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“Oh my God,” she whispered, horrified. “What is this?”
Kaj knelt beside her and his stomach rolled. “Fucking hell.”
Lake Cataouatche, Louisiana
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 12:45 P.M.
Noni didn’t want to open her eyes. Everything hurt. Hell, maybe she was dead. She heard music. Yes, there was music. Familiar music. Humming, maybe. Yes. Quiet humming.
I know this song. “Tears in Heaven.” So sad.
Maybe I am dead, she thought and hummed along until even that started to hurt.
“Are you awake?” a voice whispered. “Honey, you need to wake up. We need to get out of here.”
“Sing,” Noni managed. She didn’t want the voice to talk. Just hum.
Something pressed against her lips, making her whimper.
“Take a drink. Just a sip. It’s water. Only water.”
The voice was a woman. Not a man. Not the one who’d hurt her.
“Come on, honey. Open your mouth. Just a little bit.”
Noni tried and a little water filled her mouth.
“That’s good,” the woman said soothingly. “Now swallow.”
Noni swallowed. The water felt good. “Than—” The word wouldn’t come. Thank you, she thought and hoped the woman would understand.
A hand stroked her hair. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”
Noni struggled to open her eyes but could not.
“It’s okay,” the woman whispered. “Don’t open your eyes. There’s nothin’ to see here.” The woman’s breath hitched. “I think we’re gonna die here.”
“Who...” Noni tried.
“My name is Dianne and I’m stuck here, too. I’m so sorry,” she said mournfully. “I couldn’t make them stop. I was in the other room. I could hear them, but... I couldn’t do anything. I was too scared. I’m so sorry.”
“S’ri,” Noni whispered. It was all right. There wasn’t anything Dianne could have done.
Dianne. Aaron Gates’s wife was named Dianne. Same woman?
Noni’s thoughts began to clear. “Tears in Heaven.” It was about a child’s death. Dianne’s son had died.
Dianne Gates is here. What is she doing here? “Why y—?”
“Why am I here?” Dianne guessed. Her hand stroked Noni’s hair, and Noni thought it might be the only place on her body that didn’t hurt. “I’m not completely certain. The last thing I really remember is Corey doing that interview in front of his house. You were there. Next thing I knew I was in a little house on the bayou. Someone left me some vodka and... well, I drank it. Next thing I knew, I was here. I heard Corey and Ed talking—yesterday, I think. I think they were talking about killing me to keep me quiet, but Ed had said that when he sees me, he sees Liam.” Dianne shuddered out a heartbreaking sigh. “Join the club. When I close my eyes, my baby is all I see. Most days I wish I could die, too.”
“Ssssry,” Noni tried. Sorry.
“Thank you,” Dianne said sadly. “But I guess I don’t really want to die because Ed gave me a bottle of doctored booze last night and I only pretended to drink it. So... I was awake and heard them this morning. Doing that to you. My God. Bobby’s an animal. I never knew.”
So tired. Don’t wanna think. Don’t wanna remember.
“I want to get you out of here,” Dianne went on. “But I can’t carry you and I’d be afraid to drag you, even if I had anywhere to drag you to. They took both of the boats.”
