Page 100 of The Summer Guests

A whisper: “Yes.”

“Now let’sdoit.”

Light faded to shadow as Susan was dragged outside and down the back steps. She felt the chill of the night air on her face, heard Brooke’sbreathing, labored from the effort. Groaning, she struggled to wrench her hand free.

“She’s waking up!” said Kit.

“It doesn’t matter.Pull.”

The grip around her wrists tightened, as overpowering as steel bands. She was being dragged across the lawn now, dampness from the grass soaking into her blouse. Down the slope they pulled her, closer and closer to the pond. She could hear water lapping against the shore, the creak of the floating dock. Brooke’s breathing had turned harsh, frantic.

Their shoes thumped onto wood.

Panic sent new strength coursing into Susan’s limbs. She fought them, her arms thrashing, feet kicking, but there were two of them, and she was still stunned and half blinded by pain.

With one brutal shove, they tipped her onto her side and rolled her off the dock.

The cold water shocked her fully awake. She splashed to the surface and gasped in a breath of air. Looming above, Brooke and Kit stared down at her, two black cutouts against the background of a starry night sky.

“Please, Kit!” she gasped. “Don’t do this!”

“Hold her down,” Brooke ordered.

Kit remained frozen, crouching at the edge of the dock.

Desperate, Susan reached up to grasp the dock. Began pulling herself up.

“Kit!” his mother ordered, but her son did not move. Brooke stood up, raised her foot, and slammed her shoe down on Susan’s hand.

Susan screamed and lost her grip. Down she went again into the water, so cold. So dark. Once again, she surfaced, took another breath.

Swim away. Get away from them.

Across the pond, lights glowed in Reuben Tarkin’s house. If she could just reach him, if she could scream for his help—

Brooke grabbed her hair and yanked her head back so brutally that Susan’s skull thudded against the dock. She had time for only one last breath before her head was shoved underwater. This she could not fight.The woman forcing her down was as unforgiving as stone, as merciless as the stones that had dragged Jane Doe to her grave at the bottom of the pond. Wildly, Susan clawed at the hands that were holding her underwater, but those hands were unyielding. Her heart thrashed. Her lungs shrieked for air. She could hold her breath no longer.

Zoe. I love you.

She opened her mouth and water rushed into her throat.

Chapter 46

Jo

Somewhere inside the house, a phone was ringing.

Jo paused on the threshold, gazing through the open doorway. That detail alone was alarming, that someone had left the door wide open. More alarming was the red drag mark on the floor.Blood?

“Hello?” she called out. “Susan?”

There was no answer. She stepped into the house, avoiding the blood smear. All the lights were on inside, as if the occupants had just stepped out and would return any minute. She glanced into the kitchen, then made a rapid sweep of the downstairs—living room, bathroom, Elizabeth’s bedroom. No one. She moved to the staircase and saw more blood, at the bottom of the steps.

The phantom phone, wherever it was, had stopped ringing. In the silence, she could hear her own heartbeat whooshing through her ears.

There could be a perfectly innocent explanation for the blood. An accident, perhaps. Someone tumbled down the stairs, slammed their head against the floor, and had to be rushed to the hospital. Such a mishap could happen in any home in America, but ...

Instinctively she drew her weapon. Called out, again: “Susan?”