. But be careful. People like Jacob... they don’t like being questioned, especially by outsiders. And you’re not going to get much out of him if you don’t know how to approach him."
The warning was clear, but Ada was undeterred. If Jacob was as tangled up in this as Jenna implied, then he might hold the key to uncovering the town’s darkest secrets.
"Where can I find him?" Ada asked, keeping her voice steady.
Jenna hesitated, then jotted down an address on a napkin. "He lives in a cabin just outside of town, near the old mill. It’s not far, but it’s off the beaten path. I wouldn’t go alone if I were you."
Ada took the napkin, her mind already racing with possibilities. As she stepped out of the diner, she felt the weight of Jenna’s warning settle on her. She wasn’t sure whether Jacob Hayes would be her ally or her adversary, but one thing was certain: she needed to talk to him if she had any hope of uncovering the truth.
The journey to Jacob’s cabin took her deeper into the woods surrounding Cliffton, where the trees grew thick and the path became less distinct. Ada’s car bounced along the uneven road, the tires kicking up dust as she drove farther from the town’s center. She couldn’t help but feel like she was stepping into a different world. The town’s comforting, albeit eerie, charm faded as the forest closed in around her, and the air seemed to grow cooler.
When she finally reached the cabin, she stopped her car a few hundred feet away, the sight of the dilapidated structure sending a chill through her. The cabin was small, weathered by time, with a sagging porch and overgrown ivy crawling up its sides. A thick fog had started to roll in from the woods, wrapping the area in an unsettling quiet.
Ada took a deep breath, steeling herself. This was it—the moment that would likely change everything. She had no idea what she would find inside or what Jacob Hayes would reveal, but she couldn’t back out now.
She walked up to the front door, her boots crunching on the gravel path. Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment before she knocked, loud and deliberate.
No answer.
She knocked again, louder this time, but still there was no response. A sense of unease crawled up her spine, but she wasn’t going to leave without at least trying. Taking a step back, she surveyed the cabin one more time. The silence was oppressive. Just as she turned to leave, she heard a creak from the porch behind her.
Ada spun around, her heart racing, to find a man standing in the doorway. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair and a weathered face. His eyes were cold, unreadable. Jacob Hayes.
"I told you, I’m not in the mood for visitors," Jacob said, his voice rough, as though he hadn’t spoken in days.
“I’m not here to make trouble,” Ada said, trying to keep her tone calm. “I’m just looking for answers. About Sarah Cooper.”
Jacob’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then, in a low voice, he muttered, "You don’t know what you’re getting into, lady."
Ada took a step forward, her resolve hardening. "I think you do. And I think you know exactly what happened to Sarah."
The moment hung in the air, thick with tension. Then, without another word, Jacob stepped aside, motioning for her to enter.
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