The woman hesitated for a fraction of a moment, then backed toward the stairs. Avery watched her, frowning. She looked frightened.
Did she know more than she was telling? Had she played some part in Gwen's disappearance?
Matt unsheathed his service weapon. 'Stay put, Avery.' He stepped across the threshold, Colt.45 out. 'Sheriff!' he called.
He disappeared into the unit, reappearing several moments later, features tight.
'Is she-'
'No.'
Avery brought a hand to her chest, relieved. 'Thank God. I was so worried.'
'I'd like you to look around. You might see something I missed.' He paused. 'But don't touch anything. Take as few steps as possible.'
'I don't understand.'
'The fewer people through a crime scene the better.'
'But you said she…wasn't dead. You said you didn't find evidence of…'
Her words trailed off. He hadn't said either of those things, she realized.
'Until we find a body, we presume she's alive.'
Obviously, he hadn't found a body.
But he had found something else.
She stepped inside. Moved her gaze over the room. 'She's cleaned up. The last time I was here, the place had been ransacked.'
'Ransacked?' he repeated, scowling at her. 'Just how much haven't you told me?'
She met his eyes, feeling like an idiot. 'A lot.'
His mouth thinned, but he didn't comment. Instead, he motioned to the room. 'Anything else?'
She carefully studied the interior. The unmade bed, robe thrown over the foot. Blinds open, Gwen's running shoes on the floor by the bed.
Her gaze stopped at what appeared to be a puddle. 'The floor's wet.'
'Excuse me?'
'Look.'
She pointed. He crossed to the spot, squatted, dipped his middle and index fingers into the liquid and brought his fingers to his nose. 'Water.'
He shifted his gaze toward the bathroom. 'There's another.'
In all they found three in what appeared to be a line from the bathroom to the bed.
'What do you think it means?' she asked.
'Don't know yet.' He touched her arm. 'I need you to take a look at this.'
He led her to the bathroom. A circular-shaped bloodstain marred the white wooden door. Splatters radiated from the circle, drips from the bottom of the stain.
Avery stared at the mark, pinpoints of lights dancing in front of her gaze.
'Blood's dry.' He leaned close, examining the mark but not touching it. 'A few strands of hair,' he murmured. 'Maybe some tissue.'
'I don't feel so good,' she said, swaying slightly.
He caught her arm, steadying her. 'Are you okay?'
'No.'
He led her out of the unit and into the hall. He ordered her to sit.
She did, lowering her head to her knees. She breathed deeply through her nose until she felt steady enough to lift her head.
'My note's gone,' she said.
'You left a note?'
'Slid it under her door. Around noon.' She realized what that meant and brought a hand to her chest, relieved. 'If she picked it up, she's alive.'
'If she picked it up. Someone else may have.'
'But who? The door was locked.' She shook her head, refusing to acknowledge he had a point. 'No, she got it.'
'Avery-' He squatted in front of her, caught her hands, gripping them tightly. 'The blood's completely dry. It's been there a while.'
'I don't understand what you're…' Her words trailed off as she got it.
'I'm sorry, Avery. I really am.'
She brought her head to her knees once more.
'She could have fallen,' he said softly. 'Have you checked the hospitals?'
She looked up, hopeful. 'No.'
'I'll do it. I need to make a few calls, including one to Dad. Order an evidence crew over. Talk to Laurie, her family. The other guests. But first, I think we should talk.'
'Talk,' she repeated weakly. 'Now?'
'It's important.' He rubbed her hands between his. 'I need you to tell me everything. Are you up to it?'
She managed a nod. 'I'll try.'
'That's my girl. First, how did you become involved with Gwen Lancaster?'
As quickly and as succinctly as she could, Avery filled him in on how she and Gwen had become acquainted. She explained about Gwen coming to her with proof of The Seven's existence. The suicides, the freak accidental deaths. 'I didn't believe her until I researched at the Gazette. When I saw all the deaths…there…in black and white, I couldn't ignore her. Plus, she believed my father was murdered.'
'And that's what you believed?'
She laced her fingers. 'I just couldn't accept he had killed himself.'
'Go on.'
'So we joined forces.'
He paused a moment as if mulling over what she had told him, putting the various pieces together, filling in the blanks. 'Why did you believe she had been murdered?'
'Because we had arranged to speak by phone and I wasn't able to reach her. And because The Seven knew she was onto them. They had given her a warning.'
He frowned. 'What kind of warning?'
'A gutted cat. They ransacked her room. Stole her notes and interview tapes.' When he simply stared at her, she stiffened her spine. 'You think I'm making all this up, don't you? You think I'm losing my mind.'
'I wish I did. As unbelievable as this all is, I can't discount it.' He pointed. 'That bloodstain is stopping me. The fact that she's missing. And that two other women are dead.'
He paused. 'The note you left, what did it say, Avery?'
'To call me. That I had found some evidence.' It seemed a lifetime already since this morning, so much had happened. 'Sallie Waguespack was pregnant, Matt.'
He looked startled. 'Are you certain?'
'It was in my mother's journals. She had…boxes of-' Her voice broke.
All gone. Her parents. Her childhood home. Every memento of growing up, ash now.
'He burned my house down. Because of the journals. He found out somehow. He killed Gwen. And the others. I found evidence. Trophies.'
Matt leaned toward her. 'Who, Avery? Who did it?'
'Hunter,' she said, words sticking in her throat. 'I think Hunter did it.'
CHAPTER 50
After the sheriff's department criminalists arrived at the scene, Matt drove her out to his parents' house. As they drove across town, she detailed everything that had happened in the past few days-about her and Gwen
