Page 141 of Trust No One

And then he came.

Breathless, he rolled off her. Out of bed, he pulled up his pants and zipped them closed. He tugged on a shirt and sat on the edge of the bed.

Lacing the shoes, he said, “Money’s on the dresser.”

She didn’t make a sound.

“Did you hear me?” He tied the second shoelace.

More silence.

He rose and leaned over her. He smacked her ass hard. She flinched. “Good. You’re alive.”

A dead hooker in a hotel room would have screwed up his plans.

He glanced at the time on the wall clock. Too early for Raine. But not too soon to check out Hale House.

I used to believe . . .

Some lines could never be crossed.

But here’s the truth.

The first time is hard.

The next time, easier.

Until finally the line is gone

and you forget it was ever there.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Raine

Thursday, October 22, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

The three of us climbed to the second floor. While I held Molly’s hand, Judson opened the attic door and switched on the light. Musty, cold air mingled with a faint charred scent.

I squeezed Molly’s hand. “Are you okay to come up here?”

The little girl nodded. “I liked it up there.”

“The fire didn’t scare you?” Judson asked.

“No. Amy took care of it.”

“You’re pretty brave,” I said.

Molly shrugged.

Judson moved ahead of us toward the singed corner. “I don’t see any candles.”

“Maybe Amy came back and cleaned them up,” I said. “They proved she trespassed and set the fire.”

“Molly, did Amy come here a lot?” Judson asked.

“I don’t know.” She pulled free of my hand and moved toward an old trunk, scorched on the outside with soot and ash. She dusted off the brass lock and opened the lid. “Yuck.”