Page 117 of Darkwater Lane

“The feds aren’t going to give up on finding you. Being on the run isn’t a great life. Take it from someone who lived that life for several years.”

She looks at me with pity. “I’m sure you tried your best, but you ain’t exactly the type to know how to work the system. We knew this day was coming. We’ve been planning how to get out for a while. We’ll be okay. We’re retiring early—gettin’ out of the game. You tell Florida not to worry about us.”

She steps closer and places a hand on mine. Her touch is gentle, but her fingers are calloused and rough. Working hands that have seen tough times and made it through. “We ain’t even, Gwen.” It doesn’t escape my notice that she calls me Gwen. The first time we met, she was relentless in calling me Mrs. Proctor.

I stiffen, waiting for the inevitable threat.

“You taking care of Florida means we owe you one. Say the word, we’ll repay that debt.” She meets my eyes and smiles. “Just think if you’d known us back in the day. We’d have taken care of that Melvin problem of yours right quick.”

She pats my hand, then turns to make her way out of the room. “You be good now, y’hear?”

The moment she’s gone, I swing to check on Sam. He’s stillasleep. He missed the entire confrontation. I’m not even sure he’ll believe me when I tell him.

I’m still marveling at Lilah’s complete about-face several moments later when there’s a knock at the door. At first, I think it might be her returning to tell me she was just kidding and that my family and I have twenty-four hours to leave town or else. Instead, it’s Detective Diakos.

He’s usually so put-together that it’s strange to see him in jeans and a sweatshirt with a Norton Police Department windbreaker. His hair is still windblown from the boat, and there’s a day’s growth of stubble on his jaw.

I wait for him to smile. When he doesn’t, my stomach sinks. His expression has me worried.

“How’s Sam?” he asks.

“Concussion,” I answer succinctly. “He doesn’t remember anything that happened,” I add. I want to make it clear that Sam is in no shape to be interrogated.

He nods. “The doctor said that was a possibility and to give it time. But I’m not here for him.” The implication is that he’s here for me. I steel myself, waiting.

“Some new evidence has come to light,” he says. “I think it’s time we talk.”

31

GWEN

Diakos agrees to wait for me to find a lawyer, and I immediately text Kez for a suggestion since our usual attorney, Claudia, is already representing Sam and can’t represent us both. Thankfully, the woman Kez recommended answers on the second ring, which is how I find myself in an unused hospital conference room with a woman named Victorinne Johnson next to me and Detective Diakos across from me. A small camera sits on a tripod at the end of the table, recording everything.

We go through the night’s events, and I tell him everything, repeating the same story I shared with my new lawyer. Diakos listens, taking notes, and occasionally asking questions. For the most part, though, he just lets me talk.

When I’m done, he finishes writing something in his notebook and then sets his pen on top of the page before sitting back in his chair. He considers me for a moment. I try to hold on to the fact that Kez thinks highly of Diakos and considers him fair and reasonable. He had his doubts about Sam after Leo’s blood was found in the Stillhouse Lake house, but he held off on recommending charges because he knew there wasn’t enough evidence.

He didn’t try to push for a conviction just to increase his numbers. He actually cares about the truth.

Diakos taps his fingers against the table a few times as he seems to consider his next move.

“There’s something you should know,” he finally says.

The tone of his voice causes my stomach to churn with anxiety. I’m not going to like whatever comes next.

He pulls a small recorder from his pocket and places it between us. He presses play. There’s the click of a phone line picking up. The moment I hear the voice, I recognize it from earlier tonight. “911, what’s your?—?”

The emergency operator is cut off by my frantic voice. “Tell Diakos they’re out on Stillhouse Lake. I’m going after them.”

It’s the call I made while chasing after Sam and Madison earlier. In the background, I hear my feet pounding against the old wooden dock. A shiver traces down my spine as I recall the panic I felt in that moment.

“I remember the call,” I tell Diakos. I’m not sure why he feels the need to replay it.

He holds up a hand, indicating I should wait and keep listening.

The 911 operator continues calling out, “Ma’am? Ma’am, are you there? Can you hear me? Ma’am?”

There’s a loud clatter that confuses me at first. Then I remember…I dropped my phone in the boat before jumping in. That’s why I didn’t have it on me when I wanted to call Lanny earlier. At least that means it’s not at the bottom of the lake.

---