Page 23 of The Familiar Stranger

“What’s happened, Cade?” I asked.

There was a long pause on the line, followed by four horrible words that broke my heart. “Grady’s been murdered, Sloane.”

No … it couldn’t be.

After my first trip with Maddie to Savannah, the same trip where I’d learned Andi had been kidnapped, I’d become good friends with Grady. We’d kept in touch ever since, and a few weeks ago, I’d flown back to see his show.

The puzzle pieces in my mind, no matter how much I’d resisted admitting they fit together in any logical way, were coming together, and I couldn’t deny it.

My lunch with Kim a couple of weeks before.

My weekend visit with Grady.

And now … Harmony.

An eerie whimper escaped my lips, and I collapsed into the chair, slapping a hand over my mouth. Maddie came out of the bathroom, donning a robe. She took one look at me and fell to the floor at my knees.

“Sloane, what is it? What’s happened?”

Tears filled my eyes, and I fought them back. But I couldn’t speak. My entire body trembled as repercussions and theories and likelihoods took me deeper and deeper into a dark, unimaginable place.

In the gentlest of ways, she pried the phone from my fingers.

“Here, let me. It’s okay. I’ve got it.” Directing her attention to the phone screen, she held it to her ear and said, “Cade?”

“Maddie, is she okay?”

Maddie placed the call on speaker. “What’s going on, Cade? Tell me everything.”

And he did—at least, what little he knew.

Over a week ago, Grady had been murdered just before one of his stage performances, a knife to the heart—several times. Andi was afraid something might happen to her dad next—he was also a drag performer at the same nightclub. She wanted us to come down to Savannah, find out who murdered Grady and why before anyone else fell victim to the same fate.

Maddie spoke to Cade for a time, then she assured him I would be okay, that I just needed time to process what I’d just learned.

“Call me before you make a single move, ya hear me?” Cade said.

“Will do.”

The call ended, and she turned, staring at me for a few seconds, her hands on hips, concern in her eyes.

“I can’t believe it, Maddie,” I said. “Why? Why Grady? I don’t understand.”

She leaned over and took my hand in hers. “I don’t know, but all of this, it’s hitting too close to home. It’s time we get some answers.”

CHAPTER18

Having shed the tears and fears, I confirmed the fastest route to Savannah was all highway—I-26 across North Carolina, then onto I-95, a straight shot to the coastal city. But according to Google Maps, there was a huge pileup on I-26 and, therefore, major delays.

After Maddie finished cursing like a sailor, I said, “We’ll go down through Georgia, then. There are a couple of routes … another hour, but it’s the best alternative. More scenic too, for what it’s worth. We’ll be fine.”

It seemed it was my turn to do the reassuring now. She’d morphed into an emotional wreck. It was understandable. She’d been with me in Savannah and felt like I did about Andi: a brave, likeable young lady who’d been through too much pain in the short span of her life, and now another blow to her sense of safety.

We threw our belongings into our suitcases, and I meanthrew. Even I abandoned my usual desire for “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

While we checked out and headed to my Audi, the first thing I did was to turn off my Do Not Disturb and allow all calls to come through. Vacation time was over. Next, I called Andi, letting her know we’d received her message and that we were heading to Savannah. She wanted to talk about the current events, but I suggested we save it until we were all in person. Though reluctant, she agreed.I asked to speak to her father, Mike Leland, and she put him on the line. I told him the same information, and we agreed to meet at their house.

I also called Almond, who didn’t pick up. I left her a voicemail, apologizing about our need to make an abrupt departure. I explained we had a pressing case but added we’d be in touch if we figured anything out before she or the cops did. I also added: “If you haven’t already, please be sure to tell the detectives everything you shared with us. They’re the leads on this, and they need to know. Give them a chance to do right by you.”

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