“Where is she?!”
That scream. That voice. I’ve heard it on numerous occasions. When I’m traveling, booking events or deals, and even when I have no one else to talk to on nights when stress from my family boils over and spills into my personal life. When I found out my husband was having an affair, I felt the most alone during nights when I just wanted to disappear into thin air—a shoulder to cry and laugh on.
It’s Maya.
I take off sprinting toward Merelyn’s with the shovel gripped tightly in my palm. Nostrils flaring, fists clenched, every step is harsh and purposeful as my heart chips and my world spins with a thousand questions swirling around Gavin’s true identity.
How could he do this? Was all of this planned?
I burst through the door to find a horrific scene. I immediately feel sick to my stomach as bile rises in my throat, burning it with its acidity. I can’t remember the last time I ate. I’m about to puke at the sight of Georgia dead on the ground with Maya pointing a gun at Gavin’s head and Gavin doing the same to her. I instinctively put myself between them, attempting to protect them from each other.
Georgia is lying in a puddle of what seems to be her own blood, staining her clothes and wooden floors.
It’s dark, cold, and grim. The air feels dense and unbreathable as the two face off. The feelings I have for Gavin are still very much present, even though I’m internally battling with the truth and spiraling thoughts. I hate that they’re both pointing the gun at each other. I can’t speak or talk, but only blink as I freeze with fear.
“Maya! What is going on?!” I clip coldly, holding up the shovel over my shoulder. I rush in between them.
“I came here to save you! Do you know who this man is?” She scowls, keeping her eyes on Gavin while blood leaks down her lips.
“Put the fucking gun down, or I’ll kill you,” Gavin threatens.
Maya huffs, shaking her head.
“Did you know he was arrested for being The Sleepy Coldwater Copycat Serial Killer? Everyone in this town stays away from him.”
I turn to Gavin, tucking the past few weeks away, pushing my personal feelings aside, but it aches.
“I took the first flight over here after I heard the crash while we were talking on the phone. I’ve been looking for you. Your family is worried, your supporters! I tried to get to you, but then an avalanche occurred and blocked the roads, making it harder to reach you.”
My whole body trembles as I stand in the middle of them.
“Wait, how do you know about all of that, Maya?”
“I come to Sleepy Coldwater a lot. My family lives here, remember?!”
Still with my palm aimed at her barrel, I stiffen.
I believe her. She did say something like that when she booked this place for me.
“Cora.” His tone was like a warning. My head snaps toward him, my heart still breaking from what I saw in the shed. “Don’t listen to her, sweetheart.”
His voice softens for me. My chin wobbles from the tension. I blink at him as he continues to point his gun at Maya. I don’t care if I’m putting myself at risk by using my body as their shield. There has to be a way to get out of this without someone dying today.
“You have all of my art,” I squeak out, my voice tremoring. I point to the backyard with my finger, but Gavin continues to stay trained on Maya. I know he knows the direction I’m pointing at. “The art from my last viewing and from the event. Are you the one who has been anonymously buying all of it?”
My head feels light as a feather as I watch him. What I saw in that shed in the back contradicts the trust we’ve formed.
“You’re the one who’s been sending me those text messages? The person who ran me off the road?” I yell, walking backwards. He flicks an unrecognizable gaze my way. His expression is full of turmoil and sadness.
“Cora. Listen to me and drop the shovel. Get away from that woman!” he demands, but his orders slip through one ear and out the other, keeping my feet planted to the ground.Locking my knees, I shake my head as a rock in my throat forms.
“Answer me,” I insist as I walk toward Maya. I keep my front facing Gavin, and my back to Maya.
“I trusted you, Gavin!” I cry out, my voice breaking. I glance at the blood seeping out of Georgia.
Who hurt Georgia?
“You can still trust me.”
