Page 99 of See How They Hide

“I—I don’t see why you need to,” Riley said, a hitch in her voice.

“We want them to feel comfortable and safe, but also understand that the people from Havenwood are naturally distrustful of the authorities.”

“We were all party to crimes,” Riley said. “Growing and selling marijuana, especially in the quantity that we did, is against the law. We all have fake identities.”

“I told you before that we’re not going to go after anyone for that. We’ll work it out, make everyone official if we can. I have some questions for you, and it might not be comfortable. Now that we know two of Havenwood’s people are in South Fork, it’s important.”

Riley glanced at Kara, then nodded. “Okay.”

“You said that your mother has several partners. I assume you meant romantic partners.”

Riley blushed and nodded.

“Is Anton one of them?”

“Yes,” she said.

“I’d like to know their names, descriptions, anything you can tell me about them. Maybe you can draw them.”

“Robert, Anton, and Glen were my fathers when I was born. After Glen died, Garrett came into the house. Like Anton, he was strong and he had also been in the military and he killed the people who killed my daddy Glen. I felt safe with him, and he was nice to me. Serious, and he never smiled, but he was nicer than Anton. When Robert left, Evan moved in with my mother.”

Kara said, “And everyone is okay with this, um, swapping partners.”

She shrugged. “Sure. I mean, I didn’t really think about it when I was little, only when I was older and realized that my mom was the only person with multiple partners. I liked Evan a lot, though he was sad. His brother and wife were killed in a car accident, and he was the only family to take care of his nephew, Timmy. There was a lot of debt in the family and Evan was having a tough time. He knew Garrett and Garrett invited him to Havenwood.”

So there was a way to communicate with the outside world, Kara thought. Either because Calliope’s people had access to phones and computers, or because they were the only people allowed to leave.

“When you left, Anton, Evan, and Garrett were in your mother’s home? And Timmy?” Matt asked.

Riley squeezed her eyes shut. “Timmy was attacked by a mountain lion and died. That was a year before I left. Evan wasn’t the same after that.”

“Dean asked you about a map,” Matt said, “but what about something on a smaller scale. Not how to get in and out of Havenwood, but how the community is laid out. Where the houses are, the barn, the greenhouse, things like that.”

Riley smiled wearily. “I can do that. It might take me a while. I try to forget.”

“Whatever you can give us is fine. Why don’t you work at my desk?”

Matt cleared off the tabletop, picking up the picture of him and Kara. When Riley sat and started to work with a fresh set of pencils, he pulled Kara across the room.

“I’m sorry about this,” Matt said quietly, holding up the sketch.

“Don’t be.” She took the paper, making sure not to wrinkle it.

“I didn’t think—” He struggled with what to say. “I mean, I wasn’t looking at you like that, not on purpose. Discretion is important to both of us, and I know you’re uncomfortable with people knowing about our relationship.”

“I don’t care if people know,” Kara said. “I just don’t think it’s anyone’s business.” She looked at the sketch again. “She saw what’s beneath the surface, because that moment in time didn’t happen. But it could have.”

He reached out, lightly touched his fingers to hers. “I love you,” he said in a whisper so low she almost didn’t hear it.

“Ditto,” she said.

35

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Evan sat in the disgusting motel and waited for Anton.

He felt sick to his stomach.

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