Page 55 of Darkwater Lane

“Any indication she was working to help Varrus stay off-grid?”

“None that I could find. But, like I said, she’s pretty good. If anyone can cover their tracks, it’s her.”

“What about her working with Madison? Any evidence of them having a relationship outside of the podcast?”

“Negative on that as well. Though I did find something else. The executor of Leonard Varrus’s estate opened probate a few days ago and filed his will.”

I hold my breath, pretty sure I know what’s coming.

“Varrus left his entire estate to Rowan Applegate. She now controls everything involving the Lost Angels.”

“Given that Varrus was the beneficiary of Miranda Tidewell’s estate, he likely left behind a fair amount of assets. I’m guessing the Lost Angels aren’t hurting for money—not that they ever were.”

“She’s also vowed to continue his mission, which essentially means continuing what Miranda started a few years ago.”

“Let me guess, exposing me as the murdering woman I am and the mastermind behind Melvin Royal’s crimes?”

“Pretty much. Except they don’t refer to you aswoman. They use a bit more colorful language when describing you.”

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose, hoping to stave off the headache I feel threatening. I knew this was the likely outcome of Taylor’s investigation, but I still hoped maybe things weren’t as bad as I thought. If Rowan is as rabid as Miranda and Leo, no amount of reason is going to stop her.

I suddenly feel exhausted. You knock down one, and another comes along. First Miranda, then Leo, now Rowan. If we find a way to get rid of her, someone else will just take her place. It seems the supply of Melvin’s victims is unending.

“Did you happen to find any weaknesses? Skeletons in the closet? Something I can use to defuse her anger?”

“She’s got two kids. She’s militant about keeping them offline—no social media accounts, no photos online anywhere.”

I snort. Good luck with that. I was the same way with Lanny and Connor when we were on the run from Melvin. They chafed at those rules for a long time, but now I can’t remember the last time Lanny asked me for permission to set up an account on whatever social media site was trending at the time.

Probably because she already did.

“So, Rowan’s kids aren’t online. Know anything more about them?”

There’s a slight hesitation before Taylor answers the question. “They’re eighteen and fifteen. A girl and a boy.”

It’s like a punch to the gut. Almost exactly the same ages as Lanny and Connor. If we lived in the same neighborhood, our kids would go to the same school. Be in the same class. We’d have run into each other at PTA meetings and the after-school pickup line. We might have even become friends, grabbing coffee after drop-off and sending texts about the latest deals at the grocery store.

That is, if my ex-husband hadn’t murdered her sister.

Now, I understand the reason for Taylor’s hesitation. Realizing how much Rowan and I have in common hits a little too close to home. “Maybe I need to appeal to her mother to mother.”

“I’m not sure about that. If you bring up her kids, she might view that as a threat.”

Fuck, Taylor’s probably right. “Any chance you can check her whereabouts the night of Varrus’s murder?”

“Already done, my friend. The only activity I could find on anyof her credit cards was a charge for $30.47 at a gas station in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee.”

“You’re making that name up.”

“Promise you I’m not.”

“So, what’s the significance of her getting gas in Soddy-Daisy?”

“It’s about two hours north of Atlanta and two hours south of Knoxville.”

My heart skips a beat. “Rowan lives in Atlanta.”

I can hear the smile in Taylor’s voice when she says, “That she does.”

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