A local woman missing- Mary Kubica

KATE
11 YEARS BEFORE
May
There’s a river in town. It’s bordered by landscaped trails that curve
around the water’s edge in an area known as the Riverwalk. The
Riverwalk is the crown jewel of town. On weekends, people flock to it
by the hundreds to visit. They walk on the brick paths, toss coins in
the fountain, get their pictures taken on any number of the covered
wooden bridges that pass over the river.
In the heart of downtown, the paths are maintained with ample
lighting, an abundance of flowers and pristine landscaping. Nary a
weed grows there. The streets nearby are all upscale boutiques. The
number of bars and restaurants in our downtown nears fifty. On
weekends, it’s exasperating trying to find a place to park.
But the farther from downtown you get, the river’s edge turns
woody. The wide, well-kept paths metamorphose into a desire line
created by years of erosion from people who pass through, feet
wearing away the land. The path becomes narrow, just a ribbon of
dirt that cuts through the grass and weeds, enmeshed in trees.
This time of year, the area is mosquito-infested. The excessive
rain and flooding are the cause of this. Mosquitoes breed in damp
conditions. They lay their eggs in stagnant water, like puddles.
Because of the heavy tree coverage, the puddles never have a
chance to fully dry out, and so the land stays muddy, mossy, the
ground littered with the moldy debris from trees.
This is where the body was found.
Our group meets back at Josh and Meredith’s house. Everyone is
talking fast, sharing what they know. It’s frenetic. The air hums with
the sound of voices, a constant drone.
I look around. Josh isn’t here. But there are police officers here.
Their cars are parked just outside, while an officer stands guard at