My chest tightens in warning. “Are you sure?” In the corner of the room, Dani is fiddling with the lock on Nate’s suitcase. “Dani, honey, leave that alone.”
“I want to watch something.” She yanks at the front pocket zipper, where she knows Nate’s iPad is.
“Can you please give us a minute?”
“No.”
Sighing, I go over to Nate’s suitcase. Put in the passcode, 0925, our wedding anniversary. It doesn’t open.
“That’s weird.” I try again, jiggling the lock. It’s stuck. He’s changed the passcode.
“What?” Daisy asks.
“Nothing,” I respond, staring at it in confusion. Why would he change the passcode?
That’s when I notice something caught in the main zipper of his suitcase: Nate’s running shirt. The thin dry-wick fabric is still damp with sweat. I’m working it free when I notice a dark rusty-brown stain on the sleeve, the color of dried blood.
My hand covers my mouth.
No longer distracted by her phone, Daisy looks up. “What’s that?”
I drop the fabric back into the suitcase. “Nate’s dirty running shirt. It’s nothing.”
I startle as my phone trills through the silence. It’s someone calling from the main house.
My hands are shaking so badly, I can barely hold on to the phone. “Hello?”
“Maya, it’s Margaret. The detectives want to speak with you again.” She lowers her voice. “And I think you should have a lawyer with you this time.”
Chapter Sixty-Two
Naomi
Thursday, May 25, 2023, one day before her death
How has this gone sowrong?My bout of paranoia on the lawn has me freaked out—the stress is really getting to me. My heart is pounding as I pack a suitcase in my room, throwing in only what I need. Ben’s offered to let me stay at his uncle’s place in the city.
I was so sure Marta would come through…but in the end, she must have gotten scared.
After zipping my suitcase, I press my palms to my eyes. I can do this. All I have to do is get on that train.
I’m about to leave when the sound of my phone makes me nearly jump out of my skin. I glance down—it’s Liam. We haven’t spoken since he showed up drunk at my door last week. I should ignore it…I should—
My thumb taps the screen. I feel sick, every cell in my body tense with anger.
“Naomi?” His voice is strange. “Where are you?”
I grit my teeth. “Why? Does Matthew want to know?”
Liam doesn’t reply. I imagine his jaw working as he paces in his room. “Listen to me. I need you to—”
“Don’t do this.”
“Where are you? Are you home?”
“I’m leaving. Goodbye, Liam.”
“Wait.” His voice is urgent. I hear him opening a door. Running down the stairs. “Listen to me—you have to be careful. They knoweverything. They’re coming for you.” He’s breathing hard. Running. “Stay where you are. I’ll be there in a minute.”
