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It wasall Claire could do not to abandon Jake mid-sentence, but that would make her look even more suspicious. She couldn’t believe she’d slipped up. Mentioning the decapitation was a mistake. One Jake hadn’t missed.

She’d seen the change. The slightest narrowing of his sharp blue gaze. The ever so slight tilt of his head, the way his voice tightened, choosing each word more carefully than before.

There were benefits to knowing someone as well as she knew Jake, and Claire hated that she was using it against him. But she knew she wouldn’t have another chance.

That’s why she hadn’t wasted time. Why she didn’t look back.

She’d simply pulled on a black sweatshirt and baseball hat before letting muscle memory guide her soundlessly out into the night. Now, miles away from the warmth and safety of Dana’s home, Claire found herself wishing she’d had another alternative. But Betty was quick to remind her, they were out of options.

Claire looked at the clock on the wall of the coffee shop. It matched the time on her phone. Which confirmed that Betty was late. Claire took another sip of her coffee, but it did nothing to keep the chill from creeping up her spine. Something was wrong.

Betty knew the stakes, and still she’d insisted Claire meet her here. For her not to show up … Claire didn’t like to think about what could be preventing her friend from making this meeting.

“Where are you?” Claire pressed send on the message, willing a response to appear.

The silence that answered was deafening. Everything inside Claire was telling her to leave. But it was too late. By now, Jake would’ve discovered she was gone. She’d broken his trust. It couldn’t be for nothing.

Claire finished her coffee, forcing herself to stay put. The only reason she’d come tonight was because of Max. If there was a chance she could help him, she would. She owed him that much. But as the minutes ticked by, she knew the window was closing.

Jake would send the calvary soon. Then Claire wouldn’t be able to help anyone.