But Millie wasn’t so sure.
Sissy cleared her throat. “I know this is probably an awkward time to bring this up. But it’s been on my mind, and I keep making excuses about why I don’t want to say it.”
“You can say anything you need,” Naomi said.
Sissy looked at Millie. “You probably know I told the sheriff about seeing you in the office. I just want to say that I’m sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to snitch.”
Millie’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t blame you. I shouldn’t have been in the office. See something, say something, right?
“I guess. I’ve just felt bad about it ever since.”
“Don’t. I understand.”
Sissy nodded, seemingly appeased.
Millie stared at her plate, her mind spinning. That had been unexpected. But she was glad Sissy had gotten that off her mind.
Her thoughts shifted back to the mysteries here at the refuge. She thought through the pieces of the puzzle that refused to fit together.
Could Valentina really be behind all of this?
It seemed obvious on the surface. Fake ID. Mysterious disappearance. A dead PI in the woods.
But the more Millie thought about it, the less sense it made that this was connected to Garrick.
Had Garrick somehow gotten Valentina to come here and spy on her? Was that even possible? How would he have known where she was?
And if Valentinawasworking for Garrick, why would she kill the PI in the woods?
Millie had assumed Garrick hired the PI. But if the PI was working for Garrick, and Valentina was also working for Garrick, why would Valentina kill him?
It didn’t make sense.
Unless the PI wasn’t working for Garrick at all.
Unless Valentina wasn’t either.
Millie’s head throbbed.
The pieces didn’t click together. There were gaps of missing information. Something she wasn’t seeing.
She glanced around the table. At Sissy, pale and trembling. At Naomi, trying so hard to hold everyone together. At Max, silent and watchful. At Caleb, with his jaw tight and his gaze continually drifting toward the windows.
Someone in this house—or someone who’d been in this house—knew more than they were saying.
And Millie had a sinking feeling that time was running out.
The next morning, Caleb busied himself with the normal chores. But throughout everything he did, his entire body felt tense.
He was ready to act if necessary. He had no choice but to be prepared.
Because he had no idea what might be coming.
So far, there were no updates on who was behind everything that had happened. But a bad feeling brewed in his gut.
He finished his morning tasks and went inside, hoping to avoid Millie—while at the same time partly hoping he would see her.
He hated his conflicting feelings. But he also knew distance was the safest option—no matter how hard that might be.
