Page 20

O nce again, my fingers twitched, ready to grab hold of my gun.

But grabbing it was unnecessary. It was only a girl.

Her skin was deep brown, and she had a buzz cut.

She wore glasses and looked so thin it seemed she was malnourished.

Her feet were bare and wet as she approached me with a wide smile.

She couldn’t have been any older than sixteen or seventeen.

“Hey—oh, sorry!” She glanced at the gun holster attached to my hip, throwing her hands up. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” She shifted on her feet like she was ready to bolt. Clearly, I was the dangerous one to her.

“That’s alright.” I forced a smile at her and cocked my hip left a bit, so the gun wasn’t as threatening.

She forced a smile back at me, glancing at the gun again. “You know, it’s smart to carry these days. You just never know sometimes. I want one when I’m older.”

I pressed my lips together.

She focused on the lake again. “It probably looks weird that I’m just sitting out here while it’s all gloomy looking. Like the start of a horror movie or something, right?” She giggled.

“No, that’s your business.” I laughed. “It’s none of mine.”

“I’ve never seen you around here before. Are you renting the cottage?” she asked. “Twilight Oaks?”

I nodded. “I am.”

“So, you’re Rose, then.”

I hesitated and it took everything in me not to frown. “How do you know that?”

“I saw your name in the confirmation emails. Nothing weird or anything!” She threw her hands in the air, feigning innocence. “I live with Alex. He’s the one who rents the place out. We stay in the blue house along the main path.”

“Oh, okay!” I lowered my guard. So, Alex Reed lived in that house. Interesting. “That makes sense. What are you doing all the way over here?”

“I dunno. Just wanted to take a walk. Needed some air. Things have been weird at home. When it gets like that, I like putting my feet in the water and pretending I’m on vacation or something.” She gave me an uneasy smile. I sensed that wasn’t all she wanted to say.

I waited to see if she’d provide more.

She twisted her fingers in front of her, chewing on her bottom lip instead, like she knew better than to keep talking.

“I understand.” I paused. “I have a question for you. Hopefully you can help me out.”

“Sure!”

“Did you happen to run into the person who rented the cottage before me, by any chance?”

“Oh. Um . . .” She avoided my eyes and stared at the grass. “I don’t think so.”

It was obvious she was lying.

“It’s just . . .” I lifted my phone and swiped to unlock it. I scrolled through my photos until I found the most recent image of me and Eve. “This is my friend Eve. She was staying here for a few days.”

The girl stared at the picture for a lengthy amount of time. Her face seemed go pale. After ten more seconds, I wasn’t sure if she’d gotten lost in thought or what. Finally, her eyes swooped up to mine and she shook her head. “I don’t remember seeing her.”

“Okay.” I pulled my phone away with a defeated sigh.

“I do remember seeing her name when she booked though,” she tossed in. “I help Alex clean the cottage sometimes and with the background work.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“Thanks. Anyway, I should get back. They don’t like me being gone for too long, especially on days when I have an appointment.”

“Appointment?” I repeated.

“Oh—um, yes. I had leukemia.”

“Oh . . . I’m so sorry,” I murmured.

“But I’m in remission now, so yay! You shouldn’t be sorry. It’s not your fault it happened,” she chimed, as bubbly as ever. “I guess God just hates me.”

I gasped. “No. Don’t say that. He doesn’t hate you.”

“Then why would He allow me or anyone else to be diagnosed with a disease that can end a life at any given moment?” She stared at me with her deep brown eyes, tears accumulating at the rims.

I wanted to hug her. She looked like she needed a hug, but I didn’t know her, so I kept still.

She sniffed. Blinked the tears away. “I’m Rory, by the way.” Another one of her smiles appeared, despite the sheen in her eyes. “I would shake your hand but my immune system sucks ass right now.”

Poor baby. Smiling through the heartache.

“It’s nice to meet you, Rory.”

“Hey, maybe while you’re here I can bring you some of my brownies. My brothers love them. Is it okay to bring some tonight?”

“Yeah, of course. That’s really nice of you.” And a perk for me. If she swung by, I could ask her more questions. I could get her to spill the truth. She had to know something about Eve. She had to have seen her at least once.

“Great! I can’t wait for you to taste them! See you soon!”

I smiled at her as she twisted around to walk off. As she drifted away, swallowed in mist, I couldn’t help thinking how odd the encounter was to begin with. What was a girl who’d been sick with cancer doing outside alone?

I tilted my gaze and noticed the house across from the cottage was several yards away now.

It was stark white with black trimmings.

Massive windows took over the back side of the home, likely giving the owners a crystal-clear view of the lake.

I hadn’t realized it before, but there was another house on this side of Lake Aquilla too.

It was deeper within the trees, making it much harder to see from a distance.

There weren’t any lights on inside that one.

It seemed so small compared to the white one.

Someone walked along the dock in front of the white house to reach a boat. I made my way in their direction and didn’t slow down until I found a set of stairs that led to the wooden platform. Leaves were scattered around, the wood slick and wet. It smelled like salt and fish.

As I moseyed along, I found where the fishy scent was coming from. An open cooler with four fish lay across ice. Fresh catch?

A man was on the boat, bent over and searching for something.

“Uh—hi! Excuse me!” I called, keeping a safe distance.

The man jerked backwards but ended up slamming his head into the seat above. “Ow. Damn it!” he yelled, wrenching himself out and clutching the back of his head.

“Oh. Yikes,” I cried, pressing a hand to my mouth.

He scowled as he looked my way. Then his face relaxed as curiosity stole its place.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I held out both hands as if apologizing with them. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” The man stood. He was a few inches taller than me, light brown skin, hazel eyes, and neatly cut hair. He wore a button-down polo shirt and jeans with a pair of Sperrys. I wanted to say he was in his late forties or so.

“Uh, who are you?” he asked, still rubbing his head.

“I’m Rose Ho—Gibson. Rose Gibson.” I smiled wider as he gave me a funny look. “Sorry. Just um . . . going through a stupid divorce and still getting used to not using his name.”

He stepped off the boat with a nod. “I understand that. Marriage is tricky sometimes.”

“Ha. Yeah, it is.” I glanced over my shoulder at his house. Up close, I could see more of the details. The table on the patio. Sliding doors. Fancy pendant lights in the kitchen. A slide and swing set was off to the left, along with a sand pit.

My eyes swooped right, to the darker house tucked deeper within the trees. The lights were now on in one of the downstairs windows. If I wasn’t mistaken, the curtains shifted, like someone had been watching but let them drop when I looked.

“So, uh, what can I help you with?” the man asked, wiping his hands on his pants.

“Right.” I whipped out my phone again and turned the screen his way. “I’m just going around the neighborhood and hoping someone can help me. Have you seen this woman?”

He studied Eve’s picture, looking down his nose at it. “Hmm . . . no. Can’t say that I have. Why? Who is she?”

“Her name’s Eve.” I lowered my arm. “She stayed in the cottage across the lake from here.”

“Oh—the rental?” he asked, then scoffed.

“What?” I gave a wary laugh.

“Nothing. It’s just the boys who own that rental. Don’t like ’em.”

“Why not?”

The man peered over his shoulder like someone was around who could hear.

“Long story. Would you like something to drink?” he asked. “I’ll have to bring it outside. My daughter is napping right now.”

“Um . . . sure. That would be nice. Water, please.”

“Of course. I’m Eddie, by the way. Be right back.”