“Neither did I,” I say, staring. “She must have been pregnant with me and Amelia here.”
Rory’s mother, Mara, isn’t in the picture.
On Emmett’s other side, Leo beams, flashing bunny ears behind Emmett’s head like a mischievous kid.
Finally, my gaze fixes on the man on Mom’s right, sticking out his tongue, playful like the others. He’s lankier, no lines across his eyes yet. Boyish. A man who looks far off from the hardened executive he is now.
Harrison Klein.
“Trippy photo,” Rory mutters, sipping his coffee. “They look so happy. So much like us.”
“This tells us they all knew each other.”
“But what does that have to do with Madison?” he asks.
Fair question.
“Maybe it doesn’t.” I shrug.
I don’t recognize the others, all huddled during some community holiday party. But what’s familiar in the image has told me enough. Mom, Harrison, Emmett, Leo, they were all friends. For a long time. Any one of them could be hiding something, or have reason to want her gone.
It feels insane, even to say in my own head. But everything I know about her death leads me to the same ugly conclusion. She was with a mysterious man that night, she took the kayak out in a storm, she drowned in her nightdress. It’s just enough to keep me questioninganyone and everyone in her orbit. While I’m still here, I’ll be damned if I don’t push harder.
A ridiculous idea hits me. A truly stupid thought.
It’s the only option left.
“What if we go to Harrison’s house… and just peek around?” I quietly suggest.
I could wait until 1:00, follow up with Macy. But what if she doesn’t tell me anything? What if she gives me another ambiguous clue? I need a jackpot, a smoking gun.
Rory scoffs, leaning closer. “You want to go inside? You’re seriously suggesting we break in? Just like you think he did to you?”
“I mean… when you put it like that, it sounds like he deserves it.”
“Imogen—”
“I’m kidding,” I cut him off quickly. “We don’t have to goin. Maybe just look around. Peep through the windows.”
“Oh my god,” Rory says, half laughing, half horrified. “You’ve officially lost it.”
“You know there’s nothing else online. We’ve hit a wall.”
“Then let the police do their jobs. You said this morning the cop hadn’t questioned him yet—but planned to. I think they need a little more time.”
“We don’t have time,” I say. “I’m supposed to finish the house today. I’m leaving tomorrow. This is my last shot.”
“Well, good,” he says. “Finish the house and get out of here. It isn’t your job to solve Madison’s case.”
“What about my mom?” I say, a little too loud. “We just connected this guy to two people—one who is missing, the other who’s dead.” I rub my eyes. “Let’s drive over there. And if we don’t see anything, we’ll leave. Then I willactuallydrop this.”
“What do you expect to find?” Rory asks. “Screams coming from his basement? A bloodied knife on his countertop?”
I groan, unsure.
“What if he’s home?” Rory continues. “If you’re right about this guy, it’s not only illegal, but also dangerous.”
I know he’s right. But I don’t let up. “It’s Monday. He’s got to be in the city.”
