Page 102 of The House Beyond the Dunes

“No.”

Only someone who was dedicated to Kyle would have been in that closet sealing the floor, painting the walls, and laying down new carpet. A woman who desperately loved a man would go to great lengths to protect his legacy. “All this must be very hard for you. I can’t imagine what it was like to clean up after the fall.”

She sniffs, stabs another piece but doesn’t eat it. “I had to. I couldn’t bear to see Kyle’s blood on the floor. I owed it to him to put things right. He hated it when the house wasn’t perfect.”

“You kept this place going. I bet Kyle never had to worry about cleaning, pest control, plumbing, or a million other things while he was in Norfolk.”

“It takes a lot to maintain a place like this.” A knowing smile tips the edge of her lips. “The earth in these parts does all it can to reclaim what humans think they’ve claimed.”

I think about the thick vines snaking around the woodland house, choking the pilings and climbing toward the first floor. In a couple more years, it will fall in on itself.

There’s a question in Devon’s eyes, but it has nothing to do with maintaining houses. “You’re trying to get at something, Lane, but I’m not sure what it is.”

I force a smile. “I’m not sure, either.” I cut off another bite but find my stomach has soured. “I came here to make peace with what happened, and it’s gotten complicated.”

She shakes her head as she stares. “You came for more than that.”

“I wanted to know Kyle.”

“You never will.” Devon’s brow furrows. “I’m the only one who really knew him—the real him.”

If Kyle had brought Stevie or Nikki up here and killed them, would Devon call the cops or help him bury the bodies? I suspect the latter is true.

“Maybe you should leave today,” she says. “Best to forget about all this and get back to your life. You came, honored Kyle, but you aren’t a part of our world.”

She’s right. I don’t belong here. But I still don’t know what happened to Nikki and Stevie, why there was a rope dangling from the chair at the house, or what stained the closet floor. The questions are piling up. “You might be right,” I lie.

Devon smiles and eats the cake bite. “Maybe I can come see you sometime in Norfolk. On a clear night I can see the lights from the city on the horizon, but I’ve never been there. Silly that it’s so close, but I’ve never bothered to go there.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t visit Kyle.”

A brow arches. “I didn’t fit in that world.”

I try to imagine Devon on the busy streets, skirting dark alleys. “I bet you’d do really well in the city.”

That seems to please her. “Think so? I’m not used to the crowds and people.”

“You’d do just fine. You’re tough and a survivor.”

She smiles. “Kyle used to say I’m a cockroach. Can’t stop me.”

Kyle’s backhanded compliment surely stung a little.

Her head cocks slightly. “I’m not crazy about cities. All the people make my skin crawl. But it could be nice to see those lights up close once.”

“Someday soon.”

Her grin broadens. “I think we could be real good friends, Lane McCord.”

My mouth is dry. “So do I.”

She rises and moves to the sink. She rinses off her plate. “I need to get this place put right.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure I run the dishwasher before I go.” I’ve been doing for myself for so long that having her here, waiting on me, is beyond uncomfortable.

I pull her gently away from the sink. “Please, don’t worry over me.”

“It feels wrong leaving dishes in the sink,” she says.

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