Page 88 of Darkwater Lane

I sidestep the question. “I’m going next door for a minute to talkto Madison about something. Connor’s still asleep. Will you be okay here alone?”

She rolls her eyes. “We’ll be fine, Mom.”

Still, I make sure to arm the alarm before leaving. Then I stomp up the hill toward Madison’s rental, my fists clenched. I pound on the door angrily, not stopping until it opens.

Madison stands on the threshold, eyes wide with alarm. “Gwen, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“Did you know she would be here?” I demand.

She frowns at me, confused. “Who?”

“Rowan Applegate. She’s in Stillhouse Lake. She ambushed me on my run yesterday. She knew exactly where to find me and when, as if someone had been keeping tabs on me for her.”

“Rowan’s here?”

I cross my arms. “Have you been spying on me for her?”

She shakes her head. “No. I wouldn’t do that to you. I swear,” she protests. “I wouldn’t betray you like that.”

Her cheeks are slightly flushed, her eyes bright. She appears genuinely confused and upset. She’s so good at coming across as earnest. The question is: Can I trust her?

My gut tells me she’s telling the truth. But my brain still isn’t convinced.

She must sense my hesitation. “Gwen, I promise you. I’m not working with Rowan.”

I say nothing, still unsure.

“You said she ambushed you,” she presses. “What happened?”

I still have the podcast teaser queued up on my phone, so I hold it out and press play. Rowan’s voice comes out tinny and small. I clench my teeth as she talks, rage pouring through me all over again.

Madison’s lips part in shock as she listens. “Gosh, Gwen. Is all of that true? Is someone attacking your enemies?”

“You mean, amIattacking my enemies?”

She rolls her eyes, and for a split second, I’m reminded of Lanny doing the same in my kitchen earlier when I asked if she’d be okay home alone. “I know it’s not you, Gwen,” she says, her tone of voice the same as my daughter’s, as if she can’t believe I’d even ask the question.

“You’re probably the only one.”

She clears her throat and glances out at the lake. “Is Sam…I mean, I know he’s a person of interest in the Varrus case. And if that’s connected to the others…have they taken him in for questioning?” She asks the question hesitantly, clearly remembering that her accusations against Sam caused me to storm out earlier.

“No,” I say curtly. “He didn’t do this.”

She’s smart enough not to press the issue. “Do they have any other suspects?”

I shake my head. “That’s why I want you to tell me everything you know about Rowan.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “You think she might be behind this?”

“I think she’s one of a long line of Lost Angels who would do anything to take me down—either directly or indirectly through Sam.”

She blows out a breath. “Okay. You want to come inside?”

I look toward my house. “No thanks. I’m still riled up from the podcast. The cool air helps.” Which isn’t a lie. But the truth is that I still don’t trust Madison completely and am not interested in being trapped in a house with her. Especially since I stormed up here before grabbing a firearm. Plus, I have a better view of my house from out here, which makes it easier to keep tabs on Lanny and Connor.

She nods and steps out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. I note that she seems to have finally gotten the memo about how to dress for winter in the mountains. She’s wearing black, lined canvas pants and a black wool turtleneck. Her hair is heldback by a black fleece headband, and I notice a leaf stuck in her braid.

She thinks for a moment before saying, “Rowan can be a bit?—”