Page 59 of See How They Hide

Michael squeezed her hand. “I don’t like the earpiece either, but I pick my fights.”

“I don’t like her in my head yammering when I’m thinking. I know how to interview people. I don’t mind these—” she waved her hand at the computer “—briefings. They help, give me information to better approach a witness or suspect. But constantly second-guessing me? Nope. Not going to do it.” She raised an eyebrow. “I’ll bet you twenty she doesn’t say one word to you.”

“I’ll take that bet,” Michael said. “She won’t be able to help herself.”

Kara laughed. He was right. She handed him a twenty-dollar bill. “Thanks, partner. I needed that.”

22

South Fork, Colorado

Riley felt like a zombie.

She’d been sitting in a conference room with comfortable chairs, so it wasn’t all bad. A couple hours ago, someone had brought her a sandwich and water, which she ate mostly out of habit. She was allowed to go to the bathroom, she wasn’t in handcuffs, and they hadn’t arrested her. One of the officers even brought her some paper and pens when she asked. She would have preferred pencils, but he couldn’t find any. Still, the pens kept her mind occupied as she doodled on the notepad.

She’d thought about walking out to see what they would do, but Outside scared her more than the police right now. She didn’t know what Andrew might tell them about her. She also wanted to know what the police knew about Havenwood and Jane’s murder.

She didn’t think they knew about Thalia, and Jesse was her only link to Thalia. He could have something in his house to help track her aunt down, but if that were the case, then Havenwood would now have that information. Andrew and Donovan would run at the first opportunity. For all she knew, they’d already let Andrew leave and he was back in Fort Collins with Donovan, packing to disappear. She felt...stuck.

It was after six when the detective she’d seen in Ashland—Kara—came into the conference room with the large black FBI agent. She suppressed the jolt of panic and forced herself to breathe evenly.

It was hard to overcome a lifetime of indoctrination, but she was making progress.

Kara had probing blue eyes, sharp and focused, like she really seemed toseeRiley. It unnerved her.

Riley turned to the other cop, but averted her eyes when she saw blood on his white shirt.

“Riley,” he said, “I’m Agent Harris, but you can call me Michael. We want you to be as comfortable as possible.”

Informal. To get her to trust them.

She couldn’t trust anyone. But she needed to know what they knew.

They sat down across from her.

“Riley,” Kara said, looking her straight in the eye, “your friend Andrew tried to kill himself. We just got word from the hospital that he’s stable, but in critical condition. He lost a lot of blood.”

She stared in disbelief. Andrew? “Are you sure he did it to himself?” Could Calliope’s people have infiltrated the police station? Were they here, waiting for her to walk out?

Michael’s face was solemn. “He was alone in the bathroom and slit both arms from here to here.” He demonstrated by drawing a line with his finger from his wrist to the inside of his elbow. “Andrew told me to let him die. We did everything possible to stop the bleeding. I really hope he makes it.”

He sounded sincere.

Kara said, “He learned that his partner, Donovan Smith, had been killed. In the same way as your friend Jane. He told us about Havenwood.”

Riley stared, unblinking, shocked. Donovan was dead. Andrew talked about Havenwood? She shook her head. None of this could be happening.

“He told us that Havenwood is like a cult,” Kara said. “That he escaped, you escaped, the others. He also said that someone in the cult is hunting you down. We want to stop them. I think you do, too.”

Talking about Havenwood was forbidden. Thalia had beat that mantra into their heads after the escape.

“Never utter the wordHavenwood. It doesn’t exist. You were born today. You didn’t exist before now. Understand? You are no one except who you make yourself to be. If you say a word, if Calliope thinks someone Outside is going to invade and shut down Havenwood, she will kill everyone there and they will be happy to die for her.”

They didn’t talk, but they didn’t forget. For three years Riley and Jane lived together in Ashland and not once did they mention Havenwood or anyone who lived there, even when they were alone together. And the rare moments they talked about a good memory, it was vague, a feeling more than a clear conversation.

“I miss fresh eggs every morning.”

“Remember the swim contest? That was so much fun.”

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