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I found the source of the vibration. An iPad was shoved between two cushions. As I picked it up, I saw three notifications on the lock screen, all my incoming texts to Geneva.

I was holding Geneva’s iPad. I tried to open it, but it was password protected. So she may have her phone with her, but clearly her iPad was logged into her Apple ID.

“Oh, Geneva,” I whispered. “What are you doing?”

I wanted to take the tablet with me. Doing so wouldn’t break any laws. I wasn’t intending to steal it. I slipped it into my purse.

I walked to the desk. I should leave Landon a note at least. The bookshelf loomed beside me. I found myself drawn to it.

I scanned the books. I don’t know what I thought I’d find. The Bells had a complete set of the Encyclopedia Britannica that was probably forty years old. Geneva once told me her parents bought this house from Kevin’s parents. The volumes likely belonged to them.

Most of the rest of the collection contained some Baby Boomer classics. Hardcovers of almost everything James Clavell and Danielle Steel ever wrote. There were textbooks, biographies, and trashy romance novels.

My heart skipped. What did I expect to find? I knew I had this prickling doubt. But there was no copy of The Traveler’s Guide to Oblivion here.

It was time to get out of here. As quietly as I could, I made my way up the stairs, intending to slip out the front door.

I heard a thud. Footsteps. As I slowly turned around, Kevin Bell walked unaided down the hallway. He froze when he saw me.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

My mind raced. He was on his feet. He was caught.

“Where’s Landon?” I asked.

“I sent him to the pharmacy,” Kevin said. “I asked you a question.”

“I was here to ask questions about Geneva,” I said, my voice firm.

“Ask her yourself. She’ll be home any minute.”

Landon was keeping her recent disappearance from his father. I decided not to. I had him off guard.

“When’s the last time you heard from her?” I asked.

“What? This morning.”

Another lie?

“Are you sure about that?” I asked. “Because she hasn’t been returning my calls and she’s not here. Where’s your daughter, Mr. Bell?”

“What have you done?” he shouted, seeming genuinely distressed. “Did you drive her away from me? I knew this was going to happen. I told you to stay away from her.”

“Mr. Bell, the police have information that may lead to a reopening of the Deadwater Lake murder case. Geneva knows about it.”

“The police? You have no idea what you’ve done. Get out. Don’t ever come back here. I’ll get a restraining order against you if I have to. I will not let you bring more pain to Geneva. I told you to stay away from her. If anything happens to her, it’s on your head!”

He didn’t seem to care that I saw him moving with remarkable agility.

“You’re lying to your family,” I said. “What else are you lying about?”

“How dare you!” He shook a finger at me. “Get out of my house. You think I’m afraid of you?”

He lunged at me then. I dodged sideways. He started to come at me again, but to his right, a door slammed shut. Panic colored Kevin’s face. He looked frantically behind him, then slid into his wheelchair. As Landon walked through the kitchen, his father slumped sideways, slipping back into character.

Landon looked from his father to me, clearly confused. “I forgot my wallet,” Landon said. “What’s going on?”

“She’s been harassing me,” Kevin said, feigning breathlessness.