My hands tighten on the wheel. “Someone in Peachvale sent them?”
Clover’s hand flies to her mouth. “Miriam. No, it’s not the same Miriam. It can’t be. Terra’s sister was kind to me. She snuck me food when Terra deprived me.” Her voice wavers. “She was Terra’s right hand. She knew everything that happened in that place.” She shakes her head. “But there’s no way Miriam’s behind this.”
“Well…” Roman takes a deep breath. “Someone did send them from Peachvale. I’m in the process of tracking down specifics, but?—”
“We’ll go there,” I interrupt.
“What?” I can practically hear Roman’s gears moving.
“We’ll go to Peachvale before the compound.”
“Valen, I don’t think—” Clover’s shrinking again. Her voice. Her body. She’s making herself small, and I fucking hate it.
“The house isn’t even standing anymore, V,” Roman says. “I’m staring at Google Maps. It’s just ash.”
“Whoever sent those letters knows something, Valen,” Chief says cautiously.
I nod. “He’s right. Whoever sent them knows about the compound. About Clover. About what happened fourteen years ago. Even if the house isn’t standing, the post office they were mailed from is.” Taking my foot off the accelerator, I glance at Clover. “We need to at least check it out.”
“It could be dangerous,” Roman warns. “I don’t have enough manpower up here yet to scout both the post office and the compound.”
“Everything about this is dangerous,” I reply. “The post office is a public space. We’ll be as safe there as we are anywhere else.”
Roman’s silent for a long moment while I try to get a read on Clover’s reactions. The only sound she’s making is her fingers tapping on the car door.
“Fine. Okay,” Roman says. “I’ll send you the address, but be careful. If cult members are still active?—”
“We will.”
He grunts. “I’ll be in touch.” Then he hangs up.
Clover’s worried gaze slices into me like a million tiny knives. “We’re really going to Peachvale?”
“I can go myself if that makes you more?—”
“No. I…” She swallows. “I want answers too. I want to know who’s doing this. Who’s sending me packages. Who’s trying to…”
“We’ll figure it out,” I promise.
She nods, and when I reach across the empty space between us, I’m thankful she wastes no time resting her palm in mine.
Then we drive in silence while my mind plays every fucked-up what-if scenario it can conjure because Clover in danger is not a scene I ever want to see.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CLOVER
Danville, Vermont looks like it fell out of a postcard.
The town center boasts a gazebo that would makeGilmore Girlsfans swoon, and it’s currently decorated for fall. The most brilliant shades of red and gold leaves glitter in the sun from every direction.
There’s a general store with a porch full of pumpkins and tourists—so many tourists—clogging the two-lane road with their expensive cameras andI Love Vermontsweatshirts.
“Leaf peepers,” Chief explains over my shoulder.
“It’s beautiful.” I turn back to my passenger side window as the scenery rolls past.
“It’s annoying,” Valen mutters, navigating around a family taking pictures in the middle of the street.
