I looked at Detective Ruiz.
“You know him.”
She did not answer quickly enough.
“Detective.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Ruiz’s face had become unreadable.
“He is my uncle.”
No one moved.
Liam slowly straightened.
My mother gripped the edge of her chair.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
And suddenly, every person in the room was connected to Lake Mercer.
My dead father.
My husband.
My mother.
My brother.
Evelyn.
Detective Ruiz.
Even Daniel Vale.
The phone on my tray buzzed again.
UNKNOWN CALLER.
Ruiz reached for it.
Before she could touch the screen, a text message appeared.
There was no greeting.
No threat.
Only a photograph.
A recent photograph.
Taken through glass.
The hospital room.
My hospital room.
I could see myself in the bed.
Liam by the window.
My mother sitting beside me.
Evelyn near the wall.
Detective Ruiz standing at the tray.
The picture had been taken less than a minute ago.
