Page 108 of Finish Line

“Roger had a video running while she was down in the basement. He used the footage to make still shots and printed them out, leaving them in an envelope addressed to Shelby,” Nick says.

Dom stops Mav from shuffling the photos. “There are photos of her in Hawaii.”

Dom holds a picture of me on the deck, staring at the ocean.

I didn’t make it far in the stack before my panic attack hit.

“I knew someone was watching me,” I mumble.

“Son of a bitch!” Luke exclaims. “She’s not safe here. He’s taking photos of her here, too.” Luke throws a photo on the table taken from the woods behind this house, showing me in my bedroom.

Luke’s phone goes off. He pulls out his phone and answers. “Hey, Mom. Whoa, slow down…” The color drains from his face. “I’ll be right over.”

My heart rate picks up again. Oh please, don’t let something bad have happened to his family. They have been through so much already.

I climb off Cam’s lap. “What’s wrong?”

“My parents received a photo. I need to go home.” He walks toward his house.

“I’m coming with you.” I follow him.

Please don’t let the Masons have a photo of my time in the basement.

“We’re coming, too,” Mav says.

We run up the street and into Luke’s house. Henry’s trying to comfort Clara, who’s distraught.

“Mom,” Luke says as he walks into the living room.

“Oh, Luke, why would someone do this?” Lifting her head from her husband’s chest, she scans the room, wipes her tears, and switches to hostess mode. “Oh, everyone is here. Can I get anyone something to drink?”

“Clara, we’re fine. What’s going on?” I sit next to her and put my arm around her shoulders.

“I walked out to collect the mail and found this by our door. When I opened it… Well, look for yourselves.” She hands me a photo of a young lady out in the yard.

“Lea.” Luke trembles in his seat on the arm of the couch next to me.

“You don’t know that, Son.” Henry rubs Clara’s back.

Clara nods and wipes her nose with a tissue that Cam passes to her.

Feeling the need to look at the photo for any clue, I flip it over and find a message written on the back. Stay away from her. If you don’t, I’ll send your sister back piece by piece.

“Roger,” I breathe out.

“Nick, I need you to find Lea.” Luke takes the photo from me, then passes it to Nick.

“I’m on it.” Nick leaves and runs back down the street to his house.

“What does that mean, ‘stay away from her’? From whom? Lea?” his mom asks.

“It’s my fault, Clara.” Needing to distance myself, I walk over to the living room window and gaze outside as I give her a brief rundown on Roger.

Behind me, heels click against the wood floor.

“Mom,” Luke says, a note of worry in his voice.

I turn and brace myself for her anger.

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