I press my palm flat against the glass and force myself to breathe.
They told me they had dark pasts. Dangerous things back there, and I nodded like I understood what they meant, as if Iwas ready for it. But this feels different standing here now, heart pounding, thinking about a hidden basement and knives and three masks that weren’t for parties.
I tell myself not to panic because I’m doing what I always do when I’m scared—taking scraps and building the worst version of the story out of them. They warned me. They didn’t lie. And still, my thoughts are running too fast, because this house has been starting to feel safe, and now I’m standing here wondering what kind of men I’ve really been sleeping beside.
I take my hand off the glass and head to the couch, where I grab my phone and open my messages with Clio.
Can you talk?I type.
The reply comes in under a minute:At the shop. Boss breathing down my neck. Two minutes?
She has a second job at a tourist gift shop, and I didn’t realize she was working today.Please.
My phone rings.
I answer on the second ring. “Hi.”
“Hey, you okay? Everything okay?”
“I want to chat but not on the phone. Are you free after work?”
“Tonight’s the mystery murder club. Come join us and we can talk? We’re doing it at Aura’s shop. More space. She’s closing up late. Eight o’clock. Come at seven, and we can actually talk.”
“Perfect.”
“Adelaide. What is it?”
I take a breath, glance out at the ocean. The three dark figures are riding the swell, and my pulse is speeding. “I found something.”
“Okay.”
“In the house. A door I didn’t know about leading to a private basement.” I stop. “And weapons. Like, lots of knives. And masks. Clio, tell me I’ve overthinking this.”
She’s very quiet.
“Is there any chance you’re being paranoid,” she asks carefully.
“Yes. A huge chance. But better to be careful too. The masks could be for anything. It could all be for anything.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I’m nibbling on the corner of my lower lip, my free hand twirling nervously in my hair. “But I had to tell someone. I need to work it out with you on what it could mean. If I’m safe.”
“They haven’t hurt you, have they? Raised their voices?” she asks.
“God no, they’ve treated me so delicately and also…”
“Oh, Adelaide, you had sex with them, didn’t you?”
I exhale loudly. “It’s close to impossible to ignore them, and they behave as though I’m their goddess. I will never be able to be with another man again.”
“Okay, rein it in and let’s try to be logical about this, as your safety is priority. Come early tonight, and we’ll talk it through properly. Yeah?”
“Yes, please.”
“And remember Dexter is safe if you’re not a bad guy,” she suddenly says.
I almost laugh.
