Page 40 of See How They Hide

He loved their home and community. He didn’t want to leave Fort Collins. Maybe they wouldn’t have to. He had to hold out hope that this was all a mistake, that it was a false alarm.

He and Andrew had built a nice life here in the six years since they escaped Havenwood. Comfortable. Happy. He liked his job at the nursery—he had a gift for working with plants. All those years tending to the Havenwood greenhouse had paid off. They didn’t make a lot of money, but that was okay—they owned the house outright, thanks to Thalia and Chris, and they lived frugally. They didn’t need a lot. They had no desire to travel and had simple, inexpensive tastes. They loved peace and quiet.

Peace.

Havenwood was supposed to be peaceful, but it was hell. Looking in, you wouldn’t know it. You’d think,Oh, what nice people! Just old hippies taking care of their families, living off the land.

Looks were deceiving.

He hated Riley for bringing back the memories. He’d had nightmares last night, woke up in a cold sweat. Wished Andrew was there, but Andrew had gone withher.

He talked to Andrew when he was driving to work, as he and Riley were getting ready to leave for Jesse’s house in South Fork, but Donovan knew better than to beg him to come home. Andrew’s duty and honor wouldn’t allow it, and then they’d both be upset.

So Donovan said fuck it and walked into the nursery where he worked. As usual, he was the first to arrive. Maddie, who was supposed to be here at 7:00 a.m. on the dot, was always late. They opened to the public at eight during the week, and Maddie seemed to think that washerarrival time.

There was a lot to do in the morning to prepare; the most important was to download and process orders from the website, as well as check the temperature of the greenhouse and the status of the drips, then weeding and trimming plants. He much preferred to do the work in the greenhouse than deal with the computer, but he started the process, then sorted the mail.

A letter, unstamped, was addressed to him. He opened it. Inside was a dried red poppy.

His heart skipped a beat.

“Thalia,” he said out loud and sighed in relief.

Finally, some sanity in what was a chaotic situation. Thalia would have answers. She always did.

He picked up the flower and smiled. The enclosed note read:9 a.m., your house.

He could do that. He would simply tell Maddie that he wasn’t feeling well and she needed to take over until Carmen and Tom arrived at ten. Wednesdays weren’t busy anyway.

He waited and waited and Maddie finally came in at quarter to eight. He explained the situation, that he had a touch of food poisoning, and was going home. She grumbled about it, but he ignored her complaints and left.

He couldn’t wait to see Thalia. It had been far too long. He understood the need to remain cautious, but they had been friends, and sometimes he missed Havenwood. If he were being honest, he would have returned if Calliope and her...herminionsweren’t there. Before Athena became too sick to run the community, it had been a wonderful place to live.

But it couldn’t be saved now. Not after the misery and pain that had been unleashed. He would never be able to return knowing how his little brother died, knowing that while Calliope was to blame, they were all culpable—especiallyRiley.

His stomach twisted in regret. Though he had never hurt anyone, he couldn’t help but feel remorse. Silence was also a crime. But until Riley arrived at his door yesterday, he had put Havenwood in the past. He didn’t think about it every day. Now? He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.

Donovan arrived home early, at eight thirty, and unlocked the door, closed it behind him. He’d make tea. He wasn’t a fan, but Thalia loved tea. He put the kettle on to boil, turned, saw her.

“Donovan, you truly disappointed all of us.”

A cry bubbled up in his throat and he felt rooted to the spot. All the fear, the deep, mind-numbing pain he’d lived with for so many years, froze him.

He sensed movement to his right, coming out of the back of the house. But his instincts were too late to save him.

He saw the knife right before it sliced open his throat.

15

South Fork, Colorado

Evan missed Havenwood. It had been a long four weeks.

But they were almost done with their mission. Anton and Ginger had taken care of one of the traitors up north just this morning and were waiting for the second to come home. Marcus and Karin had returned to Havenwood straight from New Mexico ten days ago in order to brief Calliope and work to locate the others.

Jesse Morrison hadn’t been as forthcoming as they had hoped.

Evan didn’t like being alone. He needed his family. Especially now, after being on the Outside for four weeks.

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