Page 146 of Happily Never After

Claire paused and sloshed the ice in her to-go margarita. “You know, I hadn’t really thought about it. I don’t think it’s my place. This is Luke’s night. It’s not about me.”

“Well, youareresponsible for putting their killer behind bars. The families might want to talk to you. Didn’t the Herrolds send you flowers after Barney’s arrest?”

Claire frowned and looked over her shoulder. “Sure. But at the same time, every time those families see me, they’re reminded of their wives and daughters who didn’t make it. I don’t want to draw any attention to myself.”

“They don’t hold your survival against you, you know.” Nicole bumped Claire with her shoulder.

Claire fiddled with the cap of her water bottle. “I wouldn’t blame them if they did. There’s no reason why I should have been the one to live. I only survived because of dumb luck. And Alice drilling personal safety advice into me for as long as I can remember, I guess.”

Nicole flicked her on the nose. “Stop it. Don’t make me call Sawyer’s mom so she can explain survivor’s guilt to you again.”

Claire snort laughed. “I’m a mess, aren’t I?”

“We all are. I locked my keys in my car this morningandshrank Kyle’s boxers in the wash.”

“Damn. That’s impressive.” Claire tucked Luke’s to-go meal in her purse. Her fingers brushed against a binder. She glanced at her watch. Luke was watching his episodes back-to-back and was unlikely to emerge for hours. An empty evening stretched in front of her. Although they were only in West Haven for a couple of days, there was plenty of time to investigate the whole William Hickory thing. Maybe if she could find another victim and bring that family closure, she could look them in the eyes at the premiere.

“I should probably get going.” Claire hopped off the picnic table. “Thank you so much for meeting me.” She pulled Nicole in for a hug and then crouched so that she was speaking to her belly. “This is your Auntie Claire speaking. You are perfect exactly the way you are, Baby Collins. You are so loved and I can’t wait to meet you. But not too soon,” she added.

Nicole smiled. “I’ll see you again before you go back for Bri’s premiere?”

Claire nodded. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“It’s Kyle’s parents’ thirty-year anniversary, so we kind of have to go. Since I’m the one throwing it.”

“Of course. Give them a hug from me. Love you.” Claire waved as she walked away.

She could have closed her eyes and walked back to her old apartment, where Mindy and Sawyer were probably tangled together in her old bedroom. She knew every brick of Market Street, every crack in the sidewalk. Her favorite florist was six blocks down on the right. The bodega with the best price on dog food was around the corner next to the health food store. It was so good to be home, away from the overpriced hummus and confusing parking laws of LA. There wasn’t even asingle influencer on the sidewalk Instagramming street tacos or climbing their ex-boyfriend’s drainpipe.

In the morning, she would have to cram as much planning for Luke’s premiere in as she could. But, for now, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to do some investigating. She fired off a text to Luke and let him know she was going on a walk alone, but that she had three new Tasers and a fresh can of mace on her person.

She glanced underneath her car out of habit before sliding into the driver’s seat. The dying sun glinted off the shiny and very official binder she had put together to investigate Barney’s latest riddle. She flipped to the first page. There was no record of any William, Will, or Bill Hickories buried in West Haven. That eliminated the cemeteries.

Barney’s only victim to be discovered, Kayley Herrold, had been buried along a stretch of road he drove almost daily. If he kept to that pattern, there was a good chance the other victims were buried near his frequent haunts.

Her stomach twisted at the thought of Barney stepping out of his favorite café and visiting the resting place of a victim. Those families deserved answers. They deserved to have a funeral, a chance to say goodbye. If she could find another victim, it would have to help the FBI with their case. Maybe he’d finally be put away for good. And with all hopes of getting out of prison gone, maybe Barney would turn on ESA.

Claire’s phone vibrated, startling her out of her reverie. Mindy was calling.

“Hey. What’s up?”

There was a clatter on Mindy’s end of the phone. “Just baked some cookies. Down, Diesel.”

Claire smiled. “Nice. Are you bringing them to the meeting tomorrow?”

“Of course. What did you think about those three West Haven couples I sent you?”

“Claudia and Tyrell are delightful. It’s been so long since we did a female proposal. It’s long overdue.”

“Great. I’ll pull their information together and we can get started tomorrow. Where are you going?” She asked sharply. “I hear your seatbelt thing chiming.”

Claire squared her shoulders. “Just doing a bit of driving. I missed West Haven.”

“Bullshit. You’re looking for Bill Hickory, aren’t you?”

Claire frowned. How did she know?

“Nicole said you looked suspicious when you left. You’re not going by yourself,” Mindy said firmly. “Don’t go anywhere. I’m coming to you.” There was the sound of a struggle on the other end.

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