Page 73 of The One Before

“Congratulations,” she says. “You must be happy to return to writing.”

“It’s come as a bit of a surprise,” I say, glancing around the room.

“Where’s Roman?” Coop asks.

Before Josephine can answer, Regina jumps in. “He took off with something last-minute. I mean, it’s no wonder he couldn’t run theGazette. He gets overwhelmed enough being Mom’s errand boy.”

“That’s unnecessary, Regina,” Josephine says, returning to her seat. “Let’s not ruin tonight with petty banter. We’re supposed to be celebrating Madison.”

A waiter enters the private dining space. Josephine flicks her finger, signaling she’d like another drink.

“Are you working?” I ask Regina, trying to appear less nervous than I am.

“I think my staff can handle it. Lord knows they’ll come get me if they can’t.” She turns to the server. “Bring out something red. The good stuff.”

“You got it,” he says, nodding at the table before walking away.

The far wall is lined with windows providing a perfect view of downtown Whisper Falls. I watch as people meander and the streetlights flick on. Everything appears calm and quaint, a stark contrast to the emotions I feel rumbling inside. Across the street, I see a person dressed in dark clothing walking toward Nectar with extreme urgency; it’s so opposed to the slow pace of the other walkers. As she comes closer, I see her face and recognition sets in. It’s Helena.

I stand, pushing my chair back. I’m not sure what Helena is doing, but she’s staring right at us and she’s not changing direction. The last thing I need is for her to try and confront Coop here.

“What is it?” asks Regina, irritated I interrupted the toast she was preparing to give.

I stumble through the crowded dining hall, trying to reach the sidewalk before Helena gets close enough to do anything irrational. As I’m exiting the front door, a short man with thick hair stops me. I try to move him out of my way, but he won’t budge. He grabs my shoulders with both hands.

“Are you Madison Sharpe?” he asks.

Hearing my name rescues me from my trance. I no longer see Helena. All I can see is this man standing in front of me, and the badge he holds in his hand.

Fifty-Nine

Helena

Madison spots me from inside the dining room. She rushes away from the table, which only encourages me to pick up my pace. No one, not even her, can stop me this time. I’m about to lift the gun when I see Madison halted on the sidewalk.

I pause long enough to see she’s talking to a member of law enforcement. There’s a slew of officers marching inside Nectar. In a panic, I stuff the gun into my waistband and scurry across the street, ducking behind a trio of people who have stopped in their tracks. My first thought is someone must have reported me, but that doesn’t make any sense. No one knows what I planned for today, and I hadn’t yet shown my gun.

I wait, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. Madison is standing on the sidewalk beside a uniformed officer, her face scanning the crowds gathering on the streets. Maybe she’s looking for me. Then I see him. Cooper Douglas is being escorted out of Nectar by two officers. They usher him to a police car and instruct him to sit in the back seat.

Like everyone else on the sidewalk, I’m staring at the scene in confusion. I’m so caught off guard, I stumble and lean against the brick building behind me. Is this what I think is happening? Is Cooper being arrested? At the very least, questioned? I watch as the remaining members of his family, Josephine and Regina, exit the restaurant. His mother looks distraught while the sister stomps around with her arms flailing. They’re clearly upset and as confused as everyone else.

The car containing Cooper pulls onto Market Avenue and drives away. Madison is being escorted to a second car. Now that the spectacle is over, people resume walking and, I’m sure, talking about what they just witnessed. I’m still leaning against the building, shaken and out of breath. My heart is pumping with adrenaline and excitement. Is Cooper finally being held accountable? Has all my scheming these last few weeks amounted to something?

I take a deep breath and stand upright. I feel the hard barrel of the gun pressed against my gut. The sensation frightens me. I’d come so close to doing the unthinkable, to putting Josephine Douglas through the same pain her son had caused me. I sprint to my car, shoving the gun into the glove compartment. My body exhausted from the range of emotions I’ve just felt, I lean against the steering wheel and cry.

Sixty

Madison

I must look a mess. My fringed dress and heels don’t complement the coat the officers gave me to wear. It’s freezing inside the interrogation room. So different from the warm atmosphere inside Nectar.

A woman walks in. She’s slim with red hair slicked back into a ponytail. She drops a folder onto the table between us and takes a seat. “Madison Sharpe?”

“That’s right,” I say, sinking deeper into the jacket.

“You’re engaged to Cooper Douglas?”

I nod.

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