Page 92 of Darkwater Lane

“I had a flat,” he says. “There was debris on one of the back roads and I got a nail in my tire when I tried to drive around it.”

There’s more than just a flat tire that’s weighing on him. “Are you okay?”

He shucks off his jacket and toes off his muddy boots, leaving both by the door. “I’m just tired. I feel like the past several yearshave been spent lurching from one crisis to another. My sister’s death, Melvin’s trial, Lancel Graham, Miranda Tidewell, Father Tom and the Assembly of Saints, Jonathan Watson, Leo Varrus. I’m ready for it to end. I’m ready to turn the page and start a fresh chapter—preferably one that’s in a rom-com rather than a thriller.” He attempts a smile.

I laugh, and the tension around his eyes eases somewhat. “How about you?” he asks. “How was your day?”

How in the world am I supposed to tell him that I spent a large part of it reminding myself that he’s not a serial killer like my ex-husband?

“Fine,” I tell him. I wince when I realize I sound like Connor.

“Actually, it wasn’t fine,” I amend. “It was pretty terrible. Rowan released a teaser for her next episode, where she basically accuses me of being a serial killer. I confronted Madison about it, thinking she might have double-crossed me and be back working with Rowan. She professed her innocence, though she did ask whether the cops had paid us a visit to talk to you.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but I hold up a hand to keep him from interrupting.

“Then, apparently, there was a fire at the Belldene compound that turned into some sort of massive raid by the feds. Lanny asked me to help her rescue Florida—they’re an item, by the way. Have been for a while. Florida’s staying with us for now—she’s on an air mattress on the floor in Lanny’s room. There’s a manhunt for the rest of her family, and I’ve already called Claudia to see if she or another lawyer in her office can represent Florida.

“So, yeah. My day was fine.”

He blinks at me, then sinks onto the couch. “Damn. I missed a lot.”

I laugh. “Yeah, you missed a lot.”

He considers everything I told him for a moment. “TheBelldenes, huh? Guess that should take them out of commission for a while. Maybe distract them from coming after us. So that’s good.”

“For now. Apparently, there’s a rumor that we’re the ones who tipped off the authorities and caused the raid.”

He lets his head fall onto the back of the couch. “Shit.”

I nod. “Exactly.” I frown at him, remembering his rage the night of the swatting and his pledge to find a way to put an end to the Belldenes threatening us. “We’re not the ones who tipped off the authorities, right?”

His eyebrows raise. “You think I called the feds on the Belldenes?”

I lift a shoulder. “Maybe.”

“That doesn’t bode well for my defense against all the Sicko Patrol murders if I can’t even convince my own partner of my innocence.”

I notice he doesn’t deny it. I decide not to pry. Maybe there are some things I don’t want to know.

25

GWEN

The next morning, Sam’s in the shower and I’m at work in my office when there’s a brisk knock on the door. I grab my phone to pull up the security feed and notice I have a missed call from Kez. I make a note to call her back and check the doorbell camera.

It’s two Norton police officers—one uniformed and one wearing khakis and a blazer. I recognize the latter: Detective Andreas Diakos. He replaced Prester after he passed away, and Kez has always had good things to say about him. Apparently, he’s eager and smart but also has integrity and a sense of fairness.

Because Kez recused herself, Diakos was the one to take the lead and interrogate Sam after they discovered all the blood in our house several months ago. I’d met him a couple of times during the investigation. He’d always been perfectly pleasant, but it’s hard not to be wary of a man who was on the verge of accusing your partner of murder.

I hesitate, wondering if maybe they’re here about the swatting incident the other night. The uniformed officer knocks again, a little louder. I glance at the closed doors to Lanny’s and Connor’s rooms. The last thing I want is for the police to wake them up.Especially Connor—I’m still not sure if he’s fully recovered from the swatting.

I move to quickly disarm the alarm, throw the locks, and open the door.

Diakos’s smile is instantaneous. “Ms. Proctor, lovely to see you again.” He’s young, his hair thick and dark, and he has a dimple that pops when he grins. He’s so disarming that I have to remind myself to keep my guard up.

“Detective Diakos, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced. Do you have a moment to talk?”

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