Page 48 of See How They Hide

Andrew looked confused. Riley didn’t stop. Her heart was pounding, her head thudding, her body hot and cold at the same time.

She stammered, “The. Police. Run.”

Andrew hadn’t been raised in Havenwood. He came with his parents when he was fourteen, the year before everything began to fall apart. He didn’t have Calliope as a mother. He didn’t have her loyal followers constantly chirping in his ear.

Thalia had told her that her soul protected her, that deep down Riley knew what was right and just. Riley didn’t believe that. If she hadn’t seen the truth with her own eyes, she could have turned into her mother.

Yet now, all the lessons about the evil, unjust Outside suddenly came crashing down and Riley needed to escape. Run. Hide.

Andrew was talking, but Riley couldn’t hear him through the ringing in her ears.

get away get away get away

Then he shouted, “Riley! Stop!”

She froze.

Andrew gripped her arm, pulled her to his side. “It’s over,” he said and turned her to face the detective.

The woman said, “I’m Detective Kara Quinn, this is my partner, FBI Agent Michael Harris. I saw you outside of Jane Merrifield’s apartment. We just want to talk to you, Riley.”

“No.” Riley didn’t know if she spoke aloud, but she shook her head back and forth.

Andrew said, “We’re not armed. We haven’t done anything.”

“Did you call in the anonymous tip about Jesse Morrison’s murder?” Kara asked pointedly.

Andrew didn’t say anything.

Kara said, “We really need to talk to both of you.”

“My partner—I can’t reach him,” Andrew said. “I think—I’m afraid something might have happened to him.”

“Give us his name and address and we’ll have an officer do a welfare check.”

“Don’t,” Riley whispered. “You can’t trust them.”

“He’s five hours away,” Andrew said. “I have to do something.” He cleared his throat. “Okay. I’ll tell you anything you want, answer any questions, but I need to know that Donovan is safe.”

Evan watched as Riley and Andrew got into the back of an SUV. They weren’t handcuffed, they went willingly.

He called Anton.

“We have a problem.” He explained what had happened.

“Find out where they are going, but be discreet. We’re still a couple hours away.”

“I took pictures. It’s Riley. It’s really her.”

Anton didn’t say anything. He was Riley’s last living father. This must be painful for him. It hurt Evan, too. How could she do this to them?

“Anton,” Evan said, “we have to bring her home.”

Again, he didn’t say anything.

“I’m not going to kill her,” Evan said firmly.

“No,” Anton said. “You’re right. Calliope is going to be heartbroken that Riley deceived her. Deceived all of us.”

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