Page 36 of Where the Darkness Goes

“Do you…want me to tell you differently?”

“I want you to do whatever you want.” She blinks up at me, waiting.

“I—”

“Yo!” Will’s voice cuts through the night, and I don’t know whether to hate him or thank him. “Get inside.”

Something’s wrong.

“Give us a minute, Will,” Tessa begs.

He rounds the house, barefoot and holding his phone to his ear. “It’s Mom, Tessa. Someone else died. Emily.” Even in the darkness, I know he’s looking at me as he says her name. “Emily Gray was just found dead.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TESSA — PRESENT DAY

The next day, I lie in bed for far too long trying to convince myself last night never happened. Staying in this house and in this town is dangerous, and not just because of the killer who may or may not be on the loose. Staying here with Garrett feels like scraping open an old wound with my fingernails and digging deep within it, pulling out my insides and laying them on the table for examination.

I thought we were over this. I thought everything that happened between us was in the past, and we were evolved adults who had moved on, but after last night, I don’t know where my head is.

I can’t explain what happened to me other than to say I had a momentary lapse of sanity. All I know is that I’m relieved I left when I did, before things went too far.

Garrett is already at work, so I can dwell on it in silence while I have my morning coffee and create a plan for the day. I still don’t have my car back, though I need to check on it soon. Without a car, I can’t visit Mom yet, but Britney’s parents’ house is within walking distance of Will’s, so that’s where I’ll go.

When I arrive, the house is just like I remember it. A well-preserved tudor with a cobblestone circle drive and wrought-iron fence. There are a few people standing outside, and at first, I assume it must be Britney’s parents, but I soon realize I’m wrong. Of course I’m wrong.

The weight of that is agonizing—the ripping away of a reality in such a brutal manner I know it will never exist in my mind again. There wasbefore, when I knew they were gone but hadn’t had to experience their absence, andnow, when it’s front and center and unescapable.

Britney’s parents died a few years ago within months of each other. In a cruel twist of fate, cancer took them both just before they could meet their first grandchild.

Nearly to the house, I spot the cop car parked next to the overgrown shrub in the center of the driveway. From this distance it’s easy to recognize that the woman talking to the officer is Kristy. Her sunshine hair and delicate features mean she looks so much like Britney, but they were always inches apart in height.

At once, whether it’s because I’ve caught their attention or inadvertently made a sound, both the officer and Kristy turn their heads toward me.

It takes a second for recognition to register on Kristy’s face, but eventually it does. “Oh my gosh!” She rushes over to open the gate, and I can see now there are tears staining her cheeks. “It’s like you can sense when I need you most.” She throws both arms around my shoulders, collapsing into our hug. When she pulls back, she dries her eyes, sniffling. “What are you doing here?”

“I was coming to talk to you, actually,” I say, looking up at the officer. When I do, my heart skitters to a stop. I hadn’t recognized him from afar, but now, up close, it’s obvious. Even though it has been a few years since I last saw him, it couldn’t be anyone else.

“Sorry, we’re just finishing up.” Kristy waves toward him, noticing me staring. “Tessa, do you know?—”

“Brendan.” I nod, jaw slack.

He looks equally shocked to see me, but eventually he shakes his head as if to clear the fog and steps forward, outstretching his arm for a hug. “Tessa. Wow. I heard you were back in town.”

I lean into his hug briefly. “Yeah. For the funeral.”

“Right.” He folds his hands in front of him, looking back up at the house. “It’s awful. Britney was… It isn’t right. She was one of the good ones.”

“Have you got any leads?” I ask, probably overstepping, but it’s hard to feel the boundary with Brendan when we were once a bit more than intertwined.

“We’re following up on some things.” He gives me a wary look, then bounces his gaze to Kristy. “I’ll leave you two so you can talk.” He’s hesitant. “If you need anything…”

“I’ll call,” Kristy agrees. “Yeah, of course. Thanks again, Brendan.”

With that, he takes a step back, one hand in the air. “You guys be safe, okay? It was good to see you, Tessa.”

“You too.” He’s grown up well. Somehow, as he matured, he’s even more handsome than before. There’s a sad sort of nostalgia between us now. Not necessarily regret, but wonder. Did I make the right choice back then? Was there even a choice to make?

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