“So why didn’t Danny’s trial lawyer look into it?”

Lester shrugged. “The guy had never handled a murder case and was in over his head. But the lawyer says he did look into it. Says he got an anonymous tip, too. And that’s what the state relied on in our post-conviction fight. I think he was just covering his ass, but the lawyer said he didn’t pursue the lead because the forensics didn’t match. Hayes sexually assaulted the girls. Then killed them by crushing their skulls, probably during the act. But Charlotte wasn’t sexually assaulted. And the medical examiner concluded she suffered a separate skull fracture, likely sometime before her head was caved in.”

Keller felt a combination of sickness and anger in her gut.

“So, what, you think someone was trying to make it look like Hayes was the killer?” That suggested some planning, which was inconsistent with a drunk teenager killing his girlfriend in a rage.

Lester said, “Hayes confessed to the other murders to get the death penalty off the table, but still denied killing Charlotte. Why bother?”

“What about Detective Sampson? The Adlers say that before he died he had some explosive information. About the blood work.”

“Pfft. How convenient. Even if it’s true that he’d go to the Adlers—and I find that questionable, since they basically ruined the man’s life—he was hardly credible. If he approached them, it was probably just trying to clear his own name. And before you say it, I’ve seen the Reddit threads that speculate that he was murdered.”

Keller wasn’t sure whether Lester was a breath of fresh air or whether her years working the case had hardened her, closed her off to any theory that might explain Charlotte’s murder. It was for that reason that Keller didn’t want to ask the next question.

“Speaking of conspiracy theories, there’s one that is building steam, at least with the Adlers—”

“That Charlotte’s alive,” Lester said before Keller could get the words out. Lester sighed, as if to add, Tell me you’re not taking that seriously?

“Right. Look, I know how it sounds, but I’ve gotta ask.”

Lester shook her head. “I’d love it if she were alive, but Charlotte’s dead. The Adlers don’t know this, and it wasn’t discussed at the trial, but Charlotte had a distinguishing mark. A tiny tattoo of a heart on her bottom. It was her.”

Keller exhaled. She knew it was crazy, knew it would end this way, but she was still crestfallen.

“A piece of advice, Agent Keller?” Lester said, her phone buzzing on her desk.

Keller nodded.

“Don’t make Charlotte’s killer your one-armed man. I’ve been down that road, and it nearly destroyed me.”

“But what if knowing what really happened to Charlotte is the only way to know what happened to the Pines?” Keller asked.

Lester put her elbows on the desk, laced her fingers. “Then you’re fucked, Agent Keller. You’re absolutely fucked.”

CHAPTER 47

EVAN PINE

BEFORE

“Come on, get in on this, Magpie,” Evan said. He held the phone in front of him for an airport selfie. Evan didn’t know if it was the bright sunshine, the smell of salt in the air, or being on their first family vacation in years, but he felt great. Revitalized.

“Daaad,” Maggie said, shaking her head.

Liv joined in, pressing her face against Evan’s. She waved Maggie over.

Maggie was turning red. A group of teenage boys was nearby. They weren’t watching, but their presence seemed to be enough to mortify his daughter.

Tommy said, “Can I be in the picture?”

Evan scooped him up. “Of course. But where are your cool shades?” Evan had bought them at an airport kiosk.

Tommy pulled the plastic sunglasses from his pocket and put them on.

“We’re going to keep it up until you join,” Evan said to Maggie.

Evan and Liv started doing exaggerated poses—sucking in their cheeks, squinting sexy eyes, making peace signs with their fingers.

“Fine,” Maggie said, marching over. She moved her face into the shot. “Take it!”

“Say cheese.”

“Seriously, Dad.”

Evan and Liv laughed, and he took the shot. Maggie quickly distanced herself from them, but Evan swore he saw the faintest trace of a smile on her lips.

Examining the photo, he felt a warmth in his chest followed by a beat of sadness that the rest of the family, his boys, weren’t there.

None of that, he told himself. He wanted to keep up the mood, the vibe. He was still buzzed from the warm beer on the plane and the kiss Liv had given him when the kids had dozed off. One that had sent an inferno through him. If she had invited him to the plane’s bathroom, he would’ve risked it and joined the Mile High Club.

So, no dwelling on Danny or Matt. Or that he had no job. Or that they couldn’t afford the trip. Or that he’d come chasing another likely dead-end lead. Stop.

Liv looked at the photo. “Ooh, I’m going to post that one later.”

She had given up on social media months ago, turned inward, and Evan felt another wave of something that suggested things were different. For Evan, it had come with a handful of pills regurgitated into the sink. What had caused the change in Liv? Evan had another thought: Who. Fucking. Cares. He reached for his wife’s hand and she took it quickly, lacing her fingers through his.

“Are we going to the beach, Daddy?” Tommy asked.

“You bet we are. But we might need to go to the toy store first.”

Liv gave him a sideways glance. Like she was going to say something, but stopped herself. Instead she grabbed his butt. “Let’s go find the van, sugar daddy.”

“Eww.” Maggie made a face. But there was the hint of that smile again.

* * *

It was two hours before the driver announced that they were in Tulum. The van blew past signs for the beach, and through the strip of tourist shops on the main road. It cut right onto a side street. The area had a grittier feel, run-down buildings painted in faded primary colors. Palm trees with brown leaves sagging over chain-link fences, a maze of power lines drooping overhead. The consequences of booking at the last minute during the busy season.

Liv looked at her husband.

He could read her mind. Don’t worry, he said with his eyes. It will be an adventure.

The van took another sharp turn into a small lane carved into a thicket of jungle. At the end of the road was a complex, six rental properties, each separated by a tall privacy fence. The van dropped them at the front gate and waited for Evan to punch in the code and get inside before taking off. The sounds of the forest filled the air.

Evan entered another code for the front door and he was pleasantly surprised at the space. It had stone floors and an open floor plan with a modern kitchen overlooking a dining area and living room.

Tommy ran down the hall to find his room. When he returned, he fast-walked, twisting around the sofa and the rustic wood table, ultimately landing on one of the stools at the granite kitchen counter. He jumped down from the stool and raced to the sliding doors in the living room.

“Where’s the beach?” he asked, staring out at the patio.

Liv knelt and looked into Tommy’s eyes. “We’ve got something better than a beach.”

He looked at her, his eyes wide.

“We have the jungle.” Liv made her hands like a tiger and pawed at Tommy. She glanced up at Evan, offering a smile.

Maggie looked around. Evan couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking. She peeked out the patio doors. “There’re bikes out there. Maybe we can ride into town for dinner.”

And by nightfall, they were on rickety old bikes, riding down the secluded road into town. Evan’s bike had a child seat tethered to the back of it, one of the old models that had likely been recalled in the US years ago. Tommy rode in the lopsided seat, his arms in the air, Liv nervously behind them, calling out for him to hold on to his dad.

They found their way to the highway and waited for cars to rip by before they crossed. From there, it was a quick journey on a dirt road that had a wall painted with a mural of a Mayan god.

In a restaurant on the strip, they ate tacos and Evan and Liv drank too many margaritas. He and Liv laughed, flirted, and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Embarrassed, Maggie pretended not to notice and helped Tommy color the kids’ menu, which doubled as a small coloring book.